The Municipalities of Portugal reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Municipalities of Portugal

Many of the municipalities of Portugal are older than the country itself. Some cities, towns and villages have twice the age of Portugal, or even more. Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe and in the world. The country was formed as a dependent county of the former Kingdom of Leon in the 1090's, in 1128 became an independent county with the support of many Portuguese (to be) cities, and turned into a kingdom by the year 1139 and into Republic in 1910.

Table of contents

1 Municipalities in Early Portugal 2 The Emanicipation of the Portuguese Municipalities 3 The Captured Municipality 4 List of Municipalities 5 See Also 6 External Links

Municipalities in Early Portugal

The Great Lords of the South of the Minho River (Braga, Oporto and Coimbra) had made an alliance with the support of some religious and military orders. Braga was disputing the Christian supremacy of the Spains with Santiago de Compostela. Before the invasion of the Moors, Braga was the Capital of the former kingdom of the Suevi. Therefore, the independence was granted and the municipalities in Portugal held a great importance in medieval independent Portugal.

The Capital was decided to be Coimbra, Braga staied has capital of the church or Capital of the Archibishops and Oporto gave the name to the country and was Capital of Merchants.

As the country grows at south, conquering lands to the Moors, Lisbon an important, strategic and difficult conquest obtains the status of Capital from Coimbra. Evora and Rio de Janeiro (today a Brazilian city) were, also, for a short period, Capital of Portugal.

The Emanicipation of the Portuguese Municipalities

By the 19th century, the republicans promised a federal organization for the Portuguese territory -- that the country would become a municipal republic. When the Republic was formed, however, they didn't adopt what they promised for almost half a century.

Later in the end of the 20th century, democracy has granted more independence to municipalities. And, the formation of two super municipalities, known as áreas metropolitanas (meaning "metropolitan areas") for the two major cities of the country (Lisbon and Oporto). Altought, there has been discussions of the creation of three new metropolitan areas for the cities around Aveiro, Leiria and Viseu.

The municipalities in Portugal are known as concelhos ("councils"), but the word município ("municipality") is used and also official.

The Captured Municipality

In 1801, Spain and France decides to invade Portugal because of Portugal's alliance with Britain and to make Portugal stops trading with Britain. A block was made Europe-wide by the pressure of Napoleon, but Portugal didn't join this. By this, Spain declares war on Portugal, invading and forcing the country to sign the Triety of Badajoz where Olivença is given to Spain among other premisses. In the spanish view, this territory isolates, in some manner, some spanish territories and, because of this, has a strategical position in southern Iberia. Portugal signs with the commitment that Spain won't invade the rest of the country.

By the year 1807, Spain and France invade Portugal and the Royal Family escapes to Brazil, a portuguese colony that will be turned into an associated kingdom to Portugal in that occasion. In fact, Rio de Janeiro was turned into the Capital of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarve during the invasion of metropolitan Portugal.

When the war was over and won, Portugal tried to regain it's lost territory. Spain and Portugal,among other nations, participate in the Congress of Vienna, where Spain, by its honor and will, promisses to return the Municipality of Olivença to Portugal and the Triety of Badajoz was declared, officially, void. Until today, Spain didn't make due on its promise. For two centuries Portugal has tried to regain Olivença, sometimes by force, but it has withdrawn for fear of a new Peninsular War. To this day there is no official border between the two countries in that region.

List of Municipalities

The list of Portuguese municipalities is divided by regions or Metropolitans Areas. The used regions are those used by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture, since the country is not officially divided into regions and districts have fallen in disuse. The list also includes the activities and main attractions of each municipality. Some municipalities share a statute of World Heritage Site. This happens in the World Heritage region of Douro Vinhateiro that is shared by 13 municipalities. This also occurs in Madeira Island, where the Laurissilva Forrest is share by some municipalities. Others, such as Lisbon (two monuments classified) and Vila Nova de Foz Côa (Douro Vinhateiro and the Paleolitic pictures site) have more than one site.

