Category: Civil Architecture > Pillory
District: Viseu > Tondela > Sabugosa > Sabugosa de Baixo
The Pillory of Sabugosa stands in the very heart of the locality, in the area of Sabugosa de Baixo, which is part of the Union of Parishes of São Miguel do Outeiro and Sabugosa, in the municipality of Tondela. The monument is situated in a small, wide square, on a flat and prominent area, making it easily observable from the public road. Its central position in the village grants it the role of a reference and meeting point for the community and visitors.
Dating back to the 17th century, the Pillory of Sabugosa is a monument that reflects an important phase of Portuguese history and of the locality itself. Originally, these pillories were visible symbols of municipal power and judicial autonomy, marking the places where justice was administered and where penalties were applied. Its existence is intimately linked to the granting of the new charter by D. Manuel I, in 1514, a milestone that formalized the administrative independence of what was then the town of Sabugosa. Currently, the Pillory maintains its relevance as an important historical-cultural landmark, classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1933, highlighting its patrimonial value for the country's memory.
This pillory features the style known as "of the ball," characteristic of the 17th-century period. Its structure is entirely constructed from granite stonework. It rests on a quadrangular plinth of four steps, which slightly raises it from the ground. The column, with a cylindrical and smooth shaft, has a square plinth and a flanged ring at its base. On this column, two round holes are visible, arranged vertically, which once served to hold the restraining irons. The remarkably elevated capital exhibits a crescent shape, from which four protruding cantonal pendants emerge. At its top, a flat square fillet supports the finial, which tapers into a cylindrical section, culminating in a hollow spherical cap and a flattened sphere. On the faces of the capital, the dates "1640" and "1610" are inscribed, with the 1640 date being the more probable for its erection, and the 1610 date being the result of a reinterpretation during a later intervention.
Over the centuries, the Pillory of Sabugosa has transitioned from an instrument of justice administration to an object of contemplation and cultural appreciation. Although it underwent a restoration intervention in 1939, which included its removal from the original site and the reconstruction of part of its base with the reutilization of old stones, its essence and original form were carefully preserved. Today, it represents a tangible vestige of a past where community life and the administration of law manifested themselves visibly and symbolically, inviting reflection on the historical evolution of the locality and its identity.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.572803,-8.029738
Coordinates DMS: 40°34'22.1"N 08°01'47.1"W
Weather Sabugosa
On-duty Pharmacy Sabugosa
