Vila do Conde
Encyclopedia
Vila do Conde (ˈvilɐ ðu ˈkõd(ɨ)) is a municipality in the Norte Region of Portugal
with a population of 79,390 inhabitants (2011) in an area of 149.03 km². The urbanized area of Vila do Conde, which includes the parishes of Vila do Conde, Azurara and Árvore
, represent 32,094 inhabitants, within the Porto metropolitan area
. Vila do Conde is interlinked to the north with the Póvoa de Varzim
, forming a single urban agglomeration.
Vila do Conde is one of the oldest settlements in northern Portugal. Geological artifacts dating to the Paleolithic have been discovered in sites in the parishes of Modivas, Malta, and Labruge dating from 100,000 to 15,000 years. In other parishes there have also been discoveries of implements and mounds dating back to the Bronze Age and Neolithic periods indicating a period of transition between forging and sedimentary civilizations.
Its origins date back to the founding of the Portuguese territory; the earliest written document (953) , by the Countess Mumadona Dias
, refers to the Villa de Comite, in a chart used for the sale of land by Flamula Deo-Vota, to the Monastery of Guimarães. But its ancient origins date back to the Castro of São João, and other Iron age
castros
, that include dispersed settlements in Retorta, Bagunte, Ferreiró, Vairão and Labruge. In the 18th century, Jerónimo Contador de Argote, citing references to the castro culture, identified the existence of one of these structures in the hilltops of Cividade de Bagunte, a structure occupying50 hectare (0.5 km²). Other castros within the municipality have been mostly agricultural, and some discoveries of ceramics have occurred, although most have been found in ruins. Similar vestiges of the Roman occupation of the region continue to be discovered, and archaeological digs are ongoing in a dozen sites throughout the municipality.
Sancho of Portugal
is linked to the founding of this settlement in 1200, although he left its administration to Count Mendonça de Peas Rofinho, to which the village became known.
Later, King Dinis of Portugal bestowed on Maria Paes da Ribeira these seigneurial holdings (Dinis had long had many illegitimate children with the noblewoman).
In 1318, Afonso Sanches (the illegitimate son of King Dinis of Portugal and Aldonça Rodrigues Telha) and Teresa Martins (daughter of João Afonso de Menez, Count of Barcelos
and grand-daughter of Sancho IV of Castile
) founded the Monastery of Santa Clara. Later referred to as the Convent of Santa Clara, the construction of the monastery developed from a dream; the nobleman presumably had a dream of constructing a stairway to heaven, which he was convinced was a sign from God that He wanted him to construct a house of worship, and stopped his planned construction of a castle. The cornerstone was laid in 1318, and once completed it was deposited in the hands of the Franciscan
Order, which he patronanized throughout his life, eventually leaving Vila do Conde, its lands and rents, in their possession after his and his wife's deaths. Today it is the ex-libris of Vila do Conde. The priory became the judicial seat, with all the royal rights in the area. Yet, King Edward began to contest these grand privileges during his reign, and King John III of Portugal
finally stripped them of those rights in 1537, investing his brother Edward, with the seigneurial titles. At the marriage of Catherine, his daughter, with John I, 6th Duke of Braganza, the Infante Edward passed on the title to the Royal House of Braganza
. Consequently, Vila do Conde had representation in the Royal Cortes and their alcalde
s were nominated for dukeships in the Royal House of Braganza. But this was also responsible for the local government weakness and high taxes on most local economic activities, except shipping and trade, where the national government had sole control.
During the 16th century, attained the apex of its commercial and maritime importance due to naval construction, associated with the Portuguese Age of Discovery
. Many of the historical buildings, such as the port and customshouse, were all integral in the commercial relief of the 16th century. The passage of King Manuel
through Vila do Conde, during a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
, in 1502, helped to develop some of the important infrastructures in the city: the Matriz Church, Praça Nova and municipal buildings, along with new arterials, were begun under the reign of Manuel I. The Praça Nova , today Praça Vasco da Gama was opened in 1538, during the reign of King John III of Portugal
, and where the municipal buildings were located.
