Agadão
Encyclopedia
Agadão is a Portuguese
civil parish located in Águeda Municipality in the Baixo Vouga Subregion. Its population was less than 500 inhabitants from the 2001 census, in an area of 35.34 km² (14 inhabitants/km²); it is the second largest parish in area, penultimate center of population (and consequently second-least dense parish).
The lands of the parish later pertained to the Counts of Feira
, until the last Count Fernando Forjaz Pereira Pimentel de Menezes e Silva died in 1700 without an heir, and those lands were transferred to the Casa do Infantado
(that included several seigneurial holdings confiscated from the Spanish after the Portuguese Restoration War
).
The parishes church was constructed in the 18th Century on the hilltop locality of Lomba. But the region also includes many minor chapels scattered throughout the villages and hamlets, some in various states of decay or degradation, such as: Chapel of Menino Jesus (Caselho), Chapel of São Bartolomeu (Alcafaz), Chapel of Senhora da Paz (Sobreira), Chapel of Santa Bárbara (Felgueira), Chapel of São Tomé (Guístola) and the Chapel of São João (Catraia).
), that meanders north to south. It is located approximately 16 kilometers from the municipal seat.
Its immediate neighbors include the parishes of Belazaima do Chão (along the southwest), Castanheira do Vouga (to the northwest), as well as the parishes of Pala in the southern municipality of Mortágua
, and Mosteirinho and São João do Monte in the eastern municipality of Tondela.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
civil parish located in Águeda Municipality in the Baixo Vouga Subregion. Its population was less than 500 inhabitants from the 2001 census, in an area of 35.34 km² (14 inhabitants/km²); it is the second largest parish in area, penultimate center of population (and consequently second-least dense parish).
History
Agadão was created when the religious parish was de-annexed from Castanheira do Vouga, to establish a new faith community. During the first construction of the main church, around 1220, the manors of Vila Mendo de Cima and Vila Mendo de Baixo within Agadão, were being audited by King Afonso II, as part of his revisions to property rights.The lands of the parish later pertained to the Counts of Feira
Count of Feira
Count of Feira was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, in 1481, by King Afonso V of Portugal, and granted to D...
, until the last Count Fernando Forjaz Pereira Pimentel de Menezes e Silva died in 1700 without an heir, and those lands were transferred to the Casa do Infantado
Casa do Infantado
Created in 1654 by King John IV of Portugal, the Casa do Infantado was a wealthy Portuguese seigniory that consisted mainly of the material goods, lands and properties confiscated from the House of Vila Real, supporters of Spain during the Portuguese Restoration War...
(that included several seigneurial holdings confiscated from the Spanish after the Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War was the name given by nineteenth-century 'romantic' historians to the war between Portugal and Spain that began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon . The revolution of 1640 ended the sixty-year period of dual monarchy in Portugal...
).
The parishes church was constructed in the 18th Century on the hilltop locality of Lomba. But the region also includes many minor chapels scattered throughout the villages and hamlets, some in various states of decay or degradation, such as: Chapel of Menino Jesus (Caselho), Chapel of São Bartolomeu (Alcafaz), Chapel of Senhora da Paz (Sobreira), Chapel of Santa Bárbara (Felgueira), Chapel of São Tomé (Guístola) and the Chapel of São João (Catraia).
Geography
Agadão is situated in the southeast corner of the municipality of Águeda, occupying the valley at the foot of the Serra do Caramulo, sustained by the Agadão River (a tributary of the Águeda RiverÁgueda River
The Águeda is a river tributary of the Douro River, that springs from the Serra das Mesas in Spain, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It flows 130 kilometers until it reaches the Douro River near Barca de Alva, Portugal. The Águeda makes a natural border between Portugal and Spain...
), that meanders north to south. It is located approximately 16 kilometers from the municipal seat.
Its immediate neighbors include the parishes of Belazaima do Chão (along the southwest), Castanheira do Vouga (to the northwest), as well as the parishes of Pala in the southern municipality of Mortágua
Mortágua
Mortágua is a municipality with a total area of 251.2 km² and a total population of 10,365 inhabitants. The municipality is composed of 10 parishes and is located in the district of Viseu....
, and Mosteirinho and São João do Monte in the eastern municipality of Tondela.
Economy
In addition to agriculture, the forestry sector and industry are the dominant economic activities in the local villages. Another of the main industries is water-bottling, which has supported the economy of this parish, and primarily of the village of Alcafaz.Religious
- Igreja Matriz of Santa Maria Madelana (Matriz Church of Saint Mary Magdalene) - center of the parishes' religious life, the historic church celebrates on 20–21 June the celebrations in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saint Mary Magdalene;
- Capela de São Bartolomeu (Chapel of Saint Bartholomew) - located in the community of Alcafaz;
- Capela de Santo André (Chapel of Saint André) - located in Berturfo;
- Capela da Nossa Senhora da Paz (Chapel of Our Lady of Peace) - located in Sobreira;
- Capela da Santa Bárbara (Chapel of Saint Barbara) - located in Felgueira