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The region of Gois, central Portugal
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São Martinho  
 

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São Martinho  
      
 

São Martinho

The old village of  São Martinho bears the same name as the chapel in the village, and traditionally the village’s annual festa was held on St. Martin’s day, 11th November.
The older part of the village sits on the high ground looking over the fertile valley of  the Ribeira de Piães, and looking down to the village of Bordeiro. The road winds between old houses built from xisto. In the old part of São Martinho is an old blacksmith’s workshop: the forge has not been lit for many years, as the blacksmith and his wife are now retired. The road continues on through the village amongst newer houses and a few old quintas, passing by the little chapel and café before winding down to Regateira. In 1527 a census was carried out listing permanent dwellings in the region. The settlement of  ‘São Martynho’ was recorded as having three dwellings.

São Martinho São Martinho São Martinho

Above the village there are mineshafts, said to date from the time of the Moors, that were once used for mining gold and tin. One of the older villagers told us a story about the Moors, that her grandmother had told to her: 
Once, when a group of Moors were passing through this region, the parents of the two children of the village were away at a placed called Covão. Seeing that the children were alone at home the Moors asked them where their parents were. When the children  answered:  “They have gone to Covão” (which means “huge hole”), the Moors took it to mean that the parents were dead and buried and so did not trouble themselves further with the village.
It is also said that the village’s inhabitants used to hide from their enemies in the mines; and that in the past, when the village had to give a quantity of their harvest to the local authorities, they hid some of the harvest in the mines before the collectors came round, to avoid having to give away too much of their hard-earned food store.

 
     
 
São Martinho
 
São Martinho São Martinho
 
São Martinho
 
São Martinho São Martinho
 
São Martinho São Martinho São Martinho



 
       
   
  Updated 20 June, 2008
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