Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Vila Viçosa
POP 8000
If you visit just one marble town in the region, Vila Viçosa is the one to target. It features
Praça da República, a long attractive plaza set with orange trees, a marvellous marble
palace (one of the country's largest) and a castle.
This was once home to the Bragança dynasty, whose kings ruled Portugal until it became
a republic - Dom Carlos spent his last night here before his assassination; it was also the
birthplace of Catarina de Bragança (1638), who married Charles II to become Queen of
England (and after whom Queens in New York was named). There are many sites and
sights of marble (and non-marble) and a friendly laid-back citizenry who are proud of their
sparkling town.
USING YOUR MARBLES
The marble towns gleam with rosy-gold or white stone and the effect is enhanced by the houses, which have a
Hollywood-smile brightness. As if locals hadn't found enough uses for the stone stuff, with their marble doorsteps,
pavements and shoes (OK, we made that last one up), a process has been cooked up to create marble paint: marble
is recrystallised limestone, so if you heat marble chips in a clay oven for three days they turn into calcium oxide,
which is mixed with water to become whitewash. Cheaper than paint. People take pride in the whiteness of their
houses and retouch them annually.
While we're on the subject of colour, apparently the yellow borders keep away fever, while blue is the bane of
flies (you can add these colours to the oxide). The blue theory may have some truth, or at least international adher-
ents - in Rajasthan (India) local people also apply pale blue to their houses to ward off mosquitoes.
Sights
Terreiro do Paço
The palace square covers 16,000 sq metres, and is ringed by the Paço Ducal, an enormous
palace, the heavy-fronted Agostinhos Convent and graceful Chagas Nunnery. In the centre
is a statue of Dom João IV.
PLAZA
Paço Ducal
( 268 980 659;
www.fcbraganca.pt
;
adult/under 10yr €6/free; 2.30-5.30pm Tue, 10am-1pm & 2.30-5.30pm Wed-
Sun Apr-Sep; 2-5pm Tue, 10am-1pm & 2-5pm Wed-Sun Oct-Mar; 2.30-6pm Tue, 10am-1pm & 2.30-6.30pm Jul & Aug)
The dukes of Bragança built their palace in the early 16th century when the fourth duke,
Dom Jaime, decided he had had enough of his uncomfortable hilltop castle. The wealthy
PALACE
