Vila Real
Encyclopedia : V : VI : VIL : Vila Real
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| Subdivisions of Portugal>Location - Region - Subregion - District or A.R. | Norte Douro Vila Real | |||
| Mayor - List_of_political_parties_in_Portugal>Party | Manuel Martins PSD | |||
| Area | 378.8 km² | |||
| Population - Total - Density | 49,957 132/km² | |||
| No. of freguesia>parishes | 30 | |||
| Coordinates | [41º17'N 7º48'W] | |||
| Municipal holiday | Saint Anthony June 13 | |||
| Website: http://www.cm-vilareal.pt | ||||
The municipality ("município" or "concelho") is composed of 30 parishes and has a total area of 378.8 km² and a total population of 49,957 inhabitants.
Parishes (\"freguesias\")
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Town of Vila Real
According to the 2001 Census, urban Vila Real had a population of 16,138 in three parishes (S. Dinis, S. Pedro e Nossa Senhora da Conceição), while the Municipality had a total of 49,957 inhabitants and 30 parishes in. There has been a slight population increase since the last census of 1991.It has a spectacular location between the gorges of the Corgo and the Cabril Rivers. The Marão and the Alvão mountains overlook the town on the West and Nortwest sides. An iron bridge crosses the Corgo linking the old town with the new. Just outside the town itself, on the road leading to Sabrosa there is the famous Palace of Mateus, designed by the Italian architect Niccolo Nazoni, author of the Torre dos Clérigos in Porto. The gardens of the palace are worth a visit.
In the town there is a state university called Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Its forestry and wine-making courses are known nationally. There are several primary schools in addition to three secondary schools. There is also a private Catholic primary school.
There is a small airport with flights to Lisbon and Bragança. A narrow gauge railway connects the town with Peso da Régua on the Douro River. The railroad going north to Chaves was discontinued in the nineteen eighties.
The town is connected to Porto (W) by highway IP4 and freeway A4 (from Amarante on); to Bragança (NE) by the IP4; to Chaves (N) by freeway A24 and national route N2; and with Peso da Régua and Viseu (S) by the A24. The new A24 (a four-lane, toll-free freeway, also known as IP3), running northwards from Viseu to the border with Spain (Galicia) is being built parallel to the N2 and is expected to be completed in 2007 or early 2008; at the time of this writing (July 2006) only the section from 10 km North of Vila Real to Pedras Salgadas (in the municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar) is not completed yet.
Recently the town has undergone major improvements in urban renewal with funds from the Polis Program. A park with sports facilities and paths for walking has been built along the river and the main square where the town hall is located has been closed to traffic and decorated with colorful fountains. A major shopping center, the largest in the region of Trás-os-Montes, was inaugurated in 2005. With completion of the four-lane motorway linking Chaves with Coimbra the town is expected to experience more growth.
Gallery
External links
- [Municipality official website]
- [University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro]
- [Vila Real Theatre]
- [Infantry Regiment no. 13]
- [web directory]
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| Alijó | Boticas | Chaves | Mesão Frio | Mondim de Basto | Montalegre | Murça | Peso da Régua Ribeira de Pena | Sabrosa | Santa Marta de Penaguião | Valpaços | Vila Pouca de Aguiar | Vila Real | |
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