Barcelos

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Barcelos Municipal flag Municipal coat of arms
Location
- Country	Portugal
- Region	Norte
- Subregion	Cávado
- District or A.R.	Braga
Mayor	Fernando Reis
- Party	PSD
Area	378.9 km²
Population
- Total	123,831
- Density	327/km²
No. of parishes	89
Coordinates	41º32'N 8º37'W
Municipal holiday	Milagre das Cruzes (Miracle of Crosses) May 3
Website: http://www.cm-barcelos.pt

Barcelos (pron. IPA: [bɐɾ'sɛluʃ]) is a municipality located in the district of Braga, in the north of Portugal.

It has a total population of 123,831 and an area of 378.9 km². With 89 parishes, it is the municipality with the highest number of parishes in the country.

The municipal holiday is May 3.

Contents 1 Parishes 2 General info 3 History 4 Sport 5 Twin Cities

[edit] Parishes

Abade de Neiva Aborim Adães Aguiar Airó Aldreu Alheira Alvelos Alvito (São Martinho) Alvito (São Pedro) Arcozelo Areias Areias de Vilar Balugães Barcelinhos Barcelos Barqueiros Bastuço (Santo Estêvão) Bastuço (São João) Cambeses Campo Carapeços Carreira Carvalhal Carvalhos Chavão Chorente Cossourado Courel Couto Creixomil Cristelo Durrães Encourados Faria Feitos Fonte Coberta Fornelos Fragoso Galegos (Santa Maria) Galegos (São Martinho) Gamil Gilmonde Góios Grimancelos

Gueral Igreja Nova Lama Lijó Macieira de Rates Manhente Mariz Martim Midões Milhazes Minhotães Monte de Fralães Moure Negreiros Oliveira Palme Panque Paradela Pedra Furada Pereira Perelhal Pousa Quintiães Remelhe Rio Covo (Santa Eugénia) Rio Covo (Santa Eulália) Roriz Sequeade Silva Silveiros Tamel (Santa Leocádia) Tamel (São Pedro Fins) Tamel (São Veríssimo) Tregosa Ucha Várzea Viatodos Vila Boa Vila Cova Vila Frescainha (São Martinho) Vila Frescainha (São Pedro) Vila Seca Vilar de Figos Vilar do Monte

[edit] General info

Barcelos is one of the growing municipalities in the country, especially in Minho metropolitan area and is well known by its textile and adobe industries.

[edit] History

Originally a Roman settlement, it expanded and became the seat of the First Duke of Bragança in the 15th century. The palace of the Dukes of Bragança was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755 and is now an open-air museum.

The town's famous symbol is a rooster, in Portuguese called o galo de Barcelos. The legend says that a rich man made a big party. When the party was over, the rich man noticed that his sterling cutlery was stolen by a guest. He accused a pilgrim and let him go to court. He protested his innocence, but the judge didn't believe him. The judge was about to eat a roasted cock and the pilgrim said: If I am innocent, this cock will crow three times. When the pilgrim was about to be hanged the cock crowed. The judge release the pilgrim. The story ends a few years later when the pilgrim returned and made a statue over the event.

[edit] Sport

Barcelos is home to Gil Vicente FC (football (soccer)) and Óquei Clube de Barcelos (rink hockey).

[edit] Twin Cities

• Vierzon, France
• Pontevedra, Spain
• São Domingos, Cape Verde

Coordinates: 41°31′N 8°37′W