Manuel I
conceded a foral
(royal charter) in 1516, due to the active and integral participation of its population during the exploration of the new lands in India
. Of these mariners of note, were the brothers Paulo and Francisco Faria, who were on Vasco da Gama
's expeditionary voyage.
During the 19th century, French troops were responsible for the destruction and pillaging of many of the infrastructures and deaths. By the middle of the 19th century, the town had one ecclesiastical parish, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, founded by Manuel I of Portugal
, and erected by the archbishop of Braga
, Diogo de Sousa in 1518. In addition, the community included the Church of the Misericordia, hospital, six chapels, municipal building, customhouse, the Convent of Santa Clara (now remodelled and expanded since its construction), and the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação. In addition, the secular buildings included a small theatre, a recreational assembly and ornate dock of rock on the right marign of the Ave River towards its mouth, and across from the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia.
In 1997, the urbanized area was elevated to the status of city.
(east), Maia (southeast), Trofa (southeast), Matosinhos (south) and Póvoa de Varzim
(north). Fronting the Atlantic Ocean and the Ave River (to its south), the municipality includes 18 kilometres of beaches, in addition to extensive rural areas with fields and estates. Located 20 kilomtres from Porto, access to the municipality is completed through many of its transport networks: the A28 (linking Porto to Viana do Castelo), the EN13, a Metro line and the A11 roadway.
The area of Vila do Conde is part of the granite-metamorphic basement, the Iberian Hercynian massif, that extends from the Spanish border to Espinho (15 kilometres south of Porto). Over the Hercynian bedrock there is a prevalence of sandy beaches, and in other areas, the erosion of these sands has allowed the exposure of the rocky substrata. Most of the rock outcrops (never more than 20 metres) disappear north of the Ave River. Yet, these deposits are irregular, and most comparable sediments are not necessarily found at the same altitude. There are also deformations associated with the last inter-glacial period, that have affected these sedimentary layers, most commonly in the beach of Sampaio
, where deposits have be discovered between various altitudes (5 and 9 metres).
and Vila do Conde, the municipality includes the following local government civil parishes:
with:
The communities along the coast, which include the main beaches and bird sanctuary, are essentially beach resorts with a high technology industrial park in Mindelo
with some semi-conductor industries.
until Porto
via the A28 Auto-estrada. The A7 crosses the A28 along a east to west intersection, along the north of the city, linking Vila Nova de Famalicão
to Guimarães
.
The national roadways that cross the municipal borders as managed by the municipality, including the EN13, which crosses the municipality and city along a north-to-south axis, linking into the northern agglomeration of Póvoa de Varzim. In the north, the EN205 intersects the municipality along an east to west trajectory from Vila do Conde to Vila Nova de Famalicão
. Similarly, the EN104 crosses the municipality in the centre, along a similar orientation (east to west), and connects Vila do Conde with Trofa
and Santo Tirso
. The ancillary EN205 and EN104 are primarily used by motorists within the municipality and interlink the many civil parishes. Municipal public transport is primarily operated by Litoral Norte - Transportes Urbanos da Póvoa de Varzim, although the remains lines are managed byTransdev. The B Line of the Porto Metro system connects Vila do Conde with Porto and the airport, providing both normal and express services, in addition to northern connections to Póvoa de Varzim. The line also operated an older rail-line that connected Porto and Póvoa de Varzim, with intermediary stops in Vila do Conde, but was discontinuted in 2002 in favour of Metro services.
Situated 15 km from the centre of Vila do Conde, the Porto-Francisco de Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO), the second largest international airport in the country is linked to Vila do Conde across the A28, EN13 and Porto Metro.
In addition, in the interior (18 kilometres from the beaches) are several examples of prehistoric and Roman structures such as the Castro de São Paio, or the Roman civitas
Bagunte, in addition to homes and estates of rural gentry, or monastic settlements, such as in Junqueira, Azurara or Vairão.
During the summer, the municipality is known for the several secular and religious celebrations. These includethe Festival Internacional de Curtas Metragens, the Feira Nacional de Artesanato, theFeira da Gastronomia, the Feira das Actividades Agrícolas and the Festival of São João. Every four years, the religious Festivals of Corpo de Deus are significant, and known for the road covered mats of flowers, used in processions from the circuit the main churches.
