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Belmonte, Portugal

Belmonte (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˌbɛlˈmõtɨ] ) is a municipality in the district of Castelo Branco, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 6,859,[1] in an area of 118.76 km2.[2]

Belmonte
Belmonte
Coordinates: 40°21′N 7°21′W / 40.350°N 7.350°W / 40.350; -7.350
Country Portugal
RegionCentro
Intermunic. comm.Beiras e Serra da Estrela
DistrictCastelo Branco
Area
 • Total118.76 km2 (45.85 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total6,859
 • Density58/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Websitehttp://www.cm-belmonte.pt

Belmonte is distinguished by its enduring Jewish community, tracing back to at least the 13th century, which maintained its faith through crypto-Judaism and numbered about 300 in 2008. Despite facing the Inquisition and forced conversions, this community preserved Jewish traditions in secret, culminating in the re-establishment of open practice and the founding of a synagogue in 1996.[3] The history is chronicled in the Belmonte Jewish Museum, which opened in 2005.[4]

History edit

 
Castle of Belmonte, Portugal.
 
Centum Cellas, originally a Roman Villa and later used as a military Outpost

Belmonte is the birthplace of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the navigator who discovered the land of Vera Cruz, now known as Brazil. Located in the Church of Santa Maria is the iconic statue of Nossa Senhora da Esperança (Our Lady of Hope), which Cabral took with him on his voyage. Until 1834, the statue was held by the Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Esperança. The former religious facility has been adapted for use as a modern boutique hotel.

The singer Zeca Afonso lived in Belmonte for part of his childhood, between 1938 and 1940. He lived with his uncle, the mayor of the town, whilst his parents, José Nepomuceno Afonso dos Santos, a magistrate, and Maria das Dores Dantas Cerqueira, a primary school teacher, were living and working in Mozambique.


 
Belmonte, Museu Judaico

Jewish community edit

In the 16th century, following the expulsion of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, Portuguese legislation required Jews to convert to Christianity or leave the country. Many Jews chose isolation, severing external contacts and strictly maintaining their traditions. Termed Marranos, in reference to the Jewish prohibition of pork, this group preserved their Jewish customs in secrecy.

Belmonte stands as the site of Portugal's last Marrano community, now known as the Belmonte Jews, marking a significant chapter in the history of Jewish perseverance and identity. They remained isolated until the 1970s when they reconnected with the global Jewish community and openly returned to Judaism, culminating in the opening of a synagogue in 1996.

In 2003, the American Sephardi Federation founded the Belmonte Project, designated to raise funds to acquire Judaic educational material and services for the community, which now numbers 160–180. They opened a Jewish Museum of Belmonte (Portuguese: Museu Judaico de Belmonte) on 17 April 2005. In the summer of 2006, the American Sephardi Federation ceased to have the Belmonte Project under its auspices. [why?]

Geography edit

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 4 civil parishes (freguesias):[5]

  • Belmonte e Colmeal da Torre
  • Caria
  • Inguias
  • Maçaínhas

Notable people edit

  • Pedro Álvares Cabral (ca.1467 – ca.1520) was a Portuguese nobleman, military commander, navigator and explorer. In 1500 Cabral conducted the first substantial exploration of the northeast coast of South America and discovered Brazil.

Twin cities edit

References edit

  1. ^ Instituto Nacional de Estatística November 15, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  3. ^ Nolan, Rachel (2 January 2008). "After 500 Years in Hiding, Jews Bring Prosperity to Iberian Town". forward.com. from the original on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  4. ^ "Museu Judaico de Belmonte | e-cultura". www.e-cultura.pt. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  5. ^ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 25" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 July 2014.

External links edit

  • Town Hall official website
  • [usurped], Spring 2003
  • Photos from Belmonte
  • After 500 Years in Hiding, Jews Bring Prosperity to Iberian Town


