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FROM OUR ROVING CORRESPONDENT IN PORTUGAL Peter H. from Tredington, Warwickshire, sent us this report from his holiday at the Pousada de Santa Marinha overlooking the city of Guimaraes in northern Portugal. This is an Agostinhos convent dating back over 1000 years, whose restoration has received the "Europa Nostra" award. Naturally, there is a tale about bells if you read on… |
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Peter writes "On the first morning we were exploring the beautiful grounds when the peace was shattered by a totally unskilled clamour of bells from the twin towers of the monastic church. The clamour was repeated three times and then silence fell again. When we came around to the front steps of the church we found a group of 4 or 5 men in sombre conversation. Enquiry at the hotel reception revealed the following explanation |
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If any important citizen of Guimaraes died and the funeral was to take place in the monastic church that day, then the relatives of the dead person were expected to ring the bells (without prior training!) to announce the service. Anyone who wished to attend could then toil up the long slope from the city to the monastery. And it was a very long slope so presumably plenty of time was allowed for all the congregation to assemble |
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