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Santarém is a book of stone where the most interesting and most poetic part of our chronicles is written" (Almeida Garrett)
The foundation of the city of Santarém takes you back to Greek-Roman and Christian mythology. The first documented signs of human occupation date back to the 8th century B.C. The population of the village had collaborated with Roman colonizers when they arrived in 138 B.C. and gave it the name Scallabis. During this period it became the main trade emporium of Middle Tejo and one of the most important administrative centers of the Lusitânia province.
During the four centuries of Islamic occupation that followed, the city saw its strategic military role reborn along with its cultural and artistic role, as some of the most important poets and troubadours from the Arab world were living there. The King Afonso VI of Lion gave the city its first charter in 1095. Conquered again, in 1147, by D. Afonso Henriques, the city was given a new charter in 1179.
During the 14th and 15th centuries the courtly atmosphere of the city gave it cultural fame. There were many important troubadours and minstrels, some of whom were natives of Santarém.
In this "Acropolis Ribatejana", the Porta do Sol, with its garden and belvedere, is ex-libris. Exploring the city, porticos and rose-windows, arcades and dormer-windows, decorative elements with ogival features, windows from the time of King Manuel I, renaissance corners, small escutcheons from the time of King Alfonso V, towers and domes, all reveal an urban nucleus where civil and religious elements co-habitated and intertwined. The multitude and beautiful examples of gothic art gave the city the name “The Gothic Capital". Here archaeologists, historians, artists or simple passer-by can not fail to be enchanted.
With the Carnations' revolution (April 1974), where Santarém played relief role, the city consolidated the “freedom spirit”. This ideal was reproduced in the mark “Santarém - a story of freedom”, in which it project for the future and it opens its arms to the world.
What’s up in Santarem
On June 10th, Santarém will celebrate Portugal
June 10th is the date of the national celebration of Portugal. It is also the anniversary of the death of the famous poet Luis de Camões, dead on June 10th in 1580.
This year, the city of Santarém was elected to host the official ceremonies of commemoration of the most important date in the Portugal History.
The programme of the celebration includes military parades, an exhibitions dealing with Portuguese treasures, concerts and other events…
The president of the Portuguese Republic will attend these two days of celebration in the city.
Santarem will thus become the capital city of the country for a few days…
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