Vila Real
Vila Real | |
---|---|
From top left to right: Corgo River near Codessais, Carvalho Araújo Statue, Mateus Palace, St. Peter's Church, Quintela Tower and St. Paul's Church (Capela Nova). | |
UTC±00:00 (WET) | |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) |
Postal code | 5000 |
Area code | 259 |
Website | https://www.cm-vilareal.pt/ |
Vila Real (Portuguese pronunciation:
The city is located in a plateau 450 m (1,510 ft) high,[4] over the promontory formed by the gorges of the Corgo and Cabril rivers, where the oldest part of town (Vila Velha) is located, framed by the escarpments of the Corgo gorge. The Alvão and Marão mountains overlook the town on the northwest and southwest side, respectively, rising up to 1,400 m (4,600 ft). With over seven hundred years of existence, the city was once known as the "royal court of Trás-os-Montes" due to the high number of manors bearing coats of arms and family crests, attesting the presence of noble figures that established in the city by influence of the Marquis of Vila Real, the most powerful aristocratic house in Portugal, during the 16th and 17th centuries, after the Dukes of Braganza and the Dukes of Aveiro. Many of these family crests are still visible today in the manors spread throughout the old city and in the Carreira Garden.[5]
Vila Real was ranked seventh in the list of Portugal's most livable cities in the survey of living conditions published by the Portuguese newspaper
History
The region shows traces of inhabitation during the
At the end of the 11th century, in 1096, Henry, Count of Portugal wrote a foral, a royal document whose purpose was to establish and regulate a town, establishing Constantim de Panóias as a way to repopulate the region. In 1272, as a new incentive to repopulation, King Afonso III of Portugal wrote another unsuccessful foral to establish Vila Real de Panóias. Only in 1289, the third foral written by King Denis of Portugal was successful in establishing Vila Real de Panóias, whose name, meaning Royal Town, is a testimony to its origin by royal decree.
Vila Real's privileged location at the crossroad between the
It was the fourth Portuguese city to have public supply of electricity, but it was the first to produce hydroelectric power, from 1894 to 1926 in the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Biel, located near the Corgo River, named after Karl Emil Biel.[8]
The city experienced a great development with the establishment of the
In the last couple of years, several cultural facilities were built, such as the Vila Real Theater, the Vila Velha Museum, the Sound and Image Museum, the Regional Conservatory of Music and the transfer of the Dr. Júlio Teixeira Public Library and Municipal Archive to new buildings, bringing some dynamism and progress to the city. Various areas of the city have also been rehabilitated, such as the Centro Histórico, the Vila Velha and traditional typical neighbourhoods like Bairro dos Ferreiros and Bairro S. Vicente de Paulo. The area surrounding the Corgo River has also been rehabilitated, becoming the Corgo Park, the Forest Park and the Codessais Recreational Complex, including cultural components as the Vila Real Science Center and the Urban Ecology Agency.
Nowadays the city experiences a phase of growing industrial and commercial development, aimed at health, education and tourism, presenting itself as an attractive place for foreign investment, being internationally known by the
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of Vila Real - a sword embedded in a wreath of zambujeiro (wild olive tree) and the slogan Aleu - is derived from the decorative motif of the tomb of
Population
Number of inhabitants [12] | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1864 | 1878 | 1890 | 1900 | 1911 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
32 146 | 33 489 | 34 032 | 35 976 | 37 111 | 34 952 | 37 951 | 43 142 | 46 782 | 47 773 | 44 550 | 47 020 | 46 300 | 49 957 | 51 850 | 49 574 |
(Observation: Number of resident inhabitants, that is, that had their official residency in Vila Real at the time of the census.)
Number of inhabitants by Age Group [13] | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1900 | 1911 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | |
0-14 Anos | 12 541 | 13 642 | 12 383 | 13 100 | 15 080 | 15 603 | 16 164 | 14 940 | 13 566 | 9 803 | 8 075 | 7 714 |
15-24 Anos | 7 008 | 6 557 | 6 438 | 7 126 | 8 126 | 8 964 | 8 561 | 8 125 | 8 786 | 8 425 | 7 516 | 5 639 |
25-64 Anos | 14 580 | 14 806 | 13 920 | 14 998 | 17 056 | 18 924 | 19 744 | 18 085 | 19 741 | 22 129 | 26 631 | 29 156 |
= ou > 65 Anos | 1 845 | 2 085 | 2 064 | 2 075 | 2 349 | 2 992 | 3 304 | 3 400 | 4 927 | 5 943 | 7 735 | 9 341 |
> Id. desconh | 78 | 88 | 187 | 92 | 191 |
(Observation: From 1900 to 1950 the data refers to the de facto population, that was present in Vila Real at the time of the census.)
