Endovelicus has a temple in San Miguel Mota, Alentejo, Portugal, and there are numerous inscriptions and ex-votos dedicated to him in the National Museum of Ethnology. The cult of Endovelicus survived until the fifth century until Christianity spread in the region.

There are two shrines dedicated to God Endovelicus, who have been primitive, located in Rock Mine and a second later this situated on top of the hill of S. Miguel da Mota, both in Alandroal county.

Sanctuary of Rocha da Mina

The Shrine of Mine Rock, is very simple and primitive, Manuel Calado describes the shrine as rock implanted in a rocky spur with abrupt slopes, the living area is greatly reduced. The stairs and floors carved in the rock are recurring elements in a relatively high number of pre-Roman shrines, some of which Romanized, and are often interpreted as sacrificial altars. This type of monuments is known in the Spanish Meseta and in northern Portugal, in areas that have experienced a stronger Celtic influences.

Sanctuary of São Miguel Mota

The sanctuary of San Miguel Mota, whose name is due to the fact that with the implementation of the Catholic religion on the peninsula pagan worship God Endovelicus have been replaced by the cult of St. Michael, it is a temple of the Roman era. As you know, the Romans throughout their Romanization process in addition to bring their culture and religion to people who would romanizando were also enjoying and absorbing the local cults. So Endovelicus, was also a god worshiped by the Romans as evidenced by ex-votos found in this sanctuary.

It seems that São Miguel Mota is an “invention” of the Romans, and that the Mine Rock is a sanctuary of a Celtic god.

This is a very old Marian shrine, judging that may result from the pagan cults of Christianization, as close to the Terena village remain the ruins of the temple of the god Endovelicus. Historical references to this temple dating back to the thirteenth century, as the Cantigas de Santa Maria of King Alfonso X of Castile, there are some compositions dedicated to Santa Maria de Terena.

The temple is the fourteenth century work, possessing the characteristic of being a Portuguese rare example of fortified church has come largely intact today. The origin of the invocation Lady of Good News appears to be linked to the legend of Fermosíssima Maria (Dona Maria, Queen of Castile), the daughter of King Afonso IV of Portugal who went to the Portuguese court to ask your father that would help her husband in the Battle of Salado. Legend has it that the Queen stood on this site, in the vicinity of Terena, when he received the good news, there was born the invocation Good News. The cult remains very much alive, and this sanctuary scene of a popular pilgrimage that is celebrated the first weekend after the Easter week. The importance of this pilgrimage in the region is of such importance that the Monday of Pascoela (main day of the festival) is the municipal holiday Alandroal county.

The Sanctuary is a gem of religious architecture of the fourteenth century fortified church of cruciform plan, rare in Portugal [as defined by Mário Chicó, see the Flower Monastery of the Rose and the Church of the True Cross Marmelar], built on strong ashlar granite, crowned and Muslim battlements. In the northern facades, south and west, open up gates of pointed arches, Gothic and medieval narrow cracks, topped by defensive counters, with boulders (where it poured boiling liquids, in case of attack), decorated with real weapons stones Portuguese. The whole of the main facade is still ennobled by simple bell tower, added in the eighteenth century. The temple was originally from Avis Order of patronage, as grantees had after the Counts of Vila Nova (Portimão).

Former county seat for the first time in 1838 and moved definitely in 1851 for the then Reguengos village of Monsaraz, today the city. Do not confuse Reguengos de Monsaraz with Monsaraz. Are two distinct locations separated by about 15 kilometers.

The Monsaraz village was conquered from the Moors in 1167, the men of Geraldo Fearless. The first charter came to be granted by King Afonso III on 15 January 1276. The Monsaraz Castle played over the centuries the role of the Guadiana sentry, guarding the border with Castile. The village came to administer three parishes: the parish of Santa Maria da Lagoa, Santiago and São Bartolomeu.

The village is surrounded by walls, which to perpetuate the medieval air, accentuate the unique atmosphere of its streets, as if Monsaraz remain frozen in time. Is elliptical.

Its walls and the eight pillars are “decorated” with bones and skulls connected by brown cement. The vaults are of brick plastered in white, painted with allegorical motifs to death. It is a monument of a penitential architectural arches decorated with skulls queues, cornices and white ships. Was constructed with around 5000 skeletons, from the cemeteries, located in churches and convents of the city. The chapel was dedicated to the Senhor dos Passos, Lord of the Steps, known in the city image as Senhor Jesus da Casa dos Ossos, Lord Jesus House of Bones, impressing with the expression that represents the suffering of Christ, in their walk with the cross up to Calvary.

It is common belief that flags of the fleet of Vasco da Gama on his first expedition to the Orient, were blessed in the first presbytery of the cathedral in 1497.

The most important historical figure associated with the cathedral was Cardinal-King Henrique (1512–1580), who was archbishop and cardinal of Évora. Cardinal Henrique, who was brother of King John III, had to succeed D. Sebastião as King of Portugal after his death in the Battle of Alcácer-Quibir. The Cardinal-King ruled only between 1578 and 1580.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Cathedral of Évora was the setting of the so-called School of Évora of polyphony, which played an important role on the music history of Portugal. Composers related to the Cathedral include Mateus de Aranda and Manuel Mendesand his pupils, Duarte Lobo and Filipe de Magalhães.

The main festival is more properly a fair, originating from the license of Joseph, dated September 27, 1751, which authorized the holding of a free fair on this site.

The pilgrimage on horseback

The pilgrimage on horseback is designed to recover an abandoned tradition for about 70 years when farmers and farmers moved with their animals to the Shrine of N. Mrs. d’Aires to seek protection for livestock and good harvests .

The Pilgrimage to horse takes place on the fourth weekend week of April, between the Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage in Moita do Ribatejo, the Shrine of Our Lady of Aires, in Viana do Alentejo. The festival is held by the former royal canada, known also by the Spanish road and that makes a total of 120 km. This festival has an associated religious character, the Virgin is carried in procession.

This section develops in the northeast-southwest direction. Begins in the old CP station of the city of Montemor-o-Novo, go through the village and its final stop of Paião, ending in the Tower Station Scythe, which liaises with the Local Nature Tourism, already implemented.

The Montemor Ecopista through an important natural area – the site of Monfurado, home to species of flora and fauna of Community interest.

This is an area dominated by important cork oak and holm oak, very well maintained and is considered a very important area for the conservation of several species of bats.

The entry Ecopista and the railway bridge next to the old Montemor-o-novo train station, the final stop of Paião and the Tower of Largo da Gadanha.

More information: http://www.referpatrimonio.pt/ecopistas/ecopista-do-montado

The Arraiolos carpets are wool carpets embroidered with the stitch with the same name, on a jute fabric, cotton or linen, characteristic of the Alentejo town of Arraiolos in Portugal. The Arraiolos embroidery has the advantage of giving the facts tapestry convenient strength and consistency and allows faithful reproduction of all geometric designs and the most artistic designs.