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...
with a population of 79,390 inhabitants (2011) in an area of 149.03 km². The urbanized area of Vila do Conde, which includes the parishes of Vila do Conde, Azurara and Árvore
Árvore
Árvore is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Conde. It has a population of 4,261 inhabitants, its total area of 6.26 km² and its density is 680.7/km². The municipality of Mindelo is bounded to the north....
, represent 32,094 inhabitants, within the Porto metropolitan area
Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto
The Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto is a metropolitan area in coastal northern Portugal which covers 16 municipalities, including the City of Porto, making up the second biggest urban area in the country...
. Vila do Conde is interlinked to the north with the Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim is a Portuguese city in the Norte Region and sub-region of Greater Porto, with a 2011 estimated population of 63,364. According to the 2001 census, there were 63,470 inhabitants with 42,396 living in the city proper. The urban area expanded, southwards, to Vila do Conde, and there...
, forming a single urban agglomeration.
History
Its origins date back to the founding of the Portuguese territory; the earliest written document (953) , by the Countess Mumadona Dias
Mumadona Dias
Mumadona Dias, or Muniadomna Díaz, Countess of Portugal in the 10th century, ruling between c. 924 - c. 950. She was daughter of Count Diogo Fernandes and of countess Onega....
, refers to the Villa de Comite, in a chart used for the sale of land by Flamula Deo-Vota, to the Monastery of Guimarães. But its ancient origins date back to the Castro of São João, and other Iron age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
castros
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...
, that include dispersed settlements in Retorta, Bagunte, Ferreiró, Vairão and Labruge. In the 18th century, Jerónimo Contador de Argote, citing references to the castro culture, identified the existence of one of these structures in the hilltops of Cividade de Bagunte, a structure occupying50 hectare (0.5 km²). Other castros within the municipality have been mostly agricultural, and some discoveries of ceramics have occurred, although most have been found in ruins. Similar vestiges of the Roman occupation of the region continue to be discovered, and archaeological digs are ongoing in a dozen sites throughout the municipality.
Sancho of Portugal
Sancho I of Portugal
Sancho I , nicknamed the Populator , second monarch of Portugal, was born on 11 November 1154 in Coimbra and died on 26 March 1212 in the same city. He was the second but only surviving legitimate son and fourth child of Afonso I of Portugal by his wife, Maud of Savoy. Sancho succeeded his father...
is linked to the founding of this settlement in 1200, although he left its administration to Count Mendonça de Peas Rofinho, to which the village became known.
Later, King Dinis of Portugal bestowed on Maria Paes da Ribeira these seigneurial holdings (Dinis had long had many illegitimate children with the noblewoman).
In 1318, Afonso Sanches (the illegitimate son of King Dinis of Portugal and Aldonça Rodrigues Telha) and Teresa Martins (daughter of João Afonso de Menez, Count of Barcelos
Count of Barcelos
Count of Barcelos is a title of nobility, the first to be granted in Portugal. It was created in 1298 by king Denis I and initially it was a non hereditary title, although most of the holders belonged to the Teles de Menezes family...
and grand-daughter of Sancho IV of Castile
Sancho IV of Castile
Sancho IV the Brave was the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1284 to his death. He was the second son of Alfonso X and Yolanda, daughter of James I of Aragon.-Biography:...
) founded the Monastery of Santa Clara. Later referred to as the Convent of Santa Clara, the construction of the monastery developed from a dream; the nobleman presumably had a dream of constructing a stairway to heaven, which he was convinced was a sign from God that He wanted him to construct a house of worship, and stopped his planned construction of a castle. The cornerstone was laid in 1318, and once completed it was deposited in the hands of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Order, which he patronanized throughout his life, eventually leaving Vila do Conde, its lands and rents, in their possession after his and his wife's deaths. Today it is the ex-libris of Vila do Conde. The priory became the judicial seat, with all the royal rights in the area. Yet, King Edward began to contest these grand privileges during his reign, and King John III of Portugal
John III of Portugal
John III , nicknamed o Piedoso , was the fifteenth King of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile...
finally stripped them of those rights in 1537, investing his brother Edward, with the seigneurial titles. At the marriage of Catherine, his daughter, with John I, 6th Duke of Braganza, the Infante Edward passed on the title to the Royal House of Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
. Consequently, Vila do Conde had representation in the Royal Cortes and their alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
s were nominated for dukeships in the Royal House of Braganza. But this was also responsible for the local government weakness and high taxes on most local economic activities, except shipping and trade, where the national government had sole control.
