Peroguarda brings together several cultural themes that you can weigh differently when planning your trip: choral singing, Arraiolos craftsmanship, church history and archaeological traces. For your stay, you can decide whether to focus mainly on singing traditions, local crafts or historical finds. The Freguesia de Peroguarda is located in one of Portugal’s most important grain-growing regions.

Choral Singing and Crafts

Alma Alentejana de Peroguarda is one of the most emblematic and long-established choral groups in the Concelho Ferreira do Alentejo. The song “O menino” is sung mainly in Peroguarda. This shows choral singing on two different scales: as part of the cultural profile of the Concelho and as a song with a particular connection to the town. In 1968, Michel Giacometti made recordings in Peroguarda in connection with Cante. This dated reference adds a historical link to the study of Cante Alentejano to the song’s particular connection to the town.

The Igreja Paroquial de Santa Margarida was already in existence in the 16th century, making it an early historical reference point. Crafts offer another perspective: D. Inês makes Arraiolos rugs at Rua do Lobo 6. If you plan to visit this address, arrange your visit in advance. This allows you to give church history and a specific craft tradition different levels of importance during your stay.

Historical Traces in Peroguarda

Archaeological excavations in the Freguesia de Peroguarda uncovered remains of Lusitanian-Roman, Visigothic and Arab civilisations. The Sítio da Casinha da Pólvora site lies in the north of the Freguesia. It yielded the largest number of the archaeological remains identified there. The finds thus represent several periods, while the site adds a specific location within the Freguesia to this broad historical perspective.

A Luso-Roman tombstone made of regional stone and bearing a Latin inscription remained unnoticed for centuries in the doorway of the Casa de Santa Margarida before passing into the ownership of the Ferreira do Alentejo municipality. The history of the object itself can also be traced through time: from its long, unnoticed use in the doorway to its later change of ownership. Michel Giacometti chose the small cemetery in Peroguarda as his final resting place. In 1938, Peroguarda was classified as the “most typical village in Baixo Alentejo”. This historical designation and Giacometti’s connection to the town provide further starting points for exploring Peroguarda’s cultural history.

During a guided visit on 2 April 2022, the village’s traditional character and its connection to local customs were the focus. This specific historical occasion offers another perspective on local traditions.

Dates and Practical Information

The Festas de Santa Margarida take place in Peroguarda on the last weekend of July; the exact dates may vary from year to year. Check the date for your chosen year before planning your trip. This lets you schedule your visit around the celebrations without assuming a specific calendar date.

Padaria Fralda Alves bakery is located at Praça Francisco Gonçalves Pereira 11 in Peroguarda. Check the current opening hours before planning a visit. Together with the craft address at Rua do Lobo 6, this information gives you two specific places to consider when planning your visit; arrange visits to the rug-making workshop in advance.

Discover more destinations: Odivelas, Canhestros, Ferreira Do Alentejo, Sesmarias, Figueira Dos Cavaleiros

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