Curral das Freiras
Encyclopedia
Curral das Freiras is a civil parish in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos
in the Portuguese
archipelago of Madeira
. In 2001 the popylation was just over 1673 residents, in an area that covers 25.07 km² of the interior mountain range of the island, in the shadow of Pico do Arieiro
and Pico Ruivo
. One of the more distant locations from the municipal seat of Câmara de Lobos, it is very isolated from other communities by the cliffs and peaks that surround its central valley.
The settlement was part of the dominion of João Gonçalves Zarco
, who granted its use for cultivation, around 1462 to João Ferreira and his wife Branca Dias; these settlers later donated their lands to their grand-child Branca Teixeira, on 22 August 1474. On 11 September 1480, the lands were, once again, sold to the second Captain-Donatório, João Gonçalves da Câmara (Zarco´s son), who in turn donated it the Convento of Santa Clara in the name of his daughter Elvira and Joana, who were initiatants at the convent. During early colonization, the settlement was simply known as Curral or Curral da Serra (corral or corral of the mountains), because it was known for its extensive pasture-lands, used for grazing cattle and small herds (sheep and goats). The name was subsequently altered, when these lands became the property of the nuns of the Convent of Santa Clara (between 1492 and 1497). There is also some discrepancy; others credit the name change after 1566, when the nuns of the Convent took refuge on these properties, during the French privateer attack and sack of Funchal.
The lands of Curral das Freiras were part of the parish of Santo António
, but, owing to its extreme isolation from this ecclesiastical seat, the religious parish of Curral das Freiras was instituted in 1780. Later, on 17 March 1790, by regal charter (from Queen Maria I
, Curral das Freiras became an independent parish, separating from Santo António.
.
Curral das Freiras has a school, a church and a square .
Câmara de Lobos
Câmara de Lobos -History:The location of the modern town is believed to be the original landing point for the Portuguese discoverer João Gonçalves Zarco, who is credited with the discovery of the Madeira Islands...
in the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
archipelago of Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
. In 2001 the popylation was just over 1673 residents, in an area that covers 25.07 km² of the interior mountain range of the island, in the shadow of Pico do Arieiro
Pico do Arieiro
Pico do Arieiro, at 1818 meters high , is the Madeira Island's third highest peak. The footpath northwards towards Pico Ruivo is an important tourist attraction, with a daily average of 1000 tourists trekking on it....
and Pico Ruivo
Pico Ruivo
Pico Ruivo is the highest peak on the Madeira Islands. It can be reached only by foot, usually either from Pico do Arieiro after a strenuous hike, or from Achada do Teixeira with a shorter, easier trail. There is an additional trail leading west to Encumeada...
. One of the more distant locations from the municipal seat of Câmara de Lobos, it is very isolated from other communities by the cliffs and peaks that surround its central valley.
History
Initially, during its early settlement access to the valley of Curral was difficult, and was only attempted by semi-nomadic shepards, or slaves who gained their emancipation or escaped from servitude. These distant peoples built small homes, and a small nucleus developed around the end of the 15th century, which became legally constituted. More permanent residents began to dwell in the valley shortly after, even as the area was little developed.The settlement was part of the dominion of João Gonçalves Zarco
João Gonçalves Zarco
João Gonçalves Zarco was a Portuguese explorer who established settlements and recognition of the Madeira Islands, and was appointed first captain of Funchal by Henry the Navigator.-Life:...
, who granted its use for cultivation, around 1462 to João Ferreira and his wife Branca Dias; these settlers later donated their lands to their grand-child Branca Teixeira, on 22 August 1474. On 11 September 1480, the lands were, once again, sold to the second Captain-Donatório, João Gonçalves da Câmara (Zarco´s son), who in turn donated it the Convento of Santa Clara in the name of his daughter Elvira and Joana, who were initiatants at the convent. During early colonization, the settlement was simply known as Curral or Curral da Serra (corral or corral of the mountains), because it was known for its extensive pasture-lands, used for grazing cattle and small herds (sheep and goats). The name was subsequently altered, when these lands became the property of the nuns of the Convent of Santa Clara (between 1492 and 1497). There is also some discrepancy; others credit the name change after 1566, when the nuns of the Convent took refuge on these properties, during the French privateer attack and sack of Funchal.
The lands of Curral das Freiras were part of the parish of Santo António
Santo António (Funchal)
Santo António is a civil parish in the northeastern part of the municipality and a suburb of Funchal on the island of Madeira. It is located about 3 km northeast of central Funchal, and linked by roadways from Monte and Camacha...
, but, owing to its extreme isolation from this ecclesiastical seat, the religious parish of Curral das Freiras was instituted in 1780. Later, on 17 March 1790, by regal charter (from Queen Maria I
Maria I of Portugal
Maria I was Queen regnant of Portugal and the Algarves from 1777 until her death. Known as Maria the Pious , or Maria the Mad , she was the first undisputed Queen regnant of Portugal...
, Curral das Freiras became an independent parish, separating from Santo António.
Geography
Situated in a profound valley, and encircled by steep mountain slopes, the parish of Curral das Freiras is located 29 kilometres from the municipal seat of Câmara de Lobos. Most of the buildings in the parish overlook the main valley, with the steep hillsides encircling the parish used for the cultivation of cherries and grapes used in the production of Madeira wineMadeira wine
Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands. Some wines produced in small quantities in California and Texas are also referred to as "Madeira", or "Madera", although those wines do not conform to the EU PDO regulations...
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Curral das Freiras has a school, a church and a square .