Esperança

Share Image

In Esperança (meaning hope), the church, the houses and the people are indelible signs of its authenticity. Up there in the blue silence of a golden sky, an eagle watches its prey. Parish of noble Arronches municipality, Esperança is a village with typical Alentejo characteristics, where you can see the harmonious Church of Nossa Senhora da Esperança (Our Lady of Hope), patron saint of the parish, whose pilgrimage takes place on the first weekend of August.The church, from the 16th century and rebuilt in the 18th century, has a Renaissance altarpiece in polychrome wood.

In traditional architecture highlight for the low houses with only one floor and large chimneys typically from Alentejo, giving to the set an important role in the architectural composition. The whitewash is a key elemento with painted fringed at the bottom, especially yellow and blue, give beauty to the facades. Visit the Centro de Interpretação da Identidade Local (local Identity Interpretation Center).

The coat of the parish has two animal figures, representing the two major shelters with rock paintings: Vale de Junco or Lapa dos Gaivões in Louções hills; and Pinho Monteiro in Monte Novo estate. Are both rock shelters with paintings (a rarity in Portugal), the first from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic (2500-3000 BC) is classified as a National Monument. The Pinho Monteiro, discovered in 1981 by Jorge Pinho Monteiro (hence its name), is classified as a Public Interest. The tree in the coat of arms represents the diversity of flora and habitats of Serra de S. Mamede Nature Park, in which this parish is located.