Category: Civil Architecture > Pillory
District: Viseu > Nelas > Nelas > Folhadal
The Pillory of Folhadal is serenely positioned in the heart of the locality of Folhadal, which is part of the municipality of Nelas, Viseu district. It is specifically located in a largo, a traditional open space that invites contemplation, directly in front of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Tosse. This location gives it an environment characteristic of rural and interior Portugal, where tranquility and history intertwine in the cores of ancient villages. Its presence in the center of Folhadal makes it an unmissable landmark for anyone exploring this picturesque area.
This pillory is a silent testimony to a bygone era, reflecting the historical importance of the locality of Folhadal. In its essence, a pillory was the visible symbol of municipal autonomy and the jurisdictional power that a given settlement held. It marked the place where local justice was administered, where proclamations were read, and where, in former times, public punishments were carried out. Its existence in Folhadal points to a past in which this locality played a significant role in the administrative and social organization of its time, being a focal point of authority and community life.
Like many of its counterparts in Portugal, the Pillory of Folhadal is a stone structure, typically made of granite, a material abundant in the Viseu region. It consists of a base that rests directly on the ground of the largo, from which a cylindrical or polygonal shaft rises. At its top, although it may vary in complexity, there is a capital that supports the final finial. Its construction reflects robustness and functional simplicity, common characteristics of more modest, but no less significant, pillories that punctuate the villages and towns of interior Portugal. Its form and materiality give it a solid and timeless presence in the space where it is located.
Today, the Pillory of Folhadal transcends its original function to become a heritage element of undeniable cultural value. It is a tangible link with local history, allowing visitors a deeper understanding of the roots and evolution of Portuguese rural communities. Although it no longer serves the purposes for which it was erected, it remains as a guardian of memory, a point of reflection on the evolution of justice and social organization throughout the centuries. Its permanence in the largo facing the Chapel invites a pause, a moment of appreciation for the resilience of history in the daily life of the village.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.513225,-7.852625
Coordinates DMS: 40°30'47.6"N 07°51'9.4"W
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