Nossa Senhora do Bispo (Montemor-o-Novo)


Nossa Senhora do Bispo is a former civil parish in the municipality of Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Nossa Senhora da Vila, Nossa Senhora do Bispo e Silveiras. It has an area of 121.83 km², and a population of approximately 5411 inhabitants in 2001. It contains the localities Fazendas do Cortiço, Ferro da Agulha and São Geraldo.

History

The origin of the civil parish is based in the construction, on the eastern part of the walled settlement, of the first parochial church in 1300 by Diocesano, Bishop of Évora. After this point, the resident population was connected to changes in the role of the Catholic Church in the region. Its name, referring to Bispo specifically, was based in the community's economic ties to the Bishop of Évora, since the canons of the Church of Santa Maria da Vila were tied to Évora's hierarchy. Between the 14th and 16th century the area around the church was occupied by residences and food cellars that collected the land rents of the region.
In 1534, the Cardinal Infante Afonso, bishop of Évora, ordered the reconstruction of the church, including its Manueline era portico. This church was still the object of public works well into the end of the 17th, beginning of the 18th, century.
Tradition suggests that in 1495, João Cidade, later canonized São João de Deus for his charitable works and founder of the Hospital of Granada, alongside the Torre do Anjo and Rua do Bispo, which connected the churchyard to the centre of the parish.
Since its early inception, from outside the walls, an arch of constant development occurred along the accessways that afforded the best conditions and water supplies. Slowly, many of the residences within the walls were abandoned for open spaces that existed outside the walled settlement, yet, the government authority included these areas.
In 1843, with the expulsion of the religious orders by the Liberal regime, the parish seat was transferred to the Convent of São João de Deus, before being transformed into a civic administration.

Architecture

Archaeological