Arraiolos

Arraiolos (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐʁɐˈjɔluʃ] (listen)) is a municipality in Évora District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 7,363,[1] in an area of 683.75 km².[2] The town of Arraiolos has 3,351 inhabitants. The present Mayor is Silvia Pinto, elected by the Unitarian Democratic Coalition.

Arraiolos
Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 38°43′N 7°59′W
Country Portugal
RegionAlentejo
Intermunic. comm.Alentejo Central
DistrictÉvora
Parishes5
Government
 • PresidentSilvia Pinto (CDU)
Area
 • Total683.75 km2 (264.00 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total7,363
 • Density11/km2 (28/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Local holidayAscension Day
date varies
Websitehttp://www.cm-arraiolos.pt

The town is famous for its castle and its embroidered wool rugs and carpets. Arraiolos rugs have been made since the Middle Ages.[3]

In October 2003, Jorge Sampaio, the then President of Portugal, invited the Presidents of Finland, Germany, as well as of soon-to-be EU members Hungary, Latvia and Poland to Arraiolos in order to discuss the consequences of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union and plans for a Constitution for Europe.[4] Subsequent meetings of non-executive presidents of European Union member states have been dubbed Arraiolos meetings.

History

A hoard of prehistoric objects, including a trapezoid-shaped plaque with geometric design and three pottery vessels, was excavated from a tumulus or barrow in Arraiolos at the beginning of the twentieth century. They are now kept at the British Museum.[5]

See also

Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 5 civil parishes (freguesias):[6]

  • Arraiolos
  • Gafanhoeira e Sabugueiro
  • Igrejinha
  • São Gregório e Santa Justa
  • Vimieiro
  • The local castle.
  • View of the countryside from the castle.
  • A house in Arraiolos.

References
  1. Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  3. Fleming, John & Hugh Honour. (1977) The Penguin Dictionary of Decorative Arts. London: Allen Lane, p. 35. ISBN 0713909412
  4. "Foreign Policy Events, 13-20 October 2003". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia). Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  5. British Museum Collection
  6. Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 19" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 July 2014.


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