Rates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Rates also refers to a a type of taxation system.
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| Municipality | Póvoa de Varzim | |||
| Area | 13.88 km² | |||
| Population - Total - Density |
2,539 (2001) 182.9/km² |
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| Website: none | ||||
Rates (pron. IPA: ['Ratɨʃ]) is a Portuguese parish and town located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 2,539 inhabitants and a total area of 13.88 Km².
Rates was a former town and municipality until 1836, but lost both status and was incorporated in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. The town of Rates is known as São Pedro de Rates and regained that status in 1993. The Rates toponym seems pre-Roman and derives from Ratis. In the book «As Mais Belas Vilas e Aldeias de Portugal» (the most beautiful Towns and Villages of Portugal), Rates was described as one of the most beautiful.
[edit] History
Rates is a historic small town that developed around the monastery established by Henry of Burgundy in 1100 AD on the site of an older temple and gained importance due to the legend of Saint Peter of Rates, first bishop of Braga, becoming in a central place in the Portuguese Way of Saint James.
It is inhabited since the Roman era; archaeological works in its church dates the site from the Roman era, and throw it a Roman road existed.
In the 16th century, the monastery was dissolved and a Comenda of the Order of Christ was created, its first Comendador was the Noble Knight Tomé de Sousa, who John III of Portugal made Governor of Brazil. It lost its municipal status in 1836 and was annexed to Póvoa de Varzim. It became a town again in July 2 of 1993, mostly due to its historical importance.
[edit] Geography
Rates is located 11 km east of downtown Póvoa de Varzim; and borders Laundos to the west, and Balasar to the est. In the Northeast it as a border with Barcelos and to the south with Vila do Conde.
The parish is dominated by Serra de Rates, whose flora is distinguished by the Pedunculate Oak or the European Holly.
Rates is the biggest parish of the municipality and regardless being the most scarcely populated, the City Council of Póvoa de Varzim gives much attention to it, given its historical and landscape value to the municipality.
The entire town is centred on the monastery of Rates. Its historical centre is very well preserved, and it runs to Direita street, where the nobles and the bourgeoisie of the town used to live.
[edit] Architecture
- São Pedro de Rates Romanesque Church (national monument)
- Pillory of Rates (listed property of public interest)
- Senhor da Praça Chapel (barroque architecture)
