São Martinho de Anta (Sabrosa)
Encyclopedia
São Martinho de Anta is a civil parish
in the municipality
of Sabrosa in the district of Vila Real. The small parish extends into an area of 15.95 km², and includes a minor population of 870 inhabitants (2001). It received its name, in the 20th century, but became more known, as the birthplace of the Portuguese
poet and writer Miguel Torga
, who lived in an isolated home in the parish.
Another remnant of its historical past was the Arrecada de S. Martinho, a golden lunula
structure with hollow, triangular appendages and hanging double system, possibly dating from the 4th century, and connected with the Phoenicia
ns.
São Martinho de Anta was part of the early settlements that were prescribed in the 12th and 13th century foral
allocated to the lands of Panois, specifically the settlements of Souto Maior and Roalde. In addition to the place of Anta, São Martinho de Anta was characterized by an antique castro
, which later was the base for their names.
The foral for Roalde mentions the locality, also referring to the residence of nobles and knights that lived in the area. The 1258 Inquirições
referred to:
The King mentioned was likely King Sancho I
, and that Roalde pertained to the actual São Martinho de Anta ecclisiastical parish, which was dependent on the administration of the Sé
in Braga
.
It is unclear when São Martinho began being referred to with the suffix de Antas or d'Antas. It is clear that Portuguese (and early Brazilian) encyclopedias (such as the Luso-Brasileira, O Grande Dicionário da Verbo Universal) refers to São Martinho de Antas in 1406.
It was elevated to the status of vila (town) on 30 June 1999. Although there is a tendency to refer to the parish as São Martinho de Antas, in reality, the community was fixed by decree as São Martinho de Anta. Moreover, the decree-law 64/99, refers to the settlement as a villa in article one as:
In the location of Tenaria (Roalde), the Ceira River is known to spring, bring water to the Douro River.
In addition to recreational sites, as a autocross track and tennis courts, the parish is benefited by many local services, such as the daily trash collection, connected to public water supply and drainage, a day centre, an extension of the municipal health care centre, pharmacy, post office, primary school and mini-market.
Freguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
in the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Sabrosa in the district of Vila Real. The small parish extends into an area of 15.95 km², and includes a minor population of 870 inhabitants (2001). It received its name, in the 20th century, but became more known, as the birthplace of the Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
poet and writer Miguel Torga
Miguel Torga
Miguel Torga, pseudonym of Adolfo Correia da Rocha is considered one of the greatest Portuguese writers of the 20th century...
, who lived in an isolated home in the parish.
History
Greek coins were dated in this region by Dr. Rui de Serpa Pinto, who suggested that their existence in this area date back to 385 (they have since disappeared). The coins were accidentally found at the beginning of the 20th century.Another remnant of its historical past was the Arrecada de S. Martinho, a golden lunula
Lunula
The word lunula means little moon and commonly refers to:* Lunula * Two round brackets and the text between them* A type of necklace shaped like a crescent moon...
structure with hollow, triangular appendages and hanging double system, possibly dating from the 4th century, and connected with the Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
ns.
São Martinho de Anta was part of the early settlements that were prescribed in the 12th and 13th century foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
allocated to the lands of Panois, specifically the settlements of Souto Maior and Roalde. In addition to the place of Anta, São Martinho de Anta was characterized by an antique castro
Castro culture
Castro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
, which later was the base for their names.
The foral for Roalde mentions the locality, also referring to the residence of nobles and knights that lived in the area. The 1258 Inquirições
Inquirições
Inquirições are the Royal Portuguese commissions. They are put forward by the crown in accomplishing edicts.Afonso II instituted inquirições to investigate the nature of holdings and to recover whatever had been illegally taken from the crown...
referred to:
- "they say that the King gave that royal land to his priest for a horse and mule and a falcon..."
The King mentioned was likely King Sancho I
Sancho I of Portugal
Sancho I , nicknamed the Populator , second monarch of Portugal, was born on 11 November 1154 in Coimbra and died on 26 March 1212 in the same city. He was the second but only surviving legitimate son and fourth child of Afonso I of Portugal by his wife, Maud of Savoy. Sancho succeeded his father...
, and that Roalde pertained to the actual São Martinho de Anta ecclisiastical parish, which was dependent on the administration of the Sé
Sé
Sé may refer to:*sé, the word 'he', or the number six in the Irish language.*Sé , a district of São Paulo, Brazil*Sé, Hungary, a village in Hungary*One of several parishes in Portugal:...
in Braga
Braga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
.
It is unclear when São Martinho began being referred to with the suffix de Antas or d'Antas. It is clear that Portuguese (and early Brazilian) encyclopedias (such as the Luso-Brasileira, O Grande Dicionário da Verbo Universal) refers to São Martinho de Antas in 1406.
It was elevated to the status of vila (town) on 30 June 1999. Although there is a tendency to refer to the parish as São Martinho de Antas, in reality, the community was fixed by decree as São Martinho de Anta. Moreover, the decree-law 64/99, refers to the settlement as a villa in article one as:
- The settlment of São Martinho de Anta, in the municipality of Sabrosa, district of Vila Real, is elevated to the category of town.
Geography
São Martinho de Anta is situated five kilometres from the municipal seat, along the roadway that connects Sabrosa and Vila Real. It includes various hamlets and places including Anta, Garganta, Roalde, São Martinho de Anta, Queda and Fragas, occupying an area of approximately 16 km². It is the largest population in Sabrosa, after the municipal seat, but its population increases considerably during the month of August, due to returnee emigrants on their vacations.In the location of Tenaria (Roalde), the Ceira River is known to spring, bring water to the Douro River.
In addition to recreational sites, as a autocross track and tennis courts, the parish is benefited by many local services, such as the daily trash collection, connected to public water supply and drainage, a day centre, an extension of the municipal health care centre, pharmacy, post office, primary school and mini-market.
Architecture
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Azinheira (Our Lady Day of the Holmoak), dating from the 18th century, it includes an ornate retableRetableA retable is a framed altarpiece, raised slightly above the back of the altar or communion table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlesticks and other ornaments....
and painted ceiling. It is the centre of annual pilgrimages in honour of the Virgin Mary on 15 August and on 11 November dedicated to São MartinhoSão Martinho-In Brazil:*São Martinho, Rio Grande do Sul*São Martinho, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina-In Portugal:*São Martinho das Amoreiras*São Martinho do Porto*São Martinho , a parish in the municipality of Alcácer do Sal...
.
Notable citizens
- Adolfo Correia Rocha, more commonly known as Miguel TorgaMiguel TorgaMiguel Torga, pseudonym of Adolfo Correia da Rocha is considered one of the greatest Portuguese writers of the 20th century...
(12 August 1907 – Coimbra; 17 January 1995), a medic, poet and writer, receiving literary awards for his poetry, short stories, theater and a 16 volume diary, including "Os Contos da Montanha". There are still memories of the authors last trip to the cemetery on the day of his burial.