Domus Municipalis
Encyclopedia
The Domus municipalis is a Romanesque
building in the northeastern municipality of Bragança in Portugal. It is what exactly was the function of this building, even after research completed in the 20th century: it could have served as cistern
, but there are doubts if this was its primary function.
In 1501, in the published writings of the Abbot of Baçal, the author referred to the local record of Martim Anes, who spoke of the construction of the Domus during his life time. In this account, Martin Anes stated that it was used as a meeting place for the "good men" of the municipality. By 1503, the Domus was remodelled to partition the hall into two divisions to formalize its use as municipal hall.
Its designation, Domus Municipalis, actually dates back to the 19th century.
Although the building was classified by the Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (IPPAR)
as a National Monument
in 1910, by 1912, the building was in a state of degradation, without appropriate roof and used by squatters and the poor as shelter. Restoration of the building was completed in 1936 by the Direcção-Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais (General-Directorate for Buildings and National Monuments), or DGEMN (which evolved to become the Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico (IGESPAR). Similar restorations were undertaken in 1959 by the Serviços dos Monumentos Nacionais (National Monument Services), before being taken over on 1 June 1992 by the IPPAR
by decree 106F/92.
, constructed of rounded granite blocks and held together by morter
, while covered by wooden roof tiles.
The Domus is constituted by two distinct spaces: the primitive cistern
(documented after 1446), in order to store spring water; and a superior space that served as a gathering place for meetings of the "good men" of the community. It was in the first years of the 1500s that the municipalization of Bragança, from documents dated 1503.
In many of the documents, the building is referred to as the Sala da Água (Hall of Water).
One of the shields has been identified to have been sculpted during the modern era. Carlos Alberto Ferreira de Almeida noted that the other medallions, the diamond-shaped openings and the organization of windows, date the structure the beginning of the 14th century, or end of the 13th century. Near one of the entrances is a bronze plaque used by the archaeologist Gomez Moreno to indicate his investigations in the structure.
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
building in the northeastern municipality of Bragança in Portugal. It is what exactly was the function of this building, even after research completed in the 20th century: it could have served as cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
, but there are doubts if this was its primary function.
History
A singular (enigmatic) building of Romanesque civic architecture, it is an eloquent extension of the medieval prison tower that it juxtopositions. Its construction was, most likely, in the first half of the 13th century, coincident with the foundation of the cistern.In 1501, in the published writings of the Abbot of Baçal, the author referred to the local record of Martim Anes, who spoke of the construction of the Domus during his life time. In this account, Martin Anes stated that it was used as a meeting place for the "good men" of the municipality. By 1503, the Domus was remodelled to partition the hall into two divisions to formalize its use as municipal hall.
Its designation, Domus Municipalis, actually dates back to the 19th century.
Although the building was classified by the Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (IPPAR)
IPPAR
The Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico , former Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico , is the public institute tasked with the conservation, preservation, and inventory of the Portuguese architectural heritage. This includes buildings and sites of...
as a National Monument
Monuments of Portugal
The Monuments of Portugal were constructed throughout the Portuguese territory, and date back to the period of pre-historic settlement of occupation. Subsequently, the region that is today Portugal has been colonized by many civilizations, which have left marks in the territory, constructing...
in 1910, by 1912, the building was in a state of degradation, without appropriate roof and used by squatters and the poor as shelter. Restoration of the building was completed in 1936 by the Direcção-Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais (General-Directorate for Buildings and National Monuments), or DGEMN (which evolved to become the Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico (IGESPAR). Similar restorations were undertaken in 1959 by the Serviços dos Monumentos Nacionais (National Monument Services), before being taken over on 1 June 1992 by the IPPAR
IPPAR
The Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico , former Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico , is the public institute tasked with the conservation, preservation, and inventory of the Portuguese architectural heritage. This includes buildings and sites of...
by decree 106F/92.
Architecture
Located in the Terreiro do Castelo alongside the Church of Santa Maria, the structure is based on a multi-level irregular pentagonPentagon
In geometry, a pentagon is any five-sided polygon. A pentagon may be simple or self-intersecting. The sum of the internal angles in a simple pentagon is 540°. A pentagram is an example of a self-intersecting pentagon.- Regular pentagons :In a regular pentagon, all sides are equal in length and...
, constructed of rounded granite blocks and held together by morter
Mortar (masonry)
Mortar is a workable paste used to bind construction blocks together and fill the gaps between them. The blocks may be stone, brick, cinder blocks, etc. Mortar becomes hard when it sets, resulting in a rigid aggregate structure. Modern mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder...
, while covered by wooden roof tiles.
The Domus is constituted by two distinct spaces: the primitive cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
(documented after 1446), in order to store spring water; and a superior space that served as a gathering place for meetings of the "good men" of the community. It was in the first years of the 1500s that the municipalization of Bragança, from documents dated 1503.
In many of the documents, the building is referred to as the Sala da Água (Hall of Water).
One of the shields has been identified to have been sculpted during the modern era. Carlos Alberto Ferreira de Almeida noted that the other medallions, the diamond-shaped openings and the organization of windows, date the structure the beginning of the 14th century, or end of the 13th century. Near one of the entrances is a bronze plaque used by the archaeologist Gomez Moreno to indicate his investigations in the structure.