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Belmonte
  Crowned by the granite bulk of the ancient castle, Belmonte was the birthplace of the navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral, who discovered Brazil in 1500.

Belmonte’s first charter was granted by D. Sancho I. in 1199, and the streets of this old village lead to its ancient hilltop castle. A document dated 1258 described its high donjon, walls and bulwarks. This austere defensive architecture is interrupted by an elegant Manueline window, featuring the armillary sphere associated with D. Manuel I, (symbolising the world), and the Cabral family coat of arms featuring two goats (cabra meaning ‘she-goat’ in Portuguese).

Among the heroes produced by this illustrious family was Pedro Álvares Cabral, who was born in Belmonte in 1467, and discovered Brazil in 1500.

Next to the castle there is a small Romano-Gothic church dedicated to São Tiago. This contains a sculpted granite Pietà of simple rough beauty. An annexe to the church houses the pantheon of the Cabral family, although the ashes of Pedro Álvares Cabral are entombed in the church of Graça, in Santarém.

A significant Jewish community settled in Belmonte, mainly in the fifteenth century, when Jews fleeing persecution in Castile took refuge here. They lived in houses in the Marrocos district outside the castle walls, where the symbols of their professions, such as the tailor’s scissors, can still be seen engraved on the doorposts. Belmonte preserves its medieval atmosphere as effectively as the Jews secretly preserved their prayers, traditions and customs until today’s more tolerant climate allowed them to found a new synagogue, Bet Eliahu.
 
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(office hours)
Capital
(and largest city)		 Lisbon
38°46′N, 9°11′W
Official languages Portuguese
Recognised regional languages Mirandese
Demonym Portuguese
Government Parliamentary republic
- President Aníbal Cavaco Silva
- Prime Minister José Sócrates
Formation June 24, 1128
- Founding of the First County of Portugal 868
- Battle of São Mamede June 24, 1128
- Kingdom 25 July 1139
- Recognized 5 October 1143
- Republic 5 October 1910
- Carnation Revolution 25 April 1974
EU accession 1 January 1986
Area
- Total 92,345 km² (110th)
35,580 sq mi
- Water (%) 0.5
Population
- July 2007 estimate 10,848,692 (75th)
- 2001 census 10,148,259
- Density 114/km² (87th)
295/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2006 estimate
- Total $229.881 billion (40th)
- Per capita $23,464 (2007) (34th)
HDI (2005) ▼ 0.897 (high) (29th)
Currency Euro (€) (EUR)
Time zone WET
- Summer (DST) WEST (UTC0)
Internet TLD .pt
Calling code +351