Climate
Vila Real has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb/Csa) with warm to hot dry summers and cool wet winters.
Located in a promontory formed by the gorges of the Corgo and Cabril rivers, Vila Real sits at 460 m (1,510 ft) altitude. The
Due to the geographical location, its climate is a mix between Mediterranean and oceanic, with some continental influences. Winters are long, with negative temperatures and frequent frosts. Snowfall usually occurs once or twice each year.[14]
Climate data for Vila Real, elevation: 481 m or 1,578 ft, 1981-2010 normals and extremes | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 19.0 (66.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
28.4 (83.1) |
34.0 (93.2) |
37.5 (99.5) |
39.8 (103.6) |
39.0 (102.2) |
38.3 (100.9) |
29.5 (85.1) |
22.0 (71.6) |
19.5 (67.1) |
39.8 (103.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.7 (49.5) |
12.2 (54.0) |
15.8 (60.4) |
17.1 (62.8) |
20.4 (68.7) |
25.5 (77.9) |
28.2 (82.8) |
28.6 (83.5) |
24.4 (75.9) |
18.9 (66.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
10.1 (50.2) |
18.7 (65.6) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.3 (43.3) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
12.0 (53.6) |
14.9 (58.8) |
19.2 (66.6) |
21.3 (70.3) |
21.7 (71.1) |
18.5 (65.3) |
14.4 (57.9) |
9.4 (48.9) |
6.8 (44.2) |
13.6 (56.5) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) |
3.6 (38.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
6.8 (44.2) |
9.4 (48.9) |
12.8 (55.0) |
14.3 (57.7) |
14.8 (58.6) |
12.6 (54.7) |
10.0 (50.0) |
5.8 (42.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
8.5 (47.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | −6.3 (20.7) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
0.0 (32.0) |
4.0 (39.2) |
7.0 (44.6) |
7.8 (46.0) |
4.8 (40.6) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 141.9 (5.59) |
79.2 (3.12) |
82.9 (3.26) |
86.2 (3.39) |
70.7 (2.78) |
33.7 (1.33) |
15.1 (0.59) |
26.5 (1.04) |
54.8 (2.16) |
140.5 (5.53) |
129.4 (5.09) |
162.3 (6.39) |
1,023.2 (40.27) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 105.3 | 120.0 | 177.7 | 187.7 | 233.3 | 282.4 | 327.8 | 319.3 | 231.7 | 170.2 | 133.5 | 100.1 | 2,389 |
Source: Instituto de Meteorologia (sunshine hours from 1971-1990)[15][14] |
Climate data for Vila Real, elevation: 481 m or 1,578 ft, 1971-1991 normals and extremes | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 17.8 (64.0) |
22.0 (71.6) |
26.1 (79.0) |
28.1 (82.6) |
32.2 (90.0) |
37.5 (99.5) |
39.8 (103.6) |
39.0 (102.2) |
38.3 (100.9) |
30.9 (87.6) |
22.3 (72.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
39.8 (103.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.5 (49.1) |
11.8 (53.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
16.4 (61.5) |
19.7 (67.5) |
25.0 (77.0) |
28.7 (83.7) |
28.7 (83.7) |
26.0 (78.8) |
18.9 (66.0) |
13.6 (56.5) |
10.4 (50.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.8 (42.4) |
7.7 (45.9) |
9.5 (49.1) |
11.3 (52.3) |
14.1 (57.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
21.5 (70.7) |
21.3 (70.3) |
19.4 (66.9) |
14.0 (57.2) |
9.5 (49.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
13.3 (56.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.1 (35.8) |
3.5 (38.3) |
4.6 (40.3) |
6.2 (43.2) |
8.5 (47.3) |
12.2 (54.0) |
14.4 (57.9) |
13.9 (57.0) |
12.7 (54.9) |
9.0 (48.2) |
5.4 (41.7) |
3.5 (38.3) |
8.0 (46.4) |
Record low °C (°F) | −6.5 (20.3) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
0.0 (32.0) |
4.0 (39.2) |
7.5 (45.5) |
6.2 (43.2) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 141.1 (5.56) |
158.7 (6.25) |
82.6 (3.25) |
82.3 (3.24) |
66.5 (2.62) |
54.1 (2.13) |
17.1 (0.67) |
17.1 (0.67) |
49.0 (1.93) |
116.9 (4.60) |
110.7 (4.36) |
174.6 (6.87) |
1,070.7 (42.15) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 14.9 | 14.1 | 13.0 | 13.8 | 11.9 | 8.5 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 12.7 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 129.7 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 105.3 | 120.0 | 177.7 | 187.7 | 233.3 | 282.4 | 327.8 | 319.3 | 231.7 | 170.2 | 133.5 | 100.1 | 2,389 |
Source: Instituto de Meteorologia[14] |
Civil parishes
Vila Real's municipality consists of 20 freguesias or civil parishes, which are not all coexistent with the ecclesiastical parishes or paróquias. The civil parish Vila Real (Nossa Senhora da Conceição, São Pedro e São Dinis) is officially the city of Vila Real.
