Vila Flor

Vila Flor (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvilɐ ˈfloɾ] (listen)) is a municipality in Portugal. Locally referred to as the Portuguese Capital of Olive Oil, Vila Flor is located in the Terra Quente Transmontana, in the southern part of the district of Bragança. The population in 2011 was 6,697,[1] in an area of 265.81 square kilometres (102.63 sq mi).[2]

This article is about the municipality in Portugal. For the municipality in Brazil, see Vila Flor, Rio Grande do Norte.
Vila Flor
Municipality
The central square of Vila Flor
Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 41°18′33″N 7°9′14″W
Country Portugal
RegionNorte
Intermunic. comm.Terras de Trás-os-Montes
DistrictBragança
Parishes14
Government
 • PresidentArtur Guilherme Gonçalves Vaz Pimentel (PS)
Area
 • Total265.81 km2 (102.63 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total6,697
 • Density25/km2 (65/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Postal code
5360
Area code278
Websitehttp://www.cm-vilaflor.pt

History
The Roman fountain isolating human settlement to that period
One of the remaining archway gates of the walled city of Póvoa d´Álem Sabor

It was King Denis who, while travelling through the burg (then known as Póvoa d´Álem Sabor, became enchanted by the local landscape and, in 1286, renamed the district Vila Flor.[3] Around 1295, the King ordered the construction of a walled city, consisting of five gates, to protect the fledgling settlement and guard Portuguese interests in the territory.[3]

During the Middle Ages, this bouquet of flowers, as Cabral Adão once called it, became the home to many fleeing Jewish families, who settled in the territory to start farms, businesses of small industry (such as tanneries and jewelers).[3] King Manuel eventually conferred on