Pillory of Arcos de Valdevez

Category: Civil Architecture > Pillory

District: Viana do Castelo > Arcos de Valdevez > Arcos de Valdevez > Faquelo

Location

- It is located in Arcos de Valdevez (Salvador), in the district of Viana do Castelo, Portugal.

- Currently, it is located in front of the Municipal Palace building.

History

- Built in the first half of the 16th century by the master stonemason João Lopes, the Younger.

- Initially placed in the Municipal Square, it was moved several times:

, Around 1700, to a spot near the Vez river (Valeta).

, In 1895, transferred to the square in front of the Main Church.

, Since 1998, it has been in its current location.

- Classified as a National Monument since 1910.

Characteristics

- An example of the Manueline style, sculpted in granite.

- It rests on three square steps.

- Spiral column formed by three colonnettes around a central axis.

- Inscription at the top: "JOAN LOPEZ MEFEZ", indicating the stonemason who built it.

- It ends with a pinnacle decorated with three columns and an armillary sphere, a symbol of the Age of Discoveries.

Curiosity

- One of the few pillories in northern Portugal and Galicia with the stonemason's name engraved.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillory_of_Arcos_de_Valdevez

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelourinho_de_Arcos_de_Valdevez

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt