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Arraiolos (), officially the Town of Arraiolos (), is a town and municipality in the
Évora District Évora District ( ) is located in Alentejo, in southern Portugal. The district capital is the city of Évora. It borders Spain. Municipalities The district is composed by 14 municipalities: * Alandroal * Arraiolos * Borba * Estremoz * Év ...
of
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
. As of 2021, the municipality had a population of 6,606 people and covered an area of . The town itself was home to 3,133 residents in the same year. The current Mayor is Silvia Pinto, elected by the Unitary Democratic Coalition. The town is famous for its
castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...
and its embroidered wool rugs and carpets. Arraiolos rugs have been made since at least the 16th century. In October 2003,
Jorge Sampaio Jorge Fernando Branco de Sampaio (; 18 September 1939 – 10 September 2021) was a Portuguese lawyer and politician who was the 18th President of Portugal from 1996 to 2006. Sampaio was a member of the Socialist Party, a party which he ...
, the then President of Portugal, invited the Presidents of
Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
,
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, as well as of soon-to-be EU members
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
,
Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...
and
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
to Arraiolos in order to discuss the consequences of the
2004 enlargement of the European Union The largest enlargement of the European Union (EU), in terms of number of states and population, took place on 1 May 2004. The simultaneous accessions concerned the following countries (sometimes referred to as the "A10" countries): Cyprus, ...
and plans for a Constitution for Europe. Subsequent meetings of non-executive presidents of
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
member states have been dubbed '' Arraiolos meetings''.


History


Origins and Roman era

Archaeological evidence suggests that the area around Arraiolos has been inhabited since at least the late
Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...
or
Chalcolithic The Chalcolithic ( ) (also called the Copper Age and Eneolithic) was an archaeological period characterized by the increasing use of smelted copper. It followed the Neolithic and preceded the Bronze Age. It occurred at different periods in di ...
periods, indicating significant human occupation as early as the 4th millennium BCE. Historians believe that during protohistoric times, the site of the present-day Castle of Arraiolos served as a central habitat. Prehistoric objects were excavated from a
tumulus A tumulus (: tumuli) is a mound of Soil, earth and Rock (geology), stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, mounds, howes, or in Siberia and Central Asia as ''kurgans'', and may be found through ...
in Arraiolos at the beginning of the twentieth century. These included a
trapezoid In geometry, a trapezoid () in North American English, or trapezium () in British English, is a quadrilateral that has at least one pair of parallel sides. The parallel sides are called the ''bases'' of the trapezoid. The other two sides are ...
-shaped plaque with
geometric Geometry (; ) is a branch of mathematics concerned with properties of space such as the distance, shape, size, and relative position of figures. Geometry is, along with arithmetic, one of the oldest branches of mathematics. A mathematician w ...
design and three pottery vessels. These are now housed in the
British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...
with similar discoveries also reported in Vendas Novas. A
Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
settlement may have existed in the area around Arraiolos. Evidence suggests that the Church of Santana do Campo was constructed over the remains of a
Roman temple Ancient Roman temples were among the most important buildings in culture of ancient Rome, Roman culture, and some of the richest buildings in Architecture of ancient Rome, Roman architecture, though only a few survive in any sort of complete ...
, with remnants visible in the church structure and nearby constructions, including the southern cemetery wall. A Roman inscription was also found nearby at Herdade da Ravasqueira. This settlement is believed to have corresponded to a ''
vicus In Ancient Rome, the Latin term (plural ) designated a village within a rural area () or the neighbourhood of a larger settlement. During the Republican era, the four of the city of Rome were subdivided into . In the 1st century BC, Augustus ...
'', a small agricultural community that evolved from an indigenous site under Roman influence. Historians have suggested that this settlement may have been called "Calântica." Others trace its origins to
Sabine The Sabines (, , , ;  ) were an Italic people who lived in the central Apennine Mountains (see Sabina) of the ancient Italian Peninsula, also inhabiting Latium north of the Anio before the founding of Rome. The Sabines divided int ...
, Tusculan, and Alban settlers who are believed to have arrived in the area before the Sertorian Wars, led by a figure named Rayeo. This name, "Rayeo," could be the root of "Rayolis," which eventually evolved into Arraiolos.