During the 16th century, attained the apex of its commercial and maritime importance due to naval construction, associated with the Portuguese Age of Discovery
Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration and the Great Navigations , was a period in history starting in the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world, establishing direct contacts with...
. Many of the historical buildings, such as the port and customshouse, were all integral in the commercial relief of the 16th century. The passage of King Manuel
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
through Vila do Conde, during a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
, in 1502, helped to develop some of the important infrastructures in the city: the Matriz Church, Praça Nova and municipal buildings, along with new arterials, were begun under the reign of Manuel I. The Praça Nova , today Praça Vasco da Gama was opened in 1538, during the reign of King John III of Portugal
John III of Portugal
John III , nicknamed o Piedoso , was the fifteenth King of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile...
, and where the municipal buildings were located.
Manuel I
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
conceded a foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
(royal charter) in 1516, due to the active and integral participation of its population during the exploration of the new lands in India
Portuguese India
The Portuguese Viceroyalty of India , later the Portuguese State of India , was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de...
. Of these mariners of note, were the brothers Paulo and Francisco Faria, who were on Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India...
's expeditionary voyage.
During the 19th century, French troops were responsible for the destruction and pillaging of many of the infrastructures and deaths. By the middle of the 19th century, the town had one ecclesiastical parish, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, founded by Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
, and erected by the archbishop of Braga
Braga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
, Diogo de Sousa in 1518. In addition, the community included the Church of the Misericordia, hospital, six chapels, municipal building, customhouse, the Convent of Santa Clara (now remodelled and expanded since its construction), and the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação. In addition, the secular buildings included a small theatre, a recreational assembly and ornate dock of rock on the right marign of the Ave River towards its mouth, and across from the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia.
In 1997, the urbanized area was elevated to the status of city.
Physical geography
Vila do Conde is located in the north-west coast of Portugal, surrounded by the municipalities of Vila Nova de Famalicão MunicipalityVila 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....
(east), Maia (southeast), Trofa (southeast), Matosinhos (south) and Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim is a Portuguese city in the Norte Region and sub-region of Greater Porto, with a 2011 estimated population of 63,364. According to the 2001 census, there were 63,470 inhabitants with 42,396 living in the city proper. The urban area expanded, southwards, to Vila do Conde, and there...
(north). Fronting the Atlantic Ocean and the Ave River (to its south), the municipality includes 18 kilometres of beaches, in addition to extensive rural areas with fields and estates. Located 20 kilomtres from Porto, access to the municipality is completed through many of its transport networks: the A28 (linking Porto to Viana do Castelo), the EN13, a Metro line and the A11 roadway.
The area of Vila do Conde is part of the granite-metamorphic basement, the Iberian Hercynian massif, that extends from the Spanish border to Espinho (15 kilometres south of Porto). Over the Hercynian bedrock there is a prevalence of sandy beaches, and in other areas, the erosion of these sands has allowed the exposure of the rocky substrata. Most of the rock outcrops (never more than 20 metres) disappear north of the Ave River. Yet, these deposits are irregular, and most comparable sediments are not necessarily found at the same altitude. There are also deformations associated with the last inter-glacial period, that have affected these sedimentary layers, most commonly in the beach of Sampaio
Sampaio
Sampaio is a town and municipality in the state of Tocantins in the Northern region of Brazil.-References:...
, where deposits have be discovered between various altitudes (5 and 9 metres).
Human geography
Apart from the urbanized city of Vila do Conde, which includes the parishes of Azurara, ÁrvoreÁrvore
Árvore is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Conde. It has a population of 4,261 inhabitants, its total area of 6.26 km² and its density is 680.7/km². The municipality of Mindelo is bounded to the north....
and Vila do Conde, the municipality includes the following local government civil parishes:
- ArcosArcos (Vila do Conde)Arcos, which is a civil parish in the municipality of Vila do Conde, but near the north-eastern frontier with the municipality of Barcelos, it lives in the shadow of its larger municipal neighbour...