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 20 civil parishes (
Infrastructure
Museums and cultural facilities
Sports
Health
Nature
Education
Others
Main sights
Outside the city centre
Transportation
Highways
Airfield
Vila Real airfield (VRL) - Located 4 km from city centre, near the Industrial Zone, in the Folhadela parish. Has a paved runway with 950×30 m. A scheduled airline service operated by
Railway
The
Urban bus
The city bus system in Vila Real is run by Corgobus; there are 5 lines and about 1.35 million people in 2008 were transported.
Main distances
- Chaves Portugal - 68 km
- Viseu Portugal - 90 km
- Porto Portugal - 97 km
- Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) Portugal- 100 km
- Braga Portugal - 100 km
- Bragança Portugal- 120 km
- Lisboa Portugal- 411 km
- Madrid Spain - 520 km
- Faro Portugal - 613 km
- Fafiao first Village of Vila REal ....
Twin towns — sister cities
Vila Real is
Famous citizens
- Diogo Cão (ca.1452-ca.1486) an explorer and a notable navigator of the Age of Discovery.[19]
- Luís Vaz Pereira Pinto Guedes (1770-1841) a brigadier on the absolutist side in Portugal's Liberal Wars & 2nd Viscount of Montalegre.
- António Lopes Mendes (1835–1894) an explorer and agronomist in Brazil and India & an illustrator and cartographer.
- Gen. José Augusto Alves Roçadas (1865–1926) colonial governor in Angola and Macau
- Carvalho Araújo (1881–1918) a Portuguese Navy officer, colonial administrator and politician.
- Luísa Dacosta (1927-2015) a prize-winning Portuguese writer.
- Francisco Seixas da Costa (born 1948) a retired Portuguese diplomat.
Sport
- Paulo Alves (born 1969) footballer with 401 club caps and 13 for Portugal
- Simão Sabrosa (born 1979) footballer with 500 club caps and 85 for Portugal
- Vítor Murta (born 1979) a Portuguese former football goalkeeper with 339 club caps.
- Norberto Mourão (born 1980) a paracanoeist, bronze medallist at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
- Jaime Linares (born 1982) an Angolan footballer with over 300 club caps and 3 for Angola
- Jorge Rodrigues (born 1982) a retired footballer with over 350 club caps.
- André Pires (born 1989) a Portuguese motorcycle racer.
- Ana Sofia Nóbrega (born 1990) Portuguese-born Angolan swimmer, completed at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho. (san Diego- California) From Lapela - Cabril- Vila Real.
Gallery
-
Quintela Tower
-
Agarez Waterfall
-
Typical Houses
-
Corgo River and Metallic Bridge in Vila Real
-
Panóias Sanctuary
-
Diogo Cão House
-
Public Library
-
Theatre
-
Shopping Centre
-
Shopping Centre (interior)
References
- ^ "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ INE: "Resultados Preliminares Censos 2021 INE". Retrieved 14 february 2022.
- ISSN 0871-911X. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
- ^ "Caraterização". www.cm-vilareal.pt. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ Câmara Municipal de Vila Real: Concelho: História. Acedido a 04/09/2011.
- ^ Classificação Expresso das melhores cidades portuguesas para viver em 2007, Expresso
- ^ Insight Guides Portugal (2011 edition).
- ^ Património Cultural, Direção-Geral do (27 July 2011). "Central do Biel". Sistema de Informação par o Património Arquitectónico.
- ^ "UTAD em números | UTAD". Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ "WTCR Race of Portugal". FIA WTCR | World Touring Car Cup. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ "Eu só com este páu, sou capaz de defender Ceuta, de todo o poder dos mouros", as reported in Portugal antigo e moderno, 1878, p. 495.
- ^ Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Recenseamentos Gerais da População) - https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_publicacoes
- ^ INE - http://censos.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=CENSOS&xpgid=censos_quadros
- ^ a b c "Monthly Averages for Vila Real, Portugal (1971–2000)" (PDF). Instituto de Meteorologia. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- Porto University. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, pages 552 136-137" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ^ "Futebol Total..: AF Vila Real". Futeboltotal-victor.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ "Relações Internacionais". cm-vilareal.pt (in Portuguese). Vila Real. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
- ^ Beazley, Charles Raymond (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). p. 79.