HISTORY AND TRADITIONS

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DENOMINATION CONSTÂNCIA

This piece of land, situated between two rivers (Tejo and Zêzere) was envied by other people who want to control the important trade of goods that was made along them.

Due to the difficulty the Romans found on conquer it from de Lusitanian, they have called Pugna-Tagi, which means the fight of the Tagus.

On the 12th century the Knight Gonçalo Mendes da Maia conquers it from the Moorish to the first Portuguese King-Afonso Henriques who had started the extension of the portuguese territory, prevailing the Christian Faith.

As the times went by, the terms Pugna Tagi agglutinated in one – PUNHETE, which can be interpreted as an improper word (sex in auto-management).

During one of His several visits, the young King D. Sebastião – the waited or whished – has emancipated the cathegory of village by the Privilege of 1571.

Later, in 1834 the Queen Maria II has visited Punhete and decided to satisfy the local nobles as a recognition of their constant commitment on the Liberal Causes, has nominated Notável Vila da Constancia.

The development opens roads and raillway. At the same time the rivers are loosing the importance they have on transports, which leads to the maintenance of fishing and the developpment of the agriculture.

This is why the attributes rural and romantism that distinguish Constancia can be identiffied by the Tourist who visit it for Cultural, Scientific Active and Nature reasons.

Read more (in portuguese) at www.cm-constancia.pt