- ÁrvoreÁrvoreÁrvore is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Conde. It has a population of 4,261 inhabitants, its total area of 6.26 km² and its density is 680.7/km². The municipality of Mindelo is bounded to the north....
- Aveleda
- Azurara
- Bagunte
- Canidelo
- FajozesFajozesFajozes is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Conde. It has a population of 1,467 inhabitants and a total area of 7.13 km². The municipality of Mindelo is bounded to the west....
- Ferreiró
- Fornelo
- GiãoGião (Vila do Conde)Gião is a parish in the municipality of Vila do Conde, Portugal. Its 2001 population was 1,535, its area is 4.93 km² and its density is 311.4/km²-Coat of arms:...
- Guilhabreu
- Junqueira
- Labruge
- Macieira da Maia
- Malta
- MindeloMindelo, PortugalMindelo is a coastal civil parish in the municipality of Vila do Conde, along the Costa Verde |Green Coast in continental Portugal...
- ModivasModivasModivas is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Conde. It has a population of 1,899 inhabitants and a total area of 4.08 km². The municipality of Mindelo is bounded to the north....
- Mosteiró
- Outeiro Maior
- Parada
- Retorta
- Rio Mau
- Tougues
- Touguinha
- Touguinhó
- VairãoVairãoVairão is a parish in the municipality of Vila do Conde, Portugal. Its 2001 population was 1,191, its area is 4.33 km² and its density is 275.1/km²-Coat of arms:...
- Vila ChãVila Chã (Vila do Conde)Vila Chã is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Conde. It has a population of 2,957 inhabitants and a total area of 5.49 km². The municipality of Mindelo is bounded to the north....
- Vila do Conde
- Vilar
- Vilar de Pinheiro
Twin towns — Sister cities
Vila do Conde is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
| Ferrol, Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... Portalegre, Portugal 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... Lobata Lobata Lobata is an order of Ctenophora in the class Tentaculata with smaller tentacles than other ctenophores, and distinctive flattened lobes extending outwards from their bodies.They are about long.-Anatomy:... , São Tomé and Principe São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off... Mansoa, Guinea Bissau |
Mossel Bay, South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... Mindelo Mindelo For the parish in Portugal, see Mindelo, PortugalMindelo , is a port city in the northern part of the island of São Vicente in Cape Verde. Mindelo is also the seat of the parish of Nossa Senhora da Luz, and this island's municipality... , Cape Verde Cape Verde The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa... Baucau Baucau Baucau is the second-largest city in East Timor, after Dili, the capital, which lies 122 km east of Dili.Baucau has about 16,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of Baucau, located in the eastern part of the country... , East Timor East Timor The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor... Olinda Olinda Olinda is a historic city in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, located on the country's northeastern Atlantic Ocean coast, just north of Recife and south of Paulista... , Brazil Brazil Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... |
Economy
The municipal authorities have promoted a future-looking environment in Vila do Conde, that have concentrated on the tourist market, involving the requalification of the many of the historical buildings (such as the Convent and customshouse), in addition to promoting an ocean-centric tourist economy associated with the Programa Polis initiative.The communities along the coast, which include the main beaches and bird sanctuary, are essentially beach resorts with a high technology industrial park in Mindelo
Mindelo, Portugal
Mindelo is a coastal civil parish in the municipality of Vila do Conde, along the Costa Verde |Green Coast in continental Portugal...
with some semi-conductor industries.
Transport
Vila do Conde is serviced by an ample network of terrestrial, aerial and maritime transport links. The road networks include accesses to the national auto-estradas (roadway), and inter-municipal roadways, along a north-south axis from Vila Nova de CerveiraVila Nova de Cerveira
Vila Nova de Cerveira is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 108.6 km² and a total population of 8,752 inhabitants .The municipality is composed of 15 parishes and is located in the district of Viana do Castelo....
until Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
via the A28 Auto-estrada. The A7 crosses the A28 along a east to west intersection, along the north of the city, linking Vila Nova de Famalicão
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....
to Guimarães
Guimarães
Guimarães Municipality is located in northwestern Portugal in the province of Minho and in the Braga District. It contains the city of Guimarães.The present Mayor is António Magalhães Silva, elected by the Socialist Party.-Parishes:-Economy:...
