Vila Pouca de Aguiar

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Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Flag of Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Municipal flag
Coat of arms of Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Municipal coat of arms
Location of Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Location  
 - Country Flag of Portugal Portugal
 - Region Norte
 - Subregion Alto Trás-os-Montes
 - District or A.R. Vila Real
Mayor Domingos Dias
 - Party PSD-CDS
Area 437.1 km²
Population
 - Total 15,100
 - Density 35/km²
No. of parishes 18
Coordinates 41º29'N 7º38'W
Municipal holiday
June 22
Website: http://www.cm-vpaguiar.pt

Vila Pouca de Aguiar (pron. IPA['vilɐ 'po(ou)kɐ dɨ ɐgi'aɾ]) is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 437.1 km² and a total population of 15,100 inhabitants. The town itself has 3,456 inhabitants.

The municipality is composed of 18 parishes, and is located in the district of Vila Real. It is located in a narrow valley 25 kilometers north of the district capital, Vila Real, and is connected to the same by National highway N2. The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, some dairying, services, government employment, granite extraction and the mineral waters in Pedras Salgadas, a small town located about ten kilometers north on the main highway to Chaves.

In 2006 the A7 toll road to Guimarães was completed and the last stretch of the A24, connecting Vila Pouca with Vila Real was opened in June 2007. This non-toll four-lane highway linking Coimbra with the Spanish border in Vila Verde will allow long-distance traffic to avoid the dangerous and tiresome national N2. One of the longest and highest highway bridges in Europe was built just south of Vila Pouca, carrying traffic across the fertile valley.

The present Mayor is Domingos Manuel Pinto Batista Dias, elected by a coalition between the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic and Social Center.

The municipal holiday is June 22.

Contents

[edit] Parishes

Parishes in Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Afonsim Lixa do Alvão Telões
Alfarela de Jales Parada de Monteiros Tresminas
Bornes de Aguiar Pensalvos Valoura
Bragado Sabroso de Aguiar Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Capeludos Santa Marta da Montanha Vreia de Bornes
Gouvães da Serra Soutelo de Aguiar Vreia de Jales

[edit] History

Dr. Martiniano Ferreira Botelho
Dr. Martiniano Ferreira Botelho

In the early 20th century, the leading figure in the area was the native-born Martiniano José Ferreira Botelho' (1853 - 1939), a doctor, druggist and Portuguese politician, known from his residence as Lord of the House of the County. His humanitarian character was shown by treating his patients gratuitously. His doctoral thesis was on medicinal use of the waters of the area, Breve estudo sobre as águas alcalino-gazósas das Pedras Salgadas, available in the Portuguese Digital National Library. [1]

Botelho' donated land to the community for the current market Square, as well as the municipal slaughter house and water mine.










[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dicionário dos mais ilustres Transmontanos e Alto Durienses, coordenado por Barroso da Fonte, III volume, 656 páginas, Editora Cidade Berço.

[edit] External links