São Pedro do Sul, Portugal

São Pedro do Sul (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɐ̃w ˈpeðɾu ðu ˈsul] (listen)) is a municipality in the Central Portuguese district of Viseu. Part of the subregion of Dão-Lafões, the municipality has a population of 16,851 inhabitants and includes 14 civil parishes. The seat of this municipality is the city of São Pedro do Sul, with a population of 5,728 inhabitants.

São Pedro do Sul
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 40°45′N 8°04′W
Country	Portugal
Region	Centro
Intermunic. comm.	Viseu Dão Lafões
District	Viseu
Parishes	14
Government
• President	António Figueiredo (PSD)
Area
• Total	348.95 km^2 (134.73 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	16,851
• Density	48/km^2 (130/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC±00:00 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Local holiday	Saint Peter June 29
Website	http://www.cm-spsul.pt

History

Pre-Roman

One of the oldest monuments of the region is the "Pedra Escrita" that is a written granitic megalith dated from 10th century BC.

In the region exist 3 known "Castros". The castro is a fortified village that began to be inhabited from the 6th century BC, lacking streets of right angles and full of construction almost always circular. One of the Castros in São Pedro do Sul is Castro da Cárcoda.

Roman Era

In the region exist several Roman bridges and Roman Thermal Spas.

Middle Ages

São Pedro do Sul was the southern border of the Kingdom of Portugal at the time of the Foundation of the country, being the natural border the river Vouga that's the reason of the name "Saint Peter of South".

The first King of Portugal Afonso Henriques lived in São Pedro do Sul while healing is injuries after the battle of Badajoz.

Early Modern

The municipality was created in 1836 when the municipality of Lafões was divided, forming São Pedro do Sul and Vouzela.

Late modern and contemporary

São Pedro do Sul was elevated to the status of city on 12 June 2009.

Thermal Town

São Pedro do Sul is world wide famous for the thermal baths dating back to pre-Roman time.

Geography

The municipality is located in the north, along the Castro valley (southeast of Viseu), bordered in the south by Vouzela, to the south and west by Oliveira de Frades (northern section), in the west by Vale de Cambra and in the northwest by Arouca.

São Pedro do Sul is a municipality in the valley of Lafões, framed by the massifs of the sierras of Arada, Gralheira and São Macário. These massifs with green landscapes and crystalline water courses, hide many settlements. From the peak of São Macário, at 1,054 metres (3,458 ft) altitude, there are the views of the mountain range of Montemuro, Estrela and Caramulo.

Population of the municipality of São Pedro do Sul (1849 – 2011)
1849	1900	1930	1960	1981	1991	2001	2011
13 844	22 051	23 426	24 273	21 220	19 985	19 083	16 851

The municipal holiday is June 29.

References

External links

• Municipality official website