Portugal has a number of unique hotels known has Pousadas Históricas, part of Pousadas de Portugal, that are located in national monuments, convents, castles and forts. They are also in the list. One can also find the monuments that were classified as National Monuments by Portugal, with the anacron N.M.. This features among others characterize each municipality, some like the Pousadas are seen in Portugal as a municipal pride.

Region Metropolitan Area	Municipality	Obs.
Azores Islands pt. Arquipélago dos Açores	Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island	Bullfighting; World Heritage Site
	Calheta (Azores), São Jorge Island	Bullfighting
	Corvo, Corvo Island
	Horta, Faial Island
	Lagoa (Azores), São Miguel Island
	Lajes das Flores, Flores Island
	Lajes do Pico, Pico Island
	Madalena, Pico Island	Natural beauties
	Nordeste, São Miguel Island
	Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island	Spas
	Povoação, São Miguel Island	Spas
	Praia da Vitória, Terceira Island	Fishery
	Ribeira Grande, São Miguel Island	Spas
	Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Graciosa Island
	Santa Cruz das Flores, Flores Island
	São Roque do Pico, Pico Island
	Velas, São Jorge Island	Natural beauties; bullfighting
	Vila do Porto, Santa Maria Island
	Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel Island
Alentejo	Alandroal	Bullfighting; N.M.: Castle of Terena
	Alcácer do Sal	Natural beauties; bullfighting; Pousada
	Aljustrel
	Almodôvar
	Alter do Chão	Bullfighting
	Alvito	Pousada
	Arraiolos	Pousada
	Arronches	Natural beauties
	Avis
	Barrancos	Natural beauties; bullfighting
	Beja	Pousada; N.M.: Roman Villa of Pisões
	Borba
	Campo Maior	N.M.: Castle of Campo Maior, Pre-Historic settlement of Santa Vitória
	Castelo de Vide	Natural beauties; spas
	Castro Verde	Natural beauties
	Crato	Spas; Pousada; N.M.: Monastery of Flor da Rosa
	Cuba
	Elvas	N.M.: Castle of Elvas, Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Megalitic Monuments of Elvas
	Estremoz	Pousada
	Évora	World Heritage Site; Pousada; N.M.: Castle of Évoramonte, Cathedral of Évora
	Ferreira do Alentejo
	Fronteira	Spas; bullfighting
	Gavião	N.M.: Castle of Belver
	Grândola	Natural beauties
	Marvão	Natural beauties; mountains; spas
	Mértola
	Monforte	Bullfighting; N.M.: Roman Villa of Torre de Palma
	Montemor-o-Novo	Natural beauties; N.M.: Grotto of Escoural
	Mora	Natural beauties
	Moura	Spas; bullfighting; Lagar de Varas do Fojo
	Mourão
	Nisa	N.M.: Castle of Amieira do Tejo
	Odemira	Natural beauties; fishery
	Olivença	Occupied by Spain
	Ourique	Natural beauties; N.M.: Pre-Historic to Medieval Curcuit of Cola
	Ponte de Sôr
	Portalegre	Natural beauties; mountains; N.M.: Castle of Portalegre
	Portel
	Redondo
	Reguengos de Monsaraz
	Santiago do Cacém	N.M.: Roman Ruins of Miróbriga
	Serpa	Natural beauties
	Sines	Natural beauties; fishery
	Sousel
	Vendas Novas
	Viana do Alentejo	Bullfighting; N.M.: Castle of Viana do Alentejo
