Illustrated Postcards: Portalegre and Bragança
A remembrance of the Portugal from the past. In the image, a photograph by the english photographer Anne Gordon, we can see two sellers of antiques.
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Portalegre is a Portuguese city. It is the capital of the Portalegre district, located in the Alentejo region. The name Portalegre has an etymology in the words Portus (port, crossing point) and Alacer (Happy).
Sé Cathedral – Portalegre, Portugal (Front) (20th Century) by Edição de A. d' Oliveira & FilhoVirtual Museum of Lusophony
The Sé de Portalegre was built by the initiative of João III de Portugal.
With a design by Afonso Álvares, construction began in 1556. Its last stone, the closing of the vault, was placed in 1575. Its first bishop was Dom Julião.
City Hall and Industrial School – Portalegre, Portugal (Front) (20th Century) by Edição de A. d' Oliveira & FilhoVirtual Museum of Lusophony
The "Paço do Concelho" building dates from the Philippine Dynasty in 1634. Special attention should be given to the wrought iron on the balconies of the windows. The Industrial School was founded in 1884.
Miguel Lombarda Park, George Robinson Avenue - Portalegre, Portugal (Front) (20th Century) by Edição de A. d' Oliveira & FilhoVirtual Museum of Lusophony
George Robinson, who gives his name to this avenue, was an industrialist born in York County, England, who immigrated to Portalegre in 1848. He bought the small Thomas Reynolds factory, which under the name of Robinson became the largest manufacturing unit in Portalegre.
Parcial View of Portalegre, Portugal (Front) (20th Century) by Union Postale UniverselleVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Partial view of Portalegre.
Excerpt from the city. In the foreground the former royal factory – Portalegre, Portugal (Front) (20th Century) by Edição de António Afonso FrancoVirtual Museum of Lusophony
In the foreground we see the Fábrica Real. This building is currently part of the historic heritage of Portalegre. The Royal Wool Factory was created by Marquês de Pombal. The region was one of the largest wool traders.
Parcial View of Portalegre, Portugal (Front) (20th Century) by Edição de António Afonso FrancoVirtual Museum of Lusophony
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Bragança is located in the Northern Region of Portugal, in the "Trás-os-Montes" sub-region. The municipality is bordered to the north and east by Spain.
A curiosity: Bragança was called "Brigância" and was founded by the Celts in the 2nd century BC.
Overview of Bragança, Portugal (Front) (20th Century) by A. Martins Editor - LisboaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
General view of Bragança. At the top you can see the Castle of Bragança.
Old Town Hall of Bragança, Portugal (Front) (20th Century) by Edição de Adriano Rodrigues - BragançaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
"Paço do concelho" is a traditional denomination of buildings where the local administration of each of the Portuguese municipalities was based, as well as the city council.
Old Town Hall of Bragança, Portugal (Back) (20th Century) by Edição de Adriano Rodrigues - BragançaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Cover photo: Anne Gordon
REFERENCES:
Dias, H. D. V. & Sá, A. (2019). Bragança, diferentes olhares e perspectivas. Bragança: Município de Bragança.
Martins, M. L. (Org.). (2007). The illustrated postcards: for a socio-semiotic of the image and the imaginary. [Blog]. Retrieved from http://postaisilustrados.blogspot.com/
Martins, M. L. & Oliveira, M. (Cords.) (2011). Portugal Ilustrado em postais: Bragança, Viana do Castelo, Braga, Viseu, Portalegre. Braga: Universidade do Minho - Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade (CECS). Retrieved from http://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/handle/1822/36492
Patrão, J. H. D. (2011). Portalegre - Fundação da Cidade e do Bispado: Levantamento e progresso da Catedral. Lisboa: Edições Colibri.
Regedor, M. (2008). Postal a Postal. Retrieved from https://postaisilustrados.uminho.pt
Access Part 1 of the Exhibition - Illustrated Postcards: Viseu and Viana do Castelo
Access Part 3 of the Exhibition - Illustrated Postcards - Braga
