Pillory of São Martinho de Mouros

Category: Civil Architecture > Pillory

District: Viseu > Resende > São Martinho de Mouros > Guardais

Location

The Pillory of São Martinho de Mouros stands in the urbanization of Guardais, in the locality of São Martinho de Mouros, which belongs to the municipality of Resende. It is isolated in a small, flat square, next to the public road, which gives the location an atmosphere of centrality and recalls its past as the heart of the old town.

Its position in Largo do Concelho (Council Square) underlines the historical importance of the site as a meeting and decision point, a silent testament to the community life that unfolded there in bygone times.

A Historical Legacy

This pillory, classified as a Property of Public Interest, is a significant piece of the history of São Martinho de Mouros. It once served as the landmark of royal jurisdiction and municipal autonomy, a place where justice was publicly administered. Its presence recalls the period when São Martinho de Mouros was the seat of a municipality, a distinction dating back to the charters granted by D. Teresa in the 12th century and, later, by D. Manuel I in 1513.

After the extinction of the municipality in 1855, the pillory ceased its judicial function. Today, it remains a historical-cultural landmark, inviting reflection on the administrative and social transformations that shaped the region.

The 17th-Century Architecture

Dating from the 17th century, possibly 1601, as indicated by a visible inscription, the Pillory of São Martinho de Mouros is built entirely of granite ashlar. It features a considerably tall octagonal plinth base, upon which four steps, also of octagonal section, rise. The shaft, with eight faces, is robust and has an iron band at about one-third of its height.

The quadrangular base capital supports a finial in the shape of a parallelepiped. On its faces, one can observe distinct heraldic elements, such as the crosses of Avis and Malta, and also the Quinas, symbols of the Portuguese nation. The structure is crowned by a truncated quadrangular pinecone finial, which gives it a solemn profile characteristic of its era.

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