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Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo (Portuguese pronunciation: [viˈɐnɐ ðu kɐʃˈtɛlu] ⓘ) is a municipality and seat of the district of Viana do Castelo in the Norte Region of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 88,725,[1] in an area of 319.02 km2.[2] The urbanized area of the municipality, comprising the city, has a population of approximately 36,148 inhabitants, although the extended densely populated region reaches surrounding municipalities like Caminha and Ponte de Lima with a population above 150,000 inhabitants. It is located on the Portuguese Way path, an alternative path of the Camino de Santiago, and at the mouth of the Lima river.

History

Human settlement in the region of Viana began during the Mesolithic era, from discoveries and archaeological excavations. Even around the Roman occupation the area was settled along the Mount of Santa Luzia.

The settlement of Viana da Foz do Lima, which it was called when King Afonso III of Portugal issued a foral (charter) on 18 July 1258, was a formalization of the 1253 Viana that the area was named.

In the 16th century, its port gained great importance as one of the entry-points for Portuguese explorers and traders, involved in the Portuguese discoveries. Many of the historical buildings originated during this period.

The prosperity that continued developed from the town's role as a port, protected by defensive structures (such as the Tower of Roqueta) to repel pirates from Galicia and north Africa. The port's ties to northern Europe came primarily from exports of wine, fruits and salt, and imports of tile, textiles and glass.

After the maritime discoveries and trade, the commercial life of Viana reached its greatest proportions during the reign of Queen Maria II of Portugal, when the monarch established the Associação Comercial de Viana do Castelo in 1852 (the fourth oldest public company of its type). The queen, in order to reward the loyalty of its citizens, who did not surrender to the Count of Antas, elevated the town to the status of city on 20 January 1848, renaming the settlement with its current name.

Geography

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 27 civil parishes (freguesias):[3]

Panoramic view of Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Climate

Viana do Castelo has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb; Thornthwaite: ArB’2a’)[4] with substantial oceanic influences characterized by warm, relatively dry summers and mild, rainy winters. It is also one of the rainiest cities in Continental Portugal.

Economy

Home to a modern service based economy, the city, along with its region, has a seaport with naval repairing facilities. Its major industries are related to naval construction and repair, with the Estaleiros da Viana do Castelo remaining one of the few large shipyards still in operation. Home to a large cluster of wind green electricity and car-parts industries it has become one of the most dynamic exporting regions in the country.

Architecture

Republic Square: historical centre of Viana do Castelo
Sanctuary of Santa Luzia
Cathedral of Viana do Castelo

Civic

Since the early 1990s the city started a wide urban renewal plan, pioneering the "Polis program", and including enlarging the pedestrian areas, building new modern architecture and creating new public spaces and parks. Architects such as Siza Vieira, Eduardo Souto de Moura and Fernando Távora have participated in the construction of a modern, well preserved and lively city center.

Religious

Culture

In 2010, Viana do Castelo started to implement a project of rehabilitation of the city called Viana Criativa[7] which is based on an investigation made by Paulo Caldeira along 4 years. Such project has the main purpose to attract more residents to a city where, during the last 500 years, many people around the world arrived to trade. Once upon a time, Viana was the second center of commerce of Portugal and some investigators are now recognising that fado music was born based on the typical songs of Minho region.[citation needed]

Sport

SC Vianense is the local football club. Founded in 1898, it is one of the oldest clubs in Portugal. They play their home matches at the 3000 capacity Estádio do Dr. José de Matos.

Notable people

Óscar de Lemos, 1944

Sport

Tiago Mendes, 2013

International relations

Viana do Castelo is twinned with:[10]

Gallery

References

  1. ^ Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ^ "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  3. ^ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, pages 552 127-128" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Plano de Gestão da Região Hidrográfica do Minho e Lima" (PDF). apambiente.pt. p. 151. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Climate Normals - Viana do Castelo 1981-2010". Portuguese Institute of Meteorology. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Climate Normals - Viana do Castelo 1971-2000" (PDF). Portuguese Institute of Meteorology. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  7. ^ [1] A PROJECT TO CHANGE A CITY
  8. ^ Óscar de Lemos, IMDb Database.
  9. ^ Sofia Aparício, IMDb Database.
  10. ^ "Relações internacionais / cooperação". cm-viana-castelo.pt (in Portuguese). Viana do Castelo. Retrieved 10 December 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Viana do Castelo.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Viana do Castelo.