Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Setúbal > Palmela > Palmela
The Study Office on the Order of Santiago is located in Palmela Castle, an imposing fortification that crowns the top of a hill in the village. This study centre occupies the old sacristy of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo, a space that has been carefully rehabilitated. Its privileged location, within a historical monument, allows visitors to feel the secular atmosphere that Palmela and its castle carry, providing a unique perspective on the importance of the site.
Palmela has a deep and lasting connection with the Order of Santiago, one of the most important medieval military orders in Portugal. Since the 12th century, this order has been rooted in the village, establishing its headquarters in the castle itself between the late 15th century and 1834. GEsOS emerges from this heritage, dedicating itself to preserving and deepening knowledge about the history and influence of military orders in Portuguese territory, and in particular, the trajectory of the Knights of Santiago. The historical presence of the order is one of the pillars of Palmela's identity, and this office is a living testament to that past.
The Study Office on the Order of Santiago functions as a hub for research and dissemination of the rich heritage associated with military orders. Its mission focuses on promoting historiographical study, sharing documents, and valuing the legacy built by these brotherhoods. For visitors interested in deepening their knowledge about such a significant period in Portuguese and European history, GEsOS offers access to a Documentation Centre and a Specialized Library. This collection includes a vast array of sources, monographs, and specific studies, some of which are in digital format, allowing for an immersion into the life and impact of these orders since the medieval period.
The physical space hosting GEsOS is, in itself, an integral part of the castle's historical narrative. The old sacristy of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo, which once served religious purposes and later fell into ruin after the 18th-century earthquake, was meticulously recovered. This rehabilitation, completed in 2001, transformed a derelict site into a vibrant centre for research and culture. The care with which the space was restored allows for the observation of its original architecture, while also recognizing the effort to give new life to an essential element of the castle's heritage, making it a place dedicated to the valorisation of collective memory.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.5659895,-8.9003133
Coordinates DMS: 38°33'57.6"N 08°54'1.1"W
Weather Palmela
On-duty Pharmacy Palmela
