Ponte de Lima

Ponte de Lima
Municipality

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Coat of arms
Coordinates: 41°46′N 8°34′W / 41.767°N 8.567°W / 41.767; -8.567Coordinates: 41°46′N 8°34′W / 41.767°N 8.567°W / 41.767; -8.567
Country  Portugal
Region Norte
Subregion Minho-Lima
Intermunic. comm. Alto Minho
District Viana do Castelo
Parishes 39
Government
 • President Victor Mendes
Area
 • Total 320.25 km2 (123.65 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 43,498
 • Density 140/km2 (350/sq mi)
Time zone WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1)
Website http://www.cm-pontedelima.pt

Ponte de Lima (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpõt(ɨ) ðɨ ˈlimɐ]), is the oldest vila (chartered town, head of a municipality) in Portugal. It is part of the district of Viana do Castelo. The population in 2011 was 43,498,[1] in an area of 320.25 km².[2] The town proper has about 2,800 inhabitants.

It is named after the long medieval bridge that passes over the Limia river that runs next to the town.

The present Mayor is Victor Mendes, elected by the People's Party (CDS-PP). It is the only municipality in Portugal ruled solely by this party.[3] The municipal holiday is 20 September.

Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 39 civil parishes (freguesias):[4]

  • Anais
  • Arca e Ponte de Lima
  • Arcos
  • Arcozelo
  • Ardegão, Freixo e Mato
  • Bárrio e Cepões
  • Beiral do Lima
  • Bertiandos
  • Boalhosa
  • Brandara
  • Cabaços e Fojo Lobal
  • Cabração e Moreira do Lima
  • Calheiros
  • Calvelo
  • Correlhã
  • Estorãos
  • Facha
  • Feitosa
  • Fontão
  • Fornelos e Queijada
  • Friastelas
  • Gandra
  • Gemieira
  • Gondufe
  • Labruja
  • Labrujó, Rendufe e Vilar do Monte
  • Navió e Vitorino dos Piães
  • Poiares
  • Refóios do Lima
  • Ribeira
  • Sá
  • Santa Comba
  • Santa Cruz do Lima
  • Santa Maria de Rebordões
  • Seara
  • Serdedelo
  • Souto de Rebordões
  • Vale do Neiva
  • Vitorino das Donas

General information

Ponte de Lima

Ponte de Lima is located in the southern bank of the Lima, a small river with sources in Spain.

One of the oldest towns in Portugal (founded on 4 March 1125),[5] it was historically significant as a Roman settlement in the road from Braga to Santiago de Compostela and Lugo, and the first place in Portugal getting a municipal charter.

Every second Monday, it holds one of the largest country markets in Portugal. In the second weekend of September, Ponte de Lima hold the Feiras Novas (the new fairs) for three days since 1826, granted by the Royal Provision of king Peter IV of Portugal.

The attractive rural area around has the largest concentration of baroque manors in Portugal (Bertiandos, Brandara, Calheiros, and Pomarchão are among the best known); Some provide tourism accommodation. Ponte de Lima is also known in the region for its red Vinho Verde wines.

References

  1. ↑ Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ↑ Direção-Geral do Território
  3. ↑ CDS
  4. ↑ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, pages 552 96-98" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Municipality official website
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