Pelourinho

This Pelourinho is a National Monument of Portugal and is in the Jardim dos Oficiais, inside the Citadel near the Castle. It was placed here in 1860, and previously was situated next to the Domus Municipalis, it symbolizes municipal power. The monolith sits on a protohistoric zoomorphic figure showing a boar, known as "porca da vila", placed in turn on an octagonal plan with 4 steps. The pillory as such 13th century cylindrical shaft is more than 6 feet high and 30 cm in diameter, ending in a spire with a cross of 4 equal arms departing. These are decorated with figures of a man, a dog, a bird and phytomorphic reasons.