Belmonte Route

Belmonte Main Church

Recently built in the 1940s, it houses the four-century image of Our Lady of Hope, who according to tradition accompanied Pedro Álvares Cabral on the voyage of discovery of Brazil.

POINT OF INTEREST LOCATION

Largo do Castelo, 6250-048 Belmonte

HOW TO ARRIVE

Castelo Square, 6250-048 Belmonte

Contacts

TEL. (+351) 275 088 698

More points of interest

Belmonte Historic Center

The urban complex is organized around three poles corresponding to the construction phases of the town: 9th to 12th century, 12th to 19th century, and 15th to 18th century. The Belmonte Castle, the Church of São Tiago and the Chapel of Cabrais, and the pillory are central monuments of the Belmonte Historical Center.

São Tiago's Church and Cabrais Chapel

Built in the mid-13th century, the Church of São Tiago and Cabrais Chapel are an important testimony of the late Romanesque in Beira Interior. Inside, one can observe a granite Pietá and wall paintings from at least two eras, and one can find traces of a triptych built by figures representing Our Lady, St. James (orago) and St. Peter. The Cabrais Chapel, or Cabrais Pantheon, is where the tombs of several members of the Cabral family are, such as the tombs of Pedro Álvares Cabral's parents.

Museum of Discoveries

The Museum of Discoveries or Interpretation Center "Discovering the New World (DNM)" is located in the backyard of the Solar dos Cabrais and allows you to know and explore in an innovative way one of the greatest achievements of the History of the Portuguese Discoveries - the discovery of Brazil. With 16 different rooms, filled with content collected and researched over 5 years in institutions around the world and with the help of RTP, we can almost feel what it was like to be aboard one of the ships in the Atlantic on a voyage of more than 500 years.

Zêzere Ecomuseum

Here you can learn about the morphology of the land surrounding the river, the fauna and flora that depend on it along its entire 240 km course, from the source to the mouth, where it flows into the Tagus. The exhibition is divided into three parts: Childhood, Youth, and Adulthood - the time when the waters are diluted in the Tagus River. It is also possible to learn about the main threats to the river and its ecosystems.

Olive Oil Museum

The Olive Oil Museum, inaugurated in 2005, aims to show the olive oil production techniques, the origin and importance of olive tree culture, and the economic relevance that the "liquid gold" has in the region.

Jewish Museum

Belmonte is the only Peninsular community to legitimately inherit the ancient historical presence of Sephardic Jews and the oldest in Portugal. The Jewish Museum enhances this and aims to be a unique educational and teaching space about Judaism, the culture of the Jewish people, their integration into Portuguese society, their contribution to culture, art, literature, commerce, and crafts, as well as the culture and religion of the Jews, their rituals and customs, in the synagogue and at home. Founded in 2005, the museum is filled with pieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Genuine pieces that were used by Jews, New Christians and their descendants in religious acts, daily life and professional activity.

Pedro Álvares Cabral Statue

The navigator captain appears in a serene pose, holding an astrolabe, a sword, and a cross.

Beit Elliahu Synagogue

It is located in the old Judiaria and is very popular with Jews and the curious to learn more about the Jewish community. Inaugurated 500 years after the expulsion of Jews decreed by D. Manuel, this synagogue, besides being oriented towards Jerusalem, has a representation of a candelabra on the door, as well as a Star of David.

Centum Cellas Tower

It is a curious and unique stone monument built around the year I A.D. This tower is 12 meters high and has three partial stories, whose function is still not clear. Some of the hypotheses are that it may have been a temple, a prison, a patretorium (a general's tent or central area of a Roman camp), a mansio (inn) or even a Roman villa.

Ethnographic House of Caria

With more than 200 pieces donated by residents, the permanent exhibition "Arts and Crafts" aims to show the history of ancient professions, the richness of their existence and production, their tasks and their social and anthropological value. It features objects from the daily life of ancestors with the goal of disseminating and preserving memories of the region's way of life, also showing its evolution.

