Pedrógão Grande

There is a clear testimony of the Roman domination in Pedrogão Grande: a Roman oven, situated in Cabeço da Cotovia. Centuries later, King Afonso Henriques donated these lands to his son Pedro Afonso who, by the charter of 1233, ordered it to be peopled. The Main Church was a grandiose Romanesque Temple representing well the aesthetics of the period. Successive works gave it a Renaissance character but inside there is still a statue of Nossa Senhora da Luz that came from the Dominican Monastery with the same name, which could have been built in the 15th century.  We know that its borders went up to the Penedo do Granada. This is a place of great natural beauty and therefore very inspiring to Father Luis, the monk named himself after the Penedo (rock), and maybe of Miguel Leitão de Andrade, who returned from Alcácer Quibir to leave us the most eloquent testimony of the 4th August 1578. Once in Pedrogão Grande, a stroll through the historical centre can surprise us: the noble features of a great number of houses of the Rua Dourada and Rua Rica, followed by pretty spots with flower boxes on the windows. A must for the visitor is the church of Misericórdia, dating from 1470. And if you happen to be in Pedrogão Grande for Easter, you should know that here the old tradition of acting the Passion of Christ fills the streets with faithful people. In Pedrogão Grande, nature was generous. By boat we can see the perfect arches of the old bridge over the Zêzere River, dating from the period of King Philip, which has now been replaced by the new 145 m high bridge. But the Cabril and the Bouçã Dams are not only used by the small boats. There are those who row all over and promise to return.There are those who know the best places and times to fish. The delicacies are famous: the black bass and the trout are fried. As far as the meats are concerned no one denies the excellence of the “bucho” (stomach). The heather honey and the cheese from sheep milk complete this parade of delicacies.