Arraiolos

Arraiolos
Municipality
Arraiolos seen from the castle
Arraiolos seen from the castle
Flag of Arraiolos
Flag
Coat of arms of Arraiolos
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 38°43′N 7°59′W / 38.717°N 7.983°W / 38.717; -7.983
Country Portugal
RegionAlentejo
Intermunic. comm.Alentejo Central
DistrictÉvora
Parishes5
Government
 • PresidentSilvia Pinto (CDU)
Area
 • Total683.75 km2 (264.00 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total6,606
 • Density9.7/km2 (25/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Local holidayAscension Day
date varies
Websitewww.cm-arraiolos.pt

Arraiolos (pronounced [ɐʁɐˈjɔluʃ] ⓘ) is a town and municipality in the Évora District of Portugal. As of 2021, the municipality had a population of 6,606 people[1] and covered an area of 683.75 square kilometres (264.00 sq mi).[2] The town itself was home to 3,133 residents in the same year.[1] The current Mayor is Silvia Pinto, elected by the Unitary Democratic Coalition.[3]

The town is famous for its castle and its embroidered wool rugs and carpets. Arraiolos rugs have been made since at least the 16th century.[4]

In October 2003, Jorge Sampaio, the then President of Portugal, invited the Presidents of Finland, Germany, as well as of soon-to-be EU members Hungary, Latvia and Poland to Arraiolos in order to discuss the consequences of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union and plans for a Constitution for Europe.[5] Subsequent meetings of non-executive presidents of European Union member states have been dubbed Arraiolos meetings.

  1. ^ a b INE, ed. (2021), Censos (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ^ "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  3. ^ "Executivo". Portal Institucional do Município de Arraiolos (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  4. ^ de Oliveira Marques, Rita Carvalho Teixeira (2007). A história e técnica dos tapetes de Arraiolos: Estudo dos tapetes T763 e T764 (MNMC) (PDF) (master thesis). Universidade NOVA de Lisboa.
  5. ^ "Foreign Policy Events, 13-20 October 2003". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia). Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2013.