Vila Real

Vila Real (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvilɐ ʁiˈal] (listen)) is the capital and largest city of the Vila Real District, northern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 51,850,[1] in an area of 378.80 square kilometres (146.26 sq mi).[2]

This article is about the city in Portugal. For the city in Spain, see Villarreal. For other uses, see Vila Real (disambiguation).
Vila Real
Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 41°17′45″N 07°44′46″W
Country Portugal
RegionNorte
Intermunic. comm.Douro
DistrictVila Real
EstablishedCity: 1925
Government
 • PresidentRui Santos (PS)
Area
 • Total378.80 km2 (146.26 sq mi)
Elevation
450 m (1,480 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total51,850
 • Density140/km2 (350/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Postal code
5000
Area code259

Vila Real was ranked seventh in the list of Portugal's most livable cities in the survey of living conditions published by the Portuguese newspaper Expresso in 2007.[3]

History

The region shows traces of inhabitation during the paleolithic era, while the settlement of Panóias had a Roman presence. Vila Real itself was founded in 1289 by King Denis of Portugal, hence its name, meaning Royal Town. It housed more members of the royal family during the Middle Ages than any other settlement in Portugal except the capital in Lisbon, and family Coats of Arms remain above old houses, some of which still occupied by those families. Vineyards were introduced to the municipality in 1764, growing red, white and rosé wines for export. Despite its royal presence, Vila Real only gained city status under the Portuguese Republic in 1925.[4]

Coat of arms
Tomb of Pedro de Menezes, in the Igreja da Graça in Santarém.

The coat of arms of Vila Real - a sword embedded in a wreath of zambujeiro (wild olive tree) and the slogan Aleu - is derived from the decorative motif of the tomb of Pedro de Menezes, 1st Count of Vila Real, found in the Igreja da Graça in Santarém. 'Aleu' or 'aleo' is an old Portuguese term for a 'gaming stick' (as used in hockey or shuffleboard). It refers to a famous episode concerning Pedro de Menezes from shortly after the Conquest of Ceuta on September 2 1415 (commemorated on Ceuta Day). Pedro de Menezes was engaged in an outdoor game in the king's presence when a messenger arrived reporting an imminent Moroccan attack on Portuguese-held Ceuta. Menezes is said to have raised his gaming stick (aleo) and told the king that "with that stick alone" he could defend Ceuta from all the power of Morocco.[5] Similar design can be seen on the coat of arms of Alcoutim, where Pedro's descendants were made Count's of Alcoutim.

Main sights
Cathedral of Vila Real.
Pelourinho de Vila Real.
  • Capela da Misericórdia
  • Capela de São Brás e o túmulo de Teixeira de Macedo
  • Capela do Espírito Santo ou Capela do Bom Jesus do Hospital
  • Diogo Cão's house
  • Carvalho Araújo's house
  • Brocas' house
  • Marqueses's house de Vila Real
  • Cathedral of Vila Real
  • St. Peter's church
  • Bom Jesus do Calvário church
  • Clérigos's church or "Capela Nova"
  • Pelourinho de Vila Real

Museums
  • Archaeology and Numismatic Museum
  • Geology Museum at the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
  • Ethnographic Museum
  • Sound and Image Museum, at the Vila Real's Theatre
  • Vila Velha Museum

Outside the city centre
  • Alvão Natural Park
  • Mateus Palace
  • Quintela's tower
  • Mamoas de Justes
  • Mão do Homem, in Adoufe
  • Necrópole de S. Miguel da Pena
  • Santuário de Panóias, in Vale de Nogueiras

Geography

Climate

Located in a promontory, formed by the gorges of the Corgo and Cabril rivers, Vila Real has an elevation of 460 m. The Alvão and Marão mountains overlook the town on the North and West side, respectively, rising up to 1400 m.

Due to the geographical location, its climate is a mix between Temperate and Mediterranean. Winters are long, with negative temperatures and frequent frosts. Snowfalls usually occur at least 4 times a year. In Summer, it is common to reach temperatures near 40 °C.

