Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo
Municipality
The port of Viana do Castelo
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 41°42′N 8°50′W / 41.700°N 8.833°W / 41.700; -8.833Coordinates: 41°42′N 8°50′W / 41.700°N 8.833°W / 41.700; -8.833
Country	Portugal
Region	Norte
Subregion	Minho-Lima
Intermunic. comm.	Alto Minho
District	Viana do Castelo
Government
• President	José Maria Costa (PS)
Area
• Total	319.02 km2 (123.17 sq mi)
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Highest elevation	825 m (2,707 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	88,725
• Density	280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Time zone	WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1)
Postal code	4904
Area code	258
Patron	Nossa Senhora da Agonia
Website	http://www.cm-viana-castelo.pt

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.

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.

During the dictatorial regime, Viana do Castelo was one of the most important ports of the Portuguese cod fisheries.^[3]

Geography

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 27 civil parishes (freguesias):^[4]

Climate

Economy

The city 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.

Architecture

Library of Viana do Castelo

Civic

• Geraz do Lima carriage museum
• Renaissance fountain (1535) in the Major Square
• Palacio de Tavoras, a noble residence from the 16th and 17th centuries
• Municipal Museum, housed in an 18th-century building and home to
• Paços do Conselho ("Palace of the Council", 1502), of which only the façade remains today

Military

• Castelo do Neiva: the castle has been owned by the parish of Viana do Castelo since the beginning of the 19th century.
• Church of Sâo Domingos (1576)
• Church of Santa Luzia (19th century), designed by Miguel Ventura Terra
• Nossa Senhora da Agonia, church in Roccoco style

Religious

• Chapel of the Sagrada Família (Portuguese: Capela da Sagrada Família e Portal da Quinta dos Espregueira)
• Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Esperança (Portuguese: Capela de Nossa Senhora da Esperança)
• Sé Cathedral of Viana do Castelo (Portuguese: Igreja Matriz de Viana do Castelo/Catedral de Viana do Castelo/Sé de Viana do Castelo), the 15th-century parochial church and cathedral, was constructed in the Romanesque style, comprising a façade flanked by two large towers with merlons, while the middle Gothic portal with archivolts is decorated by sculptures depicting the Passion of Christ and of the Apostles. The interior designed in the form of the Latin cross, includes a nave and two aisles (separated by arches supported by pillars), as well as two ancillary chapels dedicated to São Bernado and the Holy Sacrament, both attributed to João Lopes "the Elder".
• Misericórdia of Viana do Castelo (Portuguese: Misericórdia de Viana do Castelo), designed in the Flemish-style, the building dates back to 1589.

Culture

Panoramic view of Viana do Castelo, Portugal

In 2010, Viana do Castelo started to implement a project of rehabilitation of the city called Viana Criativa ^[6] which is based on an investigation made by Paulo Caldeira among 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.

International relations

Viana do Castelo is twinned with:

• Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, Canada
• Aveiro, Portugal
• Riom, France^[7]

Gallery

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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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  Viana do Castelo, Portugal

References

External links

• Viana do Castelo travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Viana do Castelo - A Healthy City - Youtube video
• Photos from Viana do Castelo
• O blog de Viana do Castelo