.
The national roadways that cross the municipal borders as managed by the municipality, including the EN13, which crosses the municipality and city along a north-to-south axis, linking into the northern agglomeration of Póvoa de Varzim. In the north, the EN205 intersects the municipality along an east to west trajectory from Vila do Conde to Vila Nova de Famalicão
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....
. Similarly, the EN104 crosses the municipality in the centre, along a similar orientation (east to west), and connects Vila do Conde with Trofa
Trofa, Portugal
Trofa is a city in Trofa Municipality, Portugal.The city is composed of two parishes with a population of 20,692.Parishes:* São Martinho de Bougado* Santiago de Bougado...
and Santo Tirso
Santo Tirso
Santo Tirso is a city and municipality located in the north of Porto Metropolitan Area, Porto District, Portugal. In the region, the Ave Valley, there is a large center of textile industry....
. The ancillary EN205 and EN104 are primarily used by motorists within the municipality and interlink the many civil parishes. Municipal public transport is primarily operated by Litoral Norte - Transportes Urbanos da Póvoa de Varzim, although the remains lines are managed byTransdev. The B Line of the Porto Metro system connects Vila do Conde with Porto and the airport, providing both normal and express services, in addition to northern connections to Póvoa de Varzim. The line also operated an older rail-line that connected Porto and Póvoa de Varzim, with intermediary stops in Vila do Conde, but was discontinuted in 2002 in favour of Metro services.
Situated 15 km from the centre of Vila do Conde, the Porto-Francisco de Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO), the second largest international airport in the country is linked to Vila do Conde across the A28, EN13 and Porto Metro.
Architecture
Civic
- AqueductAqueductAn aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
of Vila do Conde - initially constructed between 1705 and 1714, it had 999 archs and ran for four kilometres; the aqueduct is the second longest in Portugal, connecting a spring in TerrosoTerrosoTerroso is a Portuguese parish located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 2,472 inhabitants and a total area of 4.63 km²....
, Póvoa de VarzimPóvoa de VarzimPóvoa de Varzim is a Portuguese city in the Norte Region and sub-region of Greater Porto, with a 2011 estimated population of 63,364. According to the 2001 census, there were 63,470 inhabitants with 42,396 living in the city proper. The urban area expanded, southwards, to Vila do Conde, and there...
, with a fountain in the monastery of Santa Clara. - Municipal Hall of Vila do Conde - located in the Praça Nova (or Praça Vasco da Gama) square, date back to 1543 (supposedly the date of completion), it is located in front of the municipal marker , and is one of the more important urban interventions in Vila do Conde since the 16th century. The executive office block and the Salão Nobre (Noble Hall), in particular, are the centrepeices of the building, with an ornate portrait of Queen Maria II of Portugal surmounted by royal coat of arms.
- Mill of Azurara - a rectangular building, with the coat of arms in sculpted rock of the Marquess of Vila Real (who in the 16th century ordered its construction).
Military
- Fort of Nossa Senhora da Assunção - the Fort of Our Lady of Assumption, also known as the Fort of São João Baptista (Fort of Saint John the BaptistJohn the BaptistJohn the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
), it is located at the mouth of the Ave River.
Religious
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Socorro , the Chapel of Our Lady of Aid/Help, is implanted on a rocky escarpment over the Ave River, on the Rua do Socorro; the chapel is atypical of Portuguese architecture: it has a square plan and large rounded dome. Yet, in the interior, the chapel exemplifies 18th-century architecture, with azulejos showing the life of Christ, and a RococoRococoRococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
-style altar. It was ordered built by Gaspar Manuel, knight of the Order of Christ and chief-pilot in service to the King during voyages to IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and his wife Bárbara Ferreira de Almeida; both were buried there on their deaths. - Chapel of the Nossa Senhora da Guia , the Chapel of Our Lady of the Guide, dates back to the 10th–11th century; located at the end of Avenida Marquês Sá da Bandeira (Vila do Conde), the chapel likely existed as early as 953 (and referenced in a 1059 inventory of the Monastery of Guimarães, but designated as the Chapel of São Julião. It is an irregular building, with an interior of azulejo from the 17th–18th century, and a roof decorated with scenes from the Bible and figures of saints.