Climate data for Vila Real, elevation: 481 m or 1,578 ft, 1971-2000 normals and extremes
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.8
(64.0)		 22.0
(71.6)		 26.1
(79.0)		 28.1
(82.6)		 32.2
(90.0)		 37.5
(99.5)		 39.8
(103.6)		 39.0
(102.2)		 38.3
(100.9)		 30.9
(87.6)		 22.3
(72.1)		 19.5
(67.1)		 39.8
(103.6)
Average high °C (°F) 9.5
(49.1)		 11.8
(53.2)		 14.5
(58.1)		 16.4
(61.5)		 19.7
(67.5)		 25.0
(77.0)		 28.7
(83.7)		 28.7
(83.7)		 26.0
(78.8)		 18.9
(66.0)		 13.6
(56.5)		 10.4
(50.7)		 18.6
(65.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.8
(42.4)		 7.7
(45.9)		 9.5
(49.1)		 11.3
(52.3)		 14.1
(57.4)		 18.6
(65.5)		 21.5
(70.7)		 21.3
(70.3)		 19.4
(66.9)		 14.0
(57.2)		 9.5
(49.1)		 7.0
(44.6)		 13.3
(56.0)
Average low °C (°F) 2.1
(35.8)		 3.5
(38.3)		 4.6
(40.3)		 6.2
(43.2)		 8.5
(47.3)		 12.2
(54.0)		 14.4
(57.9)		 13.9
(57.0)		 12.7
(54.9)		 9.0
(48.2)		 5.4
(41.7)		 3.5
(38.3)		 8.0
(46.4)
Record low °C (°F) −6.5
(20.3)		 −6.3
(20.7)		 −3.6
(25.5)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 0.0
(32.0)		 4.0
(39.2)		 7.5
(45.5)		 6.2
(43.2)		 2.4
(36.3)		 −0.8
(30.6)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 −5.0
(23.0)		 −6.5
(20.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 141.1
(5.56)		 158.7
(6.25)		 82.6
(3.25)		 82.3
(3.24)		 66.5
(2.62)		 54.1
(2.13)		 17.1
(0.67)		 17.1
(0.67)		 49.0
(1.93)		 116.9
(4.60)		 110.7
(4.36)		 174.6
(6.87)		 1,070.7
(42.15)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 14.9 14.1 13.0 13.8 11.9 8.5 4.6 4.0 6.8 12.7 11.7 13.7 129.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 105.3 120.0 177.7 187.7 233.3 282.4 327.8 319.3 231.7 170.2 133.5 100.1 2,389
Source: Instituto de Meteorologia,[6]

Civil parishes

Vila Real's municipality consists of 20 freguesias or civil parishes, which are not all coexistent with the ecclesiastical parishes or paróquias. The civil parish Vila Real (Nossa Senhora da Conceição, São Pedro e São Dinis) is officially the city of Vila Real.

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 20 civil parishes (freguesias):[7]

Civil parishes of Vila Real before 2013
  • Abaças
  • Adoufe e Vilarinho de Samardã
  • Andrães
  • Arroios
  • Borbela e Lamas de Olo
  • Campeã
  • Constantim e Vale de Nogueiras
  • Folhadela
  • Guiães
  • Lordelo
  • Mateus
  • Mondrões
  • Mouçós e Lamares
  • Nogueira e Ermida
  • Parada de Cunhos
  • Pena, Quintã e Vila Cova
  • São Tomé do Castelo e Justes
  • Torgueda
  • Vila Marim
  • Vila Real (Nossa Senhora da Conceição, São Pedro e São Dinis)

Transportation

Highways

Airfield

Vila Real airfield (VRL) - Located 4 km from city centre, near the Industrial Zone, in the Folhadela parish. Has a paved runway with 950×30 m. A scheduled airline service operated by Aero VIP serves some domestic destinations.

Railway
Railway station

The Corgo line was a metre gauge railway that connected the city to Regua, 25 km south, in the Douro valley. It closed for renovation in 2009, but due to spending cuts by the Portuguese Government the closure has become permanent. It followed the Corgo river valley and offered splendid views to the characteristic vineyards clinging on to almost vertical. Until 1990 the Corgo line also continued north to Chaves.

Urban bus

The city bus system in Vila Real is run by Corgobus; there are 5 lines and about 1.35 million people in 2008 were transported.

Main distances

Electric power

Vila Real was the fourth Portuguese town to have public supply of electricity, but it was the first to produce hydroelectric power, in 1894.

Education, science and technology

The city is the headquarters and main campus for the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), a public university founded in 1986.

Sports

Sport Club Vila Real is the city's football club, founded in 1920. It has played in the Portuguese third and fourth tiers, currently competing in the fourth, the Terceira Divisao.[8]

Twin towns — sister cities

Vila Real is twinned with:[9]

Famous citizens
  • Palácio de Mateus
  • Panoramic view from the South
  • Quintela Tower
  • Agarez Waterfall
  • Typical Houses
  • Corgo River and Metallic Bridge in Vila Real
  • Panóias Sanctuary
  • Diogo Cão House
  • Public Library
  • Theatre
  • Shopping Centre
  • Shopping Centre (interior)
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References
  1. ITDS, Rui Campos, Pedro Senos. "Statistics Portugal". Ine.pt. Retrieved 2016-07-29.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  3. Classificação Expresso das melhores cidades portuguesas para viver em 2007, Expresso
  4. Insight Guides Portugal (2011 edition).
  5. "Eu só com este páu, sou capaz de defender Ceuta, de todo o poder dos mouros", as reported in Portugal antigo e moderno, 1878, p. 495.
  6. "Monthly Averages for Vila Real, Portugal (1971–2000)". Instituto de Meteorologia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 November 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  7. Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, pages 552 136-137" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  8. "Futebol Total..: AF Vila Real". Futeboltotal-victor.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  9. "Relações Internacionais". cm-vilareal.pt (in Portuguese). Vila Real. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
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