Monte Córdova
Encyclopedia
Monte Córdova is a civil parish
in Portuguese
municipality of Santo Tirso, located 4 kilometres east of the municipal seat. In 2001, its population was 3669 inhabitants, in an area of 16.8 km² (6.5 sq mi): it is the largest parish by the area in the municipality.
Roman forces occupied this region, in order to pacify its populous, as part of its occupation from the Pyranees to Atlantic, Canterbury
to the Mediterranean. They forced a restructuring of society, promoting the occupation of the open plains rather then the hilltops, which were typical at the time. The difficulty encountered by the Romans in this area, resulted in the Greek historian Strabo
identifying the Lusitanian region and its peoples are the most powerful groups in the Iberian peninsula
.
On Monte Padrão existed the ruins of a castro
. The castro of Monte Padrão, until the end of the 16th century, existed as the parochial church, being under the primitive monastery of Celanova
, in Galicia.
, Famalição Municipality
and Guimarães.
For many centuries, the geomorphology of the terrain was responsible for the relative isolation of its populations. The parish is located at about 410-420 metres above sea level, in an area called the Agrela da Assunção escarpment. Alto de Cabanas is one of the best natural lookouts in the region, and the area of Valinhas, with its monumental oak forests and curious chapel, near the Fervença waterfalls (or the Leça River), are almost obligatory natural sites of the landscape.
Freguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
in Portuguese
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...
municipality of Santo Tirso, located 4 kilometres east of the municipal seat. In 2001, its population was 3669 inhabitants, in an area of 16.8 km² (6.5 sq mi): it is the largest parish by the area in the municipality.
History
São Salvador de Monte Córdova is an ancient parish that was first mentioned in recorded documents in 959.Roman forces occupied this region, in order to pacify its populous, as part of its occupation from the Pyranees to Atlantic, Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
to the Mediterranean. They forced a restructuring of society, promoting the occupation of the open plains rather then the hilltops, which were typical at the time. The difficulty encountered by the Romans in this area, resulted in the Greek historian Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
identifying the Lusitanian region and its peoples are the most powerful groups in the Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
.
On Monte Padrão existed the ruins of a castro
Castro culture
Castro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
. The castro of Monte Padrão, until the end of the 16th century, existed as the parochial church, being under the primitive monastery of Celanova
Celanova
Celanova is a village and municipality located in the province of Orense, Galicia, Northern Spain. Situated near the border with Portugal, the village is bordered by Ramirás, Cartelle, A Merca, A Bola, Verea and Quintela de Leirado....
, in Galicia.
Geography
The civil parish of Monte Córdova is situated 30 kilometres from Porto, and accessible through the EN105 motorway to many of the local communities, including BragaBraga Municipality
-Parishes:...
, Famalição Municipality
Vila Nova de Famalicão
Vila Nova de Famalicão is a municipality in the district of Braga, in the north of Portugal. It is composed of 49 parishes.The municipality has a population of 131,690 inhabitants and a total area of 201.7....
and Guimarães.
For many centuries, the geomorphology of the terrain was responsible for the relative isolation of its populations. The parish is located at about 410-420 metres above sea level, in an area called the Agrela da Assunção escarpment. Alto de Cabanas is one of the best natural lookouts in the region, and the area of Valinhas, with its monumental oak forests and curious chapel, near the Fervença waterfalls (or the Leça River), are almost obligatory natural sites of the landscape.
Economy
For a long time Monte Córdova was considered the breadbasket of Santo Tirso . But, primary activities have diminished considerably over time: in fact, the totality of the lands cultivated today only provide subsistence resources for the local community, or to compliment family income. The secondary economic activities are dominated by industrial activities such as sawmilling, carpentry and associated services.Architecture
The parish of Monte Córdova is proud of the many cultural monuments and buildings that are spread throughout its territory, but the following have been classified in the National Registry of Patrimony by IGESPAR:Civic
- Castro of Monte Padrão
- Monte Córdova Primary School
- Pereiras' Sierra Hydraulic Building
Religious
- Chapel of São Gonçalo
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção - authored by the ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
architect Korrrodi, the basilica-like church houses the image of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Our Lady of the Assumption), considered one of the best conserved sculptures from the end of the 19th century sculpturer João da Fonseca Lapa.