belmonte, portugal, belmonte, portuguese, pronunciation, ˌbɛlˈmõtɨ, municipality, district, castelo, branco, portugal, population, 2011, area, belmontemunicipalitybelmonteflagcoat, armscoordinates, 350country, portugalregioncentrointermunic, comm, beiras, serr. Belmonte Portuguese pronunciation ˌbɛlˈmotɨ is a municipality in the district of Castelo Branco Portugal The population in 2011 was 6 859 1 in an area of 118 76 km2 2 BelmonteMunicipalityBelmonteFlagCoat of armsCoordinates 40 21 N 7 21 W 40 350 N 7 350 W 40 350 7 350Country PortugalRegionCentroIntermunic comm Beiras e Serra da EstrelaDistrictCastelo BrancoArea Total118 76 km2 45 85 sq mi Population 2011 Total6 859 Density58 km2 150 sq mi Time zoneUTC 00 00 WET Summer DST UTC 01 00 WEST Websitehttp www cm belmonte pt Belmonte is distinguished by its enduring Jewish community tracing back to at least the 13th century which maintained its faith through crypto Judaism and numbered about 300 in 2008 Despite facing the Inquisition and forced conversions this community preserved Jewish traditions in secret culminating in the re establishment of open practice and the founding of a synagogue in 1996 3 The history is chronicled in the Belmonte Jewish Museum which opened in 2005 4 Contents 1 History 2 Jewish community 3 Geography 4 Notable people 5 Twin cities 6 References 7 External linksHistory edit nbsp Castle of Belmonte Portugal nbsp Centum Cellas originally a Roman Villa and later used as a military Outpost Belmonte is the birthplace of Pedro Alvares Cabral the navigator who discovered the land of Vera Cruz now known as Brazil Located in the Church of Santa Maria is the iconic statue of Nossa Senhora da Esperanca Our Lady of Hope which Cabral took with him on his voyage Until 1834 the statue was held by the Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Esperanca The former religious facility has been adapted for use as a modern boutique hotel The singer Zeca Afonso lived in Belmonte for part of his childhood between 1938 and 1940 He lived with his uncle the mayor of the town whilst his parents Jose Nepomuceno Afonso dos Santos a magistrate and Maria das Dores Dantas Cerqueira a primary school teacher were living and working in Mozambique nbsp Belmonte Museu JudaicoJewish community editIn the 16th century following the expulsion of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula Portuguese legislation required Jews to convert to Christianity or leave the country Many Jews chose isolation severing external contacts and strictly maintaining their traditions Termed Marranos in reference to the Jewish prohibition of pork this group preserved their Jewish customs in secrecy Belmonte stands as the site of Portugal s last Marrano community now known as the Belmonte Jews marking a significant chapter in the history of Jewish perseverance and identity They remained isolated until the 1970s when they reconnected with the global Jewish community and openly returned to Judaism culminating in the opening of a synagogue in 1996 In 2003 the American Sephardi Federation founded the Belmonte Project designated to raise funds to acquire Judaic educational material and services for the community which now numbers 160 180 They opened a Jewish Museum of Belmonte Portuguese Museu Judaico de Belmonte on 17 April 2005 In the summer of 2006 the American Sephardi Federation ceased to have the Belmonte Project under its auspices why Geography editAdministratively the municipality is divided into 4 civil parishes freguesias 5 Belmonte e Colmeal da Torre Caria Inguias MacainhasNotable people editPedro Alvares Cabral ca 1467 ca 1520 was a Portuguese nobleman military commander navigator and explorer In 1500 Cabral conducted the first substantial exploration of the northeast coast of South America and discovered Brazil Twin cities editSanta Cruz Cabralia Bahia Brasil Meziere Ille et Vilaine France Rosh Pina North district Israel Belmonte Bahia Brasil Sao Vicente Sao Paulo Brasil Santarem Distrito de Santarem Portugal Olivenca Portugal Porto Seguro Bahia BrasilReferences edit Instituto Nacional de Estatistica Archived November 15 2016 at the Wayback Machine Areas das freguesias concelhos distritos e pais Archived from the original on 2018 11 05 Retrieved 2018 11 05 Nolan Rachel 2 January 2008 After 500 Years in Hiding Jews Bring Prosperity to Iberian Town forward com Archived from the original on 2011 10 08 Retrieved 2009 02 17 Museu Judaico de Belmonte e cultura www e cultura pt Retrieved 2024 03 11 Diario da Republica Law nr 11 A 2013 page 552 25 pdf in Portuguese Retrieved 18 July 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Belmonte Town Hall official website American Sephardi Federation newsletter usurped Spring 2003 Photos from Belmonte After 500 Years in Hiding Jews Bring Prosperity to Iberian Town nbsp This Castelo Branco location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Belmonte Portugal amp oldid 1216678482, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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