Historic Centre of Carrazeda de Ansiães

In the historic centre of Carrazeda de Ansiães, you can find the Pillory of Carrazeda de Ansiães, the Fonte das Sereias (Mermaid Fountain), the current Municipal Library, the Interpretative Centre of the Castle of Ansiães (CICA) and one of the sculptures of the Carrazeda de Ansiães International Sculpture Park. The Pillory of Carrazeda de Ansiães was built in the mid-18th century when the council seat of the walled town of Ansiães was transferred to Carrazeda de Ansiães. The Fonte das Sereias is a fountain with a tank and a central fusto consisting of four mermaids arranged vertically, like caryatids, and a circular cup with mascarons. Right in front is the current building of the Municipal Library. Built in 1736 as the town hall, it also served as a court, prison, and school. On the right side of the Municipal Library, in the surrounding gardens, there is the sculpture “Os Sete Livros da Vida” (The Seven Books of Life), by Alberto Carneiro.

This is one of the sculptures that are part of the Carrazeda de Ansiães International Sculpture Park, consisting of twelve granite sculptures located in the urban area of the municipality. These works reflect the different views of sculptors, national and international, on themes related to art and life. About 80 metres from this location is the Interpretative Centre of the Castle of Ansiães. It is a cultural structure of the Municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães that allows the visitor to encounter the history of the town and its people. Conceived from the ruins of a traditional house, the architectural project created a wide space spread over two floors, where archaeological artefacts and a museum collection collected over ten years of archaeological investigations are exhibited.