This month from the Portuguese Culture:
Alentejo Regional Choirs
Alentejo has some of the most authentic choirs in Portugal. Groups of only man and less common only women, their chant is recognized all aver the country for its simplicity and beauty.
Literature: Florbela Espanca
Florbela Espanca, Portuguese poet (Vila Viçosa, 8 December 1894 — Matosinhos, 8 December de 1930). Precursor of the feminist movement in Portugal, had a tumultuous and eventful life that shaped her writings, finely imbued of erotism and femininity.
Daughter of Antónia da Conceição Lobo, she was baptised as child of father incognito. Upon the death of her mother in 1908, she is taken into the care of Maria Espanca and João Maria Espanca, to whom Antónia had worked as a maid. João Maria Espanca, who always provided for Florbela (she referred to him in a poem as “dear Daddy of my soul”), recognised paternity only 19 years after her death.
The earliest known poem written by the hand of Florbela, A Vida e a Morte (Life and Death), dates back to 1903. Her first marriage, to Alberto Moutinho, was celebrated on her birthday, in 1913. Graduating in Literature in 1917, she enrolled in Law, becoming the first woman to follow this course of study at the University of Lisbon.
Suffered a miscarriage in 1919, the year that would see the publication of Livro de Mágoas. Florbela experiences at this time the first serious symptoms of mental illness. In 1921 divorces her first husband and lives through the social prejudice decurrent of that condition. António Guimarães would become her second husband in the following year.
The work Livro de Sóror Saudade is published in 1923. Florbela suffers a second miscarriage, after which her husband initiates divorce procedures. In 1925 marries one last time, to Mário Lage. Her brother Apeles Espanca would encounter premature death in an airplane accident, event that affects her profoundly and inspires the writing of As Máscaras do Destino.
Florbela attempts suicide on two occasions, in October and November of 1930, shortly before her master-piece Charneca em Flor was published. Being diagnosed a pulmonary edema, Florbela died on 8th December 1930, her birthday. Her precarious health and complex mental condition make the actual cause of death a question to this day. Charneca em Flor would be published in January 1931.
The love I feel for you
Is so deep and runs so true
That I even love the longing
That I feel because of you.
What kind of magic potion
Did you give me from that jar?
That I forget who I am
But always know who you are…
Recipe: Carne de Porco à Alentejana - Pork Loin with Clams
Carne de Porco à Alentejana
Pork Loin with Clams
1-1/2 c. white wine
1 Tbsp paprika
1-1/2 tsp salt
pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 bay leaf
1 tsp fennel seed
2 lbs lean boneless pork, cut into 1″ cubes
3 Tbsp oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 large red bell pepper, cut into strips
2 tsp minced garlic
2 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
pinch red pepper flake
2 dozen clams, scrubbed
Mix ingredients up to pork in a large zip-top bag, and marinate for up to 6 hours in the fridge.
Drain pork, reserving fluid. Discard bay leaf. Pat meat dry. In a 6- to 8-quart Dutch oven, heat 1 tsp oil until smoking, then brown meat on all sides. Transfer meat to a bowl and set aside. Add the marinating liquid and boil, deglazing bottom of pan, until reduced to 1 cup. Pour over the pork and set aside.
Add remaining oil, heat until shimmering; add peppers and onions, and cook until soft but not brown. Add garlic, tomatoes and pepper flake. Simmer for several minutes, until tomatoes break down. Spread the clams, hinge-side down, over top of sauce and cook, covered, 10 minutes or until clams open. Discard any that do not open. Add the pork and liquid and simmer 5 minutes, until everything is heated through.
Transfer to a large bowl and serve with bread for sopping.
Tourist Circuit: Monsaraz - Alentejo
Perched on the top of a hill, this little known small town is a “jewel in the crown” of the Alentejo, if not Portugal itself. It is a small walled group of dwellings that carefully preserve most of their original charm by retaining the old exteriors and the original quaint slated streets. The inhabitants of the town take particular pride in maintaining its somewhat medieval atmosphere with its few narrow streets that are in parts are quite steep as they fall away to the defending walls. The views from its 13th Century castle walls are panoramic over both the plains of the Alentejo, the waters of the new Dam and views towards the Spanish boarder.
Monsaraz - Nearby Locations
In the surrounding area of Monsaraz are several fascinating megalith and dolman monuments. These symbolic remains date back to between 4.000 and 2.000 years BC.
About 16 Kilometres to the west is the now major town of Reguengos de Monsaraz, a centre for this grape growing area. A specialty of the town is “Bolo Rançoso” that is made with pumpkin filling.
Some 4 Kilometres to the south is another small town of Mourão that has the impressive high walls of a 14th Century castle overlooking the River Guadiana. Much further to the south is the town of Moura, a name said to have been given to it in memory of the beautiful daughter of a the Moorish governor who threw herself from the tower of the castle after learning her lover had been killed in battle. A siege in 1657 destroyed most of the castle and what was left was virtually blown up by the Spanish in 1707. To the west of this town is the Spa Águas de Pisões.
To the north of Monsaraz is the town of Redondo set in the heart of the vine growing district. To the north is the town of Alandroal, an established fortified town from the 14th Century. The nearby 16th Century Erminda de São Bento was built to record the towns gratitude from being apparently saved from the various plagues that swept Europe and that always seemed to avoid this particular town. At the small small town of Terena is the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Assunção da Boa Nova which dates back to the 14th Century. It is considered to be one of the most historic monuments in the Alentejo.
