Estremoz

Infobox_Municipality_pt
official_name = Estremoz


image_coat_of_arms = ETZ.png

---

Region = Alentejo
Subregion = Alentejo Central
District = Évora
Mayor_name = José Palmeiro
Mayor_party = PS
area_total = 513.8
population_total = 15,064
population_density = 29
Parishes = 13
coor = 38º51'N 7º34'W
params = 38_51_N_7_34_W
occasion = Ascension Day
day = date varies
website = http://www.cm-estremoz.pt
footnotes =

Estremoz (pron. IPA2|(ɨ)ʃtɾɨ.moʃ) is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 513.82 km² and a total population of 15,673 inhabitants (2001). The city itself has a population of 7,682. [ [http://62.48.187.117/atlas/Cap2/Cap2d_2.html UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004] Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)] It is located in the Alentejo region.

Parishes

*Arcos
*Estremoz (Santa Maria)
*Estremoz (Santo André)
*Évora Monte (Santa Maria)
*Glória
*Santa Vitória do Ameixial
*Santo Estêvão
*São Bento de Ana Loura
*São Bento do Ameixial
*São Bento do Cortiço
*São Domingos de Ana Loura
*São Lourenço de Mamporcão
*Veiros

History

The region around Estremoz has been inhabited since pre-historic times. There are also vestiges of Roman, Visigoth and Muslim occupation.

During the Reconquista, Estremoz was captured in the 12th century by the army of knight "Geraldo Sem Pavor" ("Gerald the fearless"), who had also conquered neighbouring Évora. However, Estremoz was soon retaken by the Moors and only in the mid-13th century reconquered by Portuguese King Sancho II.

King Afonso III granted a letter of feudal rights (foral) to Estremoz in 1258, promoting the colonisation of the area. In the early 14th century, King Dinis I rebuilt the castle as a Royal Palace, turning the village into an important political centre. King Dinis' widow, Queen Isabel, considered a saint by the people, died in Estremoz castle on July 4, 1336. Many later kings and queens lived in Estremoz, like Peter I, who died at the Convent of St Francis in 1367.

During the 1383–1385 Crisis, in which Portugal was almost conquered by neighbouring Castile, Nuno Álvares Pereira established his headquarters in Estremoz, and defeated the Castilian army nearby in the Battle of Atoleiros.

Estremoz was again militarily important in the 17th century, during the Portuguese Restoration War (1640-1668). Forces from Estremoz took part in the decisive Battles of Ameixial (1663) and Montes Claros (1665), once again against the Castilians.

Marble

Together with the two other marble towns, Borba and Vila Viçosa, Estremoz is internationally known for its fine to medium-grained marble that occurs in several colours: white, cream, pink, grey or black and streaks with any combination of these colours. Especially the pink marble (Rosa Aurora and Estremoz Pink) is in high demand. [ [http://www.dct.fct.unl.pt/JPais/Episodes.pdf Marble in Portugal] ]

This marble has been used since Antiquity as a material for sculpture and architecture. The first exports in Roman times were probably for the construction of the Circus Maximus of Emerita Augusta, in today Spain. The Portuguese navigators exported this marble to Africa, India and Brazil. The marble from this region was used in famed locations such as the Monastery of Jerónimos, the Monastery of Batalha, the Monastery of Alcobaça and the Tower of Belém.

There is so much marble around Estremoz that it is used everywhere; even the doorsteps, pavements and the cobble stones are made out of marble. This marble is even converted into whitewash for painting the houses.

Portugal is the second largest exporter of marble in the world, surpassed only by Italy (Carrara marble). About 85 % of this marble (over 370,000 tons) is produced around Estremoz.

In the quarries marble blocks are cut from the rock with a diamond wire saw, a durable steel cable with a series of circular diamond beads. The initial conduit for the wire is made by drilling a horizontal hole and a vertical hole of which the ends meet exactly inside the rock. The wire saw may need a day to cut through the marble.

References

External links

* [http://www.cm-estremoz.pt/ Town Hall official website]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/1430477/ Photos from Estremoz]