Middle Ages

During the Islamic period, Arabic sources offer few details on the region, aside from the growing importance of Évora from the 10th century onward. In 1165, the area around Arraiolos likely was reconquered by Gerald the Fearless during the reign of King Afonso Henriques. In 1217, King Afonso II granted the land of Arraiolos to Soeiro, the Bishop of Évora. This land largely corresponded to today's municipality, with the exception of Vimieiro, which would be granted a charter (
foral 200px, Foral of Castro Verde - Portugal The ''Carta de Foral'', or simply ''Foral'', was a royal document in Portugal and its former empire, whose purpose was to establish a ''concelho'' (Council) and regulate its administration, borders and priv ...
) in 1257 by bishop Martinho of Évora. However, under King Afonso III, both Arraiolos and Vimieiro would return to the hands of the crown, in 1271. Arraiolos received its first charter from King Denis in 1290, who also commissioned the construction of the town's castle. On December 26, 1305, a contract for the castle's construction was formalized between the king and representatives of the town council, João Anes and Martim Fernandes. The land remained under the control of the Portuguese crown for less than a century. King Pedro I granted it to Rodrigo Afonso de Sousa, the son of Afonso Dinis, who was the illegitimate son of King Afonso III. After Sousa's death, the land was given to Álvaro Pires de Castro, the brother of Inês de Castro and the title of count of Arraiolos was created. Álvaro Pires de Castro's rule over Arraiolos was marked by conflict with the townspeople, primarily due to his lodging rights, which required locals to house and feed his large entourage whenever he visited. This burden sparked significant discontent, and the villagers petitioned King Ferdinand for relief. In response, a formal agreement was established that limited Álvaro Pires de Castro's demands: he could no longer requisition residents' homes or take their belongings, such as food and household items, without consent. As part of the compromise, the townspeople agreed to contribute labor toward the construction of a new residence for him in exchange for clear limits on his demands. In 1387,
Nuno Álvares Pereira '' Dom'' Nuno Álvares Pereira, OCarm (; 24 June 1360 – 1 November 1431) was a very successful Portuguese general who had a decisive role in the 1383–1385 Crisis that assured Portugal's independence from Castile. He later became a my ...
, Constable of Portugal, became the second count of Arraiolos. He spent a significant period in Arraiolos before eventually joining the Carmo Convent in
Lisbon Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...
. In 1422, he transferred the title to his grandson,
Fernando Fernando is a Spanish and Portuguese given name and a surname common in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Switzerland, and former Spanish or Portuguese colonies in Latin America, Africa and Asia (like the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka). It is e ...
, who would later become the second
Duke of Braganza The title Duke of Braganza () in the House of Braganza is one of the most important titles in the peerage of Portugal. Starting in 1640, when the House of Braganza acceded to the throne of Portugal, the male heir of the Portuguese Crown were ...
, establishing the title firmly within the
House of Braganza The Most Serene House of Braganza (), also known as the Brigantine dynasty (''dinastia Brigantina''), is a dynasty of emperors, kings, princes, and dukes of Portuguese people, Portuguese origin which reigned in Europe and the Americas. The hous ...
.