- Church of São João Baptista - also referred to as the Matriz Church of Vila do Conde, located along the Rua da Igreja, the building is a lateGothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
structure with elements of Manueline, Baroque and Neo-Gothic styles, represented by a Latin cross of three naves, transept (with two chapels). Its construction in the 16th century was initiated by King Manuel of PortugalManuel I of PortugalManuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
's visit in 1502, who defined the plan, provided a substantial budget and imposed a tax to support the project. The architecture is marked by a large portico (by João de Castilho), a rectangular bell tower (erected in 1573 (designed by João Lopes the Elder), while the interior is richly decorated, with ornate pulpits and chapels; - Church of the Misericórdia, and Casa do Despacho - initiated in 1559, the plan of the Assembleia da Irmandade was to construct a church with a bell tower similar to the Misericórdia Church in Porto and having a pulpit comparable to that of the Church of Santo Eloy, similarly in Porto. The church has one nave whose interior is decorated in azueljo, while the roof is supported by wooden beam. The ancillary Casa do Despacho is notable for its window in the Manueline-style.
- Church of Azurara – located between Rua Padre Serafim das Neves and Rua Nossa Senhora de Fátima, the church was constructed in the 16th century, with large naves (three), rectangular chapel and bell tower. The Manueline portico is built in sculpted rock, with rosettas and with a central coat of arms of King Manuel I. The interior, with its azulejos and gold-leaf altar/sacristy and 17th century paintings, bely its stark exterior.
- Roman Church of São Cristóvão de Rio Mau , the Church of Saint Christopher, is a simple Roman church in a stark Romanesque-style single rectangular body, surmounted by a Templar Cross.
- The Monastery of Santa Clara , also referred to as the Convent of Santa Clara, although founded in 1318 by Afonso Sanches and Teresa Martins, is an 18th-century refurbishment, since by the middle of the 17th century the building was in ruins and conditions did not allow the nuns to properly use the building. The remodelling of the building was discontinued after events in the 19th century and the abolition of monastic orders. Between 1929 and 1932, the DGEMN - Direcção Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais (General Directorate for Buildings and National Monuments) intervened to protect the building, the ex-libris of Vila do Conde.
- Church of the Convent of Santa Clara (and the Founders Tombs), located in the Largo D. Afonso Sanches (Vila do Conde), is a monument constructed in 1318, with traces of GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
, ManuelineManuelineThe Manueline, or Portuguese late Gothic, is the sumptuous, composite Portuguese style of architectural ornamentation of the first decades of the 16th century, incorporating maritime elements and representations of the discoveries brought from the voyages of Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral...
, BaroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and Rococo architectural styles. The church is based in an unique nave and transept of large dimensions, with the interior marked by richly decorated woodwork. The Chapel of the Founders houses the Manueline and Rococo tombs of historical nobility. The chorus is marked by two aisles of seating and paintings, while the high altar is embossed with gold-leaf.
In addition, in the interior (18 kilometres from the beaches) are several examples of prehistoric and Roman structures such as the Castro de São Paio, or the Roman civitas
Civitas
In the history of Rome, the Latin term civitas , according to Cicero in the time of the late Roman Republic, was the social body of the cives, or citizens, united by law . It is the law that binds them together, giving them responsibilities on the one hand and rights of citizenship on the other...
Bagunte, in addition to homes and estates of rural gentry, or monastic settlements, such as in Junqueira, Azurara or Vairão.
Culture
Vila do Conde is the centre of one of the more prestigious fairs of traditional artsans, that include quilts, wool sweaters, ironworks, in addition to kneedlework.During the summer, the municipality is known for the several secular and religious celebrations. These includethe Festival Internacional de Curtas Metragens, the Feira Nacional de Artesanato, theFeira da Gastronomia, the Feira das Actividades Agrícolas and the Festival of São João. Every four years, the religious Festivals of Corpo de Deus are significant, and known for the road covered mats of flowers, used in processions from the circuit the main churches.