Mirandela

Mirandela
Municipality
City Hall
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 41°29′7″N 7°10′54″W / 41.48528°N 7.18167°W / 41.48528; -7.18167Coordinates: 41°29′7″N 7°10′54″W / 41.48528°N 7.18167°W / 41.48528; -7.18167
Country	Portugal
Region	Norte
Subregion	Alto Trás-os-Montes
Intermunic. comm.	Terras de Trás-os-Montes
District	Bragança
Parishes	30
Government
• President	José Maria Lopes Silvano (PPD-PSD)
Area
• Total	658.96 km2 (254.43 sq mi)
Elevation	301 m (988 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	23,850
• Density	36/km2 (94/sq mi)
Time zone	WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1)
Postal code	5370
Patron	Nossa Senhora do Amparo
Website	http://www.cm-mirandela.pt

Mirandela (Portuguese pronunciation: [miɾɐ̃ˈdɛlɐ]) is a city and a municipality in northeastern Portugal. The city itself has a population of about 15,000. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 23,850,^[1] in an area of 658.96 km².^[2] Mirandela is famous for its cuisine, particularly the alheiras. A round of the European Jetski Championship is held on the Tua River every Summer. The city has two campuses of higher education institutions - one belonging to the public Bragança Polytechnic Institute and one belonging to the private Instituto Piaget.

History

The settlements of Mirandela date back to the pre-historical period, but primarily relate to a period of Roman occupation. During this era, the main settlement of Mirandela was a Roman civitas, known then as Caladunum. There are abundant vestiges of the Roman occupation in Castelo Velho, São Martinho, Mourel and Prado Pequeno, that include copper coins from the reign of Emperor Tiberius.^[3] At this time the civitas was located in the region of São Martinho, but there are conflicting references as to the location of the main settlement, and when it was moved.^[3] Ernesto de Sales, referenced three documents that localized the Christian village near São Martinho (even as another document in 1258 disputed the existence of the village of Mirandela in or near this region):^[3]

• a charter, written by King Sancho I to Garcia Mendes, in 1198, to a location in Vilar de Maçada;
• a charter, written by King Afonso III conceded on 25 May 1250 to Mirandela; and
• a receipt made by notary in Mirandela, on 27 March 1275.

It is clear, from the documents of King Denis, at the time when he was elaborating the defenses of the city of Guarda (2 September 1282), the transfer of the town of Mirandela to hilltop of mount São Miguel (where a small hermitage chapel existed at the time) had likely already occurred.^[3] This location was easily defendable and dominated the view of the fertile lands and river access.^[3]

King Afonso III granted a foral (charter) on 25 May 1250. The magistrate of Mirandela at the time governed a region that included Torre de D. Chama, Frechas, Sesulfe, Nozelos, Vilas Boas, Vale de Asnes and Cortiços.^[3]

This document was expanded and elaborated by King Denis of Portugal, when he issued an updated foral on 7 March 1291, that also stipulated that every villager, who was able to do so, contribute a horse and arms and annual stipend on São Miguel day, in September.^[3] King Denis also ordered the construction of protective walls around the main settlement and keep to support military needs. By the beginning of the 16th century, there were no remnants of a castle or walls.^[3] The castle was then describe as having three gates (Santo António, Santiago and Portela) and small doorway (São José), in addition to a traitors-gate near Quebra-Costas. It also included battlements and interior keep, near the prison block, that served as the royal residence, on his return.^[3]

The Távora family was donated Mirandela around 1301, when King Denis signed over its title to Branca Lourenço, remaining in this hereditary clan until Francisco de Assis de Távora (1721-1759).^[3]

The new foral later outlined the geographic divisions of the municipality. Between 1530 and 1835, the municipality of Mirandela included the following 44 places and 9 estates: Abambres, Ala, Alvites, Avantes, Brinço, Cabanelas, Caravelas, Carvalhais, Cedães, Cedainhos, Chelas, Contins, Freixeda, Mascarenhas, Miradeses, Mirandela, Pousadas, Quintas, São Salvados, Val de Lobo, Val de Salgueiro, Valtelhas, Vila Nova, Vila Verde and Vilar de Ledra.^[3] Similarly, between 1512 and 1871, the region underwent a series of territorial divisions that included the creation (and eventual suppression) of the municipalities of Torre de Chama, Frechas, Vale de Asnes, Abreiro, Lamas de Orelhão. Torre de Chama would be the most discontinuous: it was created 1287 by King Denis, but suppressed on 12 September, later to be resuscitated on 4 May 1512 by King Manuel, and then extinguished in 1855. A royal decree on 18 July 1835, preceded another territorial division that caused the elimination of various parishes and municipalities: Mirandela was left with 40 parishes (that included Cedainhos and Vale da Sancha).^[3] By 1884, the municipality of Mirandela had the established geographic boundaries.

The town of Mirandela was elevated to the status of city on 28 June 1984.

Railway

Until 2009, Mirandela was served by the Tua line - a narrow gauge railway which ran from Bragança to Tua. The section north of Mirandela to Bragança closed in the early 1990s; the line to Tua closed in 2009. However, part of the Tua line around Mirandela is still open to local passenger train services as the Metro de Mirandela.

Geography

The municipality is bordered by the municipalities of Murça, Valpaços, Vinhais, Bragança, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Vila Flor and Carrazeda de Ansiães, and is located in the district of Bragança. Administratively, the municipality is divided into 30 civil parishes (freguesias):^[4]

Gallery

• 
  Mirandela as seen from the church hill.
• 
  Mirandela as seen from the church hill.
• 
  Riverside park.
• 
  Romanic bridge on the Tua river.
• 
  The water fountain on the Tua.
• 
  Mirandela and the river as seen from the Europa bridge.
• 
  Looking down from the east river bank.
• 
  The center with the city hall and the Matrix Church tower, as seen from the west river bank.

References

External links

• Municipality official website
• Photos from Mirandela
• School of Communication, Administration and Tourism - Bragança Polytechnic Institute official website