Modern era

The town's charter was renewed on 29 March 1511 by
King Manuel I Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate (), was King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521. A member of the House of Aviz, Manuel was Duke of Beja and Viseu prior to succeeding his cousin, John II of Portugal, as monarch. Manue ...
. It was part of a reform initiated in 1496 to modernize and correct issues in older medieval charters granted to Portuguese towns and cities. This reform aimed to curb abuses by local lords, who had imposed unauthorized taxes and exploited the population, especially in towns held by noble patrons, as was the case with Arraiolos under Álvaro Pires de Castro. By issuing a revised foral, the crown sought to reaffirm its authority, protect the rights and privileges of towns, and regulate relationships within the community to ensure fair governance. The first population count in Arraiolos took place between 1527 and 1532, following a census by King John III. The entire land of Arraiolos comprised 760 households, which corresponds to approximately 3,500 people. No separate figures exist for just the town. This placed Arraiolos among the 17 most populous urban centers in
Alentejo Alentejo ( , , ) is a geographical, historical, and cultural region of south–central and southern Portugal. In Portuguese, its name means "beyond the Tagus" (). Alentejo includes the regions of Alto Alentejo Province, Alto Alentejo and Bai ...
at the time. The production of Arraiolos carpets dates back to at least the 16th century and is closely linked to the influence of Islamic weavers who brought their
weaving Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods are knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal ...
traditions to Portugal between the 8th and 15th centuries. After the expulsion of non-Catholics under King Manuel I in the early 16th century, many Muslim artisans are assumed to have migrated to the south of Portugal, particularly to the Alentejo region. These skilled weavers would have helped introduce and preserve carpet-making techniques, which merged with local traditions to create the distinctive Arraiolos style. By the late 17th century, records of Arraiolos carpets appear in customs documentation from Lisbon, indicating their growing popularity and spread. However, by the 19th century, the production of Arraiolos rugs began to decline as
industrialization Industrialisation (British English, UK) American and British English spelling differences, or industrialization (American English, US) is the period of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an i ...
and the proliferation of machine-made textiles increasingly displaced the traditional craft. Arraiolos experienced several administrative changes over the centuries. Its boundaries were first formally defined in 1736. In 1835, it was incorporated into the Évora District and in 1855 Arraiolos annexed the Vimieiro municipality. Mora municipality was annexed in 1895 but separated again in 1898. On 21 April 1907, the Ramal de Mora railway line reached Arraiolos connecting it to Évora to the south. A year later, the line was completed, reaching the neighboring town of Mora to the north. The Arraiolos station was located to the east of the center, without any buildings nearby. Another station existed in the municipality to the north in Vale de Paio. Operations on this line ceased in May 1987 and in 2006, part of the line's former path was converted into a dedicated trail for cyclists and pedestrians.


Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 5 civil parishes ('' freguesias''): * Arraiolos * Gafanhoeira e Sabugueiro * Igrejinha * São Gregório e Santa Justa * Vimieiro


Transports

Arraiolos is connected to other locations in Alentejo by bus services provided by Rodoviária do Alentejo (a part of Barraqueiro Group) and Rede Expressos. In the town center there are also a bus station for touristic busses and a taxi rank. The municipality has a bike and walking path passing east of the town of Arraiolos. It follows the path of the decommissioned railway line Ramal de Mora and it connects the town of Arraiolos to Vale de Paio to the north and Évora to the south. It is a part of the Grande Rota do Montado project that hopes to convert to bike and walking paths parts of the decommissioned railways around Évora ( Ramal de Reguengos, Ramal de Vila Viçosa, Ramal de Montemor, Ramal de Mora and Linha de Évora. A total of of paths are expected to be converted across Alentejo.


Notable people

* Joaquim Heliodoro da Cunha Rivara (1809 in Arraiolos – 1879 in Évora) a physician, professor, intellectual and politician * Francisco José Caeiro (1890 in Vimieiro – 1976) a politician and former Minister and law professor. * José Caeiro da Mata (1883 in Vimieiro – 1963) jurist, law professor and former
Minister of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and foreign relations, relations, diplomacy, bilateralism, ...
.


Gallery

File:Arraiolos1.jpg, The local castle. File:Castelo de Arraiolos3.jpg, View of the countryside from the castle. File:Arraiolos2.jpg, A house in Arraiolos. File:Centro Interpretativo do Tapete de Arraiolos, Arraiolos 09.jpg, Interpretative center for Arraiolos rugs File:Arraiolos train station.jpg, Arraiolos train station, after railway decommission


References


External links


Town Hall official websitePhotos of ARRAIOLOS
{{authority control Towns in Portugal Municipalities of Évora District