	Vidigueira	N.M.: Roman ruins of Villa Áulica and Convent of São Cucufate
	Vila Viçosa	Pousada
Algarve	Albufeira
	Alcoutim
	Aljezur	Natural beauties; fishery
	Castro Marim
	Faro	Fishery; N.M.: Roman Villa of Milreu
	Lagoa (Algarve)	Fishery; bullfighting
	Lagos	Natural beauties; fishery
	Loulé	Natural beauties; fishery
	Monchique	Natural beauties; spas
	Olhão	Natural beauties; fishery
	Portimão	Natural beauties; fishery; N.M.: Megalitic Monuments of Alcalar
	São Brás de Alportel
	Silves
	Tavira	Mountains; fishery; bullfighting
	Vila do Bispo	Natural beauties; fishery; N.M.: Fortress of Sagres, Hermitage of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe
	Vila Real de Santo António	Natural beauties; fishery
Beira Interior	Aguiar da Beira	Spas
	Almeida	Spas
	Belmonte	Mountains; Pousada; N.M.: Castle of Belmonte, Roman Tower of Centum Cellas
	Castelo Branco
	Celorico da Beira	Natural beauties; mountains; spas
	Covilhã	Natural beauties; mountains; spas
	Figueira De Castelo Rodrigo	N.M.: Castle of Castelo Rodrigo, Church of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Aguiar
	Fornos De Algodres
	Fundão	Spas
	Gouveia
	Guarda	Natural beauties; N.M.: Cathedral of Guarda
	Idanha-a-Nova	Spas, N.M.: Roman ruins of Egiptânia and Medieval Idanha-a-Velha
	Manteigas	Natural beauties; spas
	Mêda	Spas; N.M.: Castle of Marialva
	Oleiros
	Penamacôr
	Pinhel	Bullfighting; N.M.: Castle of Pinhel
	Proença-a-Nova	Mountains
	Sabugal	Natural beauties; spas
	Seia	Mountains
	Sertã
	Trancoso
	Vila de Rei
	Vila Nova de Foz Côa	World Heritage Sites
	Vila Velha de Ródão
Beira Litoral	Águeda
	Albergaria-a-Velha
	Anadia	Spas
	Arganil	Natural beauties
	Armamar	World Heritage Site
	Arouca	Natural beauties; N.M.: Monastery of Arouca
	Aveiro	Natural beauties; fishery
	Cantanhede	Fishery
	Carregal do Sal
	Castro Daire	Spas
	Castelo de Paiva
	Coimbra	N.M.: Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, Monastery of Santa Cruz, New Cathedral of Coimbra, Old Cathedral of Coimbra
	Condeixa-a-Nova	Natural beauties
	Cinfães	Mountains
	Estarreja
	Figueira da Foz	Natural beauties; fishery
	Góis	Mountains
	Ílhavo	Fishery
	Lamego	World Heritage Site; N.M.: Monastery of Ferreirim, Chapel of São Pedro de Balsemão
	Lousã
	Mangualde	Spas
	Mealhada	Spas
	Mira	Fishery
	Miranda do Corvo
	Moimenta da Beira
	Montemor-o-Velho	Natural beauties; spas; N.M.: Castle of Montemor-o-Velho
	Mortágua
	Murtosa	Fishery
	Nelas	Mountains; spas
	Oliveira de Azeméis
	Oliveira do Bairro	Natural beauties
	Oliveira de Frades	Mountains
	Oliveira do Hospital	Spas; Pousada
	Ovar	Natural beauties; fishery
	Pampilhosa da Serra	Mountains
	Penacova	Spas; N.M.: Monastery of Lorvão
	Penalva do Castelo
	Penedono
	Penela	N.M.: Castle of Penela
	Resende	Spas
	Santa Comba Dão	Spas
	Santa Maria da Feira	Spas; N.M.: Castle of Santa Maria da Feira
	São João da Madeira
	São João da Pesqueira	World Heritage Site
	São Pedro do Sul	Spas
	Sátão
	Sernancelhe
	Sever do Vouga
