Bragança (Portugal)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Location | ||||||
| - Country | Portugal | |||||
| - Region | Norte | |||||
| - Subregion | Alto Trás-os-Montes | |||||
| - District or A.R. | Bragança | |||||
| Mayor | António Nunes | |||||
| - Party | PSD | |||||
| Area | 1,173.6 km² | |||||
| Population | ||||||
| - Total | 34,774 | |||||
| - Density | 30/km² | |||||
| No. of parishes | 49 | |||||
| Coordinates | 41º48'N 6º50'W | |||||
| Municipal holiday | August 22 |
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| Website: http://www.cm-braganca.pt | ||||||
Bragança (pron. IPA: [bɾɐ'gɐ̃sɐ] or, locally, [bɾɐ'gãsɐ]; English language: Braganza) is a municipality in north-eastern Portugal and the capital of the district of Bragança.
The population of the municipality is 34,774 and its total area is 1,173.6 kmª.
It lies on a branch of the Sabor River south of the Culebra Mountains, 255 km northeast of Porto, 515 km from Lisbon and 22 km. from the Spanish border. The city is at an elevation of 700m.
The seat of the municipality is the city of Bragança, which consists of two parishes (Sé and Santa Maria) and has a population of 20,000.
The neighbouring municipalities are Vimioso in the southeast, Macedo de Cavaleiros in the southwest and Vinhais in the west.
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[edit] Parishes
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[edit] Climate
The climate in Bragança is influenced by the distance from the coast and the elevation. It is very similar to the continental climate of the Spanish Meseta, which means long rigorous winters and short hot summers. Snow in the winter is not uncommon. The high in January is around 8ºC while the high in August is around 28ºC. The mean total rainfall in a year is 743 mm. The year of 2005 was especially dry in Portugal and Bragança suffered shortages of water and devastating forest fires in the rural areas.
[edit] History
Originally Bragança was a Celtic city known as Brigantia, it later romanized it's actual name. Historically the city has been important as the seat of the House of Bragança, which provided the kings of Portugal from 1640 to 1910 and the emperors of Brazil from 1822 to 1889; their feudal castle (built 1187) still remains. Catherine of Bragança became the queen consort (1662) of Charles II of England. An episcopal see, Bragança was the capital of the historical Trás-os-Montes province.
[edit] Attractions
Notable landmarks in the city include the 12th-century Domus Municipalis (Portugal's oldest and largest town hall), the Renaissance cathedral, and the old town walls, which are still well preserved and look down on the river and the modern city.
In the city there is a well kept museum. Bragança is also a college town with its polytecnic institute - Instituto Politécnico de Bragança.
[edit] Economy
Economically the region still produces olive oil, grains, chestnuts and livestock, especially sheep. In recent years agriculture has suffered a decline with the abandonment of the villages and the aging of the rural population. There are many villages with not enough children to maintain the rural schools, which are being gradually closed by the government.
Present day Bragança is a city of services with a dependence on government institutions like the polytechnic institute and regional hospital for jobs.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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| Alfândega da Fé | Bragança | Carrazeda de Ansiães | Freixo de Espada à Cinta | Macedo de Cavaleiros Miranda do Douro | Mirandela | Mogadouro | Torre de Moncorvo | Vila Flor | Vimioso | Vinhais |
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