House of the Tower

The Houe of the Tower was built in the early fourteenth century and at the time served as the residence of the bishops of Guarda. It rises with great splendor in the urban landscape of the town, thus demonstrating the great power of political and religious institutions since Roman times until today. Today it is a Center for Archaeological Studies. In its three floors we find archaeological pieces collected from various places in the municipality of Belmonte: on the first floor are on display finds from the medieval and Roman periods, with many coins, decorative objects, aras, personal, decorative, hunting and war utensils; on the second floor the exhibition goes from the fifteenth century to the nineteenth century; and on the top floor there is a restoration workshop.

Roman Villa at Quinta da Fórnea

The Roman ruins of Vila da Fórnea are a monumental complex dating back to the 2nd century, built with various divisions, some of which are still well defined, namely olive oil and wine presses, cereal processing, iron foundry, animal stables. Also uncovered were some thermal baths, with the traditional tanks, which would allow for baths of different temperatures, as well as vestiges of the hypocaust and apoditerium which would complete the equipment of a thermal bath and various compartments related to the dwelling of the owners and their dependents.

House of the Wheel

Simple building, with only one floor and only one door and window, in a discreet place to ensure the anonymity of the mothers who left their children. This house has an opening in the wall with a revolving structure where the children were left on one side and their belongings on the other. Inside it is possible to see an exhibition on the theme and also some objects and documents.

Calvário Chapel / S. António Chapel

The Chapels of Santo António and Calvário are a complex formed by two small buildings, located near the castle and the Church of Santiago. The chapels' collection includes two wooden images, one of the Holy Spirit and the other of St. Anthony.

Zeca Afonso's Statue

The Portuguese singer and composer who lived for some years in Belmonte has, in Largo Afonso Costa, a statue in his honour for the influence Belmonte had on the icon in Portuguese popular music that he eventually became.

Welcome Center

The Welcome Center in Belmonte aims to be a space of excellence in welcoming all those who visit us. This tourist office has a contemporary decoration concept, using minimalist furniture, in order to be a space with several valences beyond the welcoming of tourists, such as gastronomic exhibitions, product launches and presentation of literary works, among others. The space is also equipped with an exhibition room.

Pillory of Belmonte

A revivalist pillory of the heraldic type, consisting of an octagonal shaft and a quadrangular base. It bears a shield with the municipality's coat of arms and, at the top, a royal crown.

Hannukah Candelabra

A candelabra that celebrates one of the main Jewish festivals and is marked "by a family atmosphere and great joy". A nine-armed candelabra is used, with the lighting of one candle per day, recalling the eight days when the flame burned miraculously, as described in the Old Testament.

Convento de Belmonte Inn

HOTEL BELSOL

Belmonte Sinai Hotel

Altitude Lodging

Dona Gracia

Back to School

Cantinho de Caria Lodging

Casa Típica da Vila Lodging

Portal D`Arte Tourism Establishment

Quinta da Pelada Quinta da Pelada

Casa Rosa Milagre

Lodging Nossa Senhora da Esperança

Casa do Pai

Portas de Belmonte Apartment

Convento Belmonte Gourmet

Altitude Lodging and Restaurant

Restaurant Belmonte Sinai Hotel

Casa do Castelo Restaurant

Restaurant O Brasão

Restaurant Farol da Esperança

Restaurant Fio de Azeite Taberna

Restaurant Bebiana

Belmonte Castle

It is estimated that it was built by order of D. Sancho I in the 12th century, but it underwent many changes, the most notable being the construction of panoramic windows, one of them in Manueline style, and bastions in the years when it had a military function. With so many changes, the construction of Belmonte Castle integrates an unusual miscellany of architectural styles - Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and 18th century traces. Currently, the building has tourist and cultural functions, an open-air amphitheater was built and the Keep and 19th-century room were adapted to museum spaces dedicated to the history of the County and the Castle.