	Soure	Spas
	Tábua	Spas
	Tabuaço	World Heritage Site
	Tarouca	N.M.: Monastery of São João de Tarouca
	Tondela	Spas
	Vagos	Fishery; bullfighting
	Vale de Cambra
	Vila Nova de Paiva
	Vila Nova de Poiares	Bullfighting
	Viseu
	Vouzela	Natural beauties
Entre Douro e Minho	Amarante	Spas
	Amares	Spas; Pousada; N.M.: Monastery of Rendufe
	Arcos de Valdevez
	Baião
	Barcelos
	Braga	N.M.: Monastery of Tibães, Chapel of São Frutuoso de Montélios, Cathedral of Braga
	Cabeceiras de Basto
	Caminha	Fishery; N.M.: First Church of Caminha
	Celorico de Basto
	Esposende	Fishery
	Fafe
	Felgueiras	N.M.: Monastery of Pombeiro
	Guimarães	Spas; World Heritage Site; Pousada; N.M.: Palace of the Duckes of Bragança, Castle of Guimarães, Church of São Miguel do Castelo
	Lousada
	Marco de Canaveses	Spas; N.M.: Pre-Historic and Roman ruins of Tongobriga
	Melgaço	Natural beauties; spas
	Monção	Natural beauties; spas
	Paços de Ferreira
	Paredes
	Paredes de Coura
	Penafiel	Spas
	Ponte da Barca
	Ponte de Lima	Natural beauties; mountains
	Póvoa de Lanhoso
	Santo Tirso	Spas
	Terras de Bouro	Natural beauties; mountains; spas
	Trofa
	Valença
	Viana do Castelo	Fishery, N.M.: Citânia de Santa Luzia
	Vieira do Minho	Mountains
	Vila Nova de Cerveira	Pousada
	Vila Nova de Famalicão
	Vila Verde
	Vizela
'''[[Metropolitan areas of Portugal|Lisbon Metropolitan Area]] ' pt. Área Metropolitana de Lisboa''	Alcochete	Natural beauties; bullfighting
	Almada	Natural beauties; fishery
	Amadora
	Azambuja	Bullfighting
	Barreiro
	Cascais	Natural beauties; fishery
	Lisbon pt. Lisboa	Bullfighting; World Heritage Sites; N.M.: National Palace of Ajuda, Library of Ajuda, Tower of São Vicente de Belém, Monastery of Jenónimos, Cathedral of Lisbon, Church of São Vicente de Fora, Church of Santa Eugrácia and National Panteon
	Loures
	Mafra	Fishery; N.M.: Palace and Convent of Mafra
	Moita	Bullfighting
	Montijo	Bullfighting
	Odivelas
	Oeiras
	Palmela	Pousada
	Sesimbra	Natural beauties; fishery
	Setúbal	Natural beauties; fishery; bullfighting; Pousada
	Seixal
	Sintra	Natural beauties; World Heritage Site; Pousada; N.M.: National Palace of Pena, National Palace of Queluz, National Palace of Sintra
	Vila Franca de Xira	Natural beauties; bullfighting
Madeira Islands pt. Arquipélago da Madeira	Calheta (Madeira), Madeira Island
	Câmara De Lobos, Madeira Island
	Funchal, Madeira Island	Natural beauties; mountains; World Heritage Site
	Machico, Madeira Island	World Heritage Site
	Ponta do Sol, Madeira Island
	Porto Moniz, Madeira Island
	Porto Santo, Porto Santo Island	Natural beauties
	Ribeira Brava, Madeira Island	Natural beauties
	Santa Cruz, Madeira Island
	Santana, Madeira Island	World Heritage Site
	São Vicente, Madeira Island	World Heritage Site
	Desertas Islands pt. Ilhas Desertas
	Savage Islands pt. Ilhas Selvagens
'''[[Metropolitan areas of Portugal|Oporto Metropolitan Area]] ' pt. Área Metropolitana do Porto''	Espinho	Fishery
	Maia
	Matosinhos	Fishery
	Gondomar
	Oporto pt. Porto	World Heritage Site; N.M.: Cathedral of Oporto
	Póvoa de Varzim	Fishery; bullfighting
	Valongo	Natural beauties
	Vila do Conde	Fishery
	Vila Nova de Gaia	Natural beauties; N.M.: Monastery of Grijó
Ribatejo e Oeste	Abrantes
	Alcanena	Natural beauties
	Alenquer	Natural beauties
	Almeirim	Bullfighting
	Alcobaça	Natural beauties; spas; fishery; World Heritage Site; N.M.: Monastery of Alcobaça
	Alpiarça
	Alvaiázere
	Ansião
	Arruda dos Vinhos	Bullfighting
	Batalha	World Heritage Site; N.M.: Monastery of Batalha
	Benavente	Natural beauties; bullfighting
	Bombarral
	Cadaval	Natural beauties; mountains
	Caldas da Rainha	Spas, fishery
	Cartaxo	Bullfighting
	Castanheira de Pera	Mountains
	Chamusca
	Constância
	Coruche	Natural beauties
	Entroncamento
	Figueiró dos Vinhos	Mountains
	Ferreira do Zêzere	Mountains
	Golegã	Natural beauties; bullfighting; N.M.: First Church of Golegã
	Leiria	Spas, fishery
	Lourinhã	Fishery
	Mação	Spas
	Marinha Grande	Fishery
	Nazaré	Fishery
	Óbidos	Pousada
	Ourém	Natural beauties; spas
	Pedrogão Grande	Natural beauties
	Peniche	Natural beauties; fishery
	Pombal	Bullfighting
	Porto de Mós	Natural beauties; N.M.: Chapel of São Jorge
	Rio Maior
	Salvaterra de Magos
	Santarém	Natural beauties; bullfighting; N.M.: Church of Santa maria da Graça de Santarém
	Sardoal
	Sobral de Monte Agraço
	Tomar	World Heritage Site; N.M.: Convent of Christ
	Torres Novas	Natural beauties
	Torres Vedras	Spas; fishery
	Vila Nova da Barquinha	Bullfighting; N.M.: Castle of Almourol
Trás-os-Montes	Alfândega da Fé
	Alijó	Bullfighting; World Heritage Site
	Boticas	Spas
	Bragança
	Carrazeda de Ansiães	Mountains; spas; World Heritage Site; N.M.: Castle of Ansiães
	Chaves	Mountains; spas; N.M.: Castle of Monforte
	Freixo de Espada à Cinta	Natural beauties; N.M.: First Church of Freixo de Espada à Cinta
	Macedo de Cavaleiros	Natural beauties
	Mesão Frio	Spas; World Heritage Site; Pousada
	Miranda do Douro mirandese Miranda de l Douro	N.M.: Church of Miranda
	Mirandela
	Mogadouro
	Moncorvo	Natural beauties; World Heritage Site; N.M.: First Church of Torre de Moncorvo
	Mondim de Basto
	Montalegre	Natural beauties; mountains; N.M.: Castle of Montalegre
	Murça	Spas
	Peso da Régua	Spas; World Heritage Site
	Ribeira de Pena
	Sabrosa	Mountains; World Heritage Site
	Santa Marta de Penaguião	World Heritage Site
	Valpaços
	Vila Flor	Spas
	Vila Pouca de Aguiar	Spas
	Vila Real	Natural beauties; World Heritage Site; N.M.: Cathedral of Vila Real, Roman Sanctuary of Panóias
	Vimioso mirandese Bimioso
	Vinhais	Natural beauties; mountains

See Also

• Portugal
• Political divisions of Portugal
• Cities of Portugal
• Towns of Portugal
• Freguesias of Portugal

External Links

• A.N.M.P. Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses (in portuguese)
• Lisbon Metropolitan Area (in english)
• Oporto Metropolitan Area (in english)
• Pousadas de Portugal (in english)

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