The Inquisition in Serpa

Tonight we drove to Serpa, where they are enacting scenes from the time of the Inquisition, which was active in Portugal and its colonies from 1536 to 1821. Just in Serpa, there were over 500 prosecutions against individuals for heresy, mainly of a Jewish nature.

The streets are lined with stalls, and there are all sorts of medieval experiences. We watched a scene where this "cardinal" was listening to accusations against a Lutheran sympathiser (that would be us!), while around us, a soldier in armour was chasing a Muslim man in and out of the crowds. 

The real priest in this photo is the one without a cross.

Gratefuls:
- Mike has finished the plastering and begun the painting
- the sun setting, large and red, over the Lake on the way there
- the stars, so clear, arching over us on the way back, the Big Dipper front left and low on the horizon - it was past midnight