| Vila de Rei | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
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| Location in Portugal | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Portugal | ||
| Region | |||
| Subregion | |||
| District/A.R. | Castelo Branco | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Maria Irene Barata (PSD) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 191.3 km2 (73.9 sq mi) | ||
| Population | |||
| • Total | 3,354 (2,001 Census) | ||
| • Density | 18/km2 (46.6/sq mi) | ||
| Parishes (no.) | 3 | ||
| Municipal holiday | September 19 |
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| Website | http://www.cm-viladerei.pt/ | ||
Vila de Rei (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvilɐ ðɨ ˈʁɐj]) is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 191.3 km² and a total population of 3,354 inhabitants. The municipality is composed of three parishes and is located in the district of Castelo Branco.
A small county covered with pinewoods, located precisely at the centre of Portugal, as the Milriça Peak, one of its most interesting monuments, is the tower rising at an altitude of 600 metres (2,000 feet) and built to mark the Mainland Portugal's geodesic centre. In addition, the site offers a spectacular panoramic view over a vast territory and includes a small Geodesy Museum.
The present mayor is Maria Irene Barata, elected by the Social Democratic Party. The municipal holiday is September 19.
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At the small town of Vila de Rei, it is worth admiring the 18th century Parish Church and the Miserichord Chapel. A natural curiosity of Vila de Rei is the Penedo Furado (pierced boulder), which has been adapted to shelter two belvederes, set on a rocky platform surrounded by woods and small water-falls. The Saint Michael Castro, on the top of the Ladeira mountains, at an altitude of about 493 metres (1,600 ft), is a fortified and walled settlement considered to be of Celtic origin and dates from the Iron Age, having been classified as a National Monument.
Typical gastronomy in the region includes dishes such as fish soup, roast kid or bucho recheado (stuffed pig's stomach), besides typical honey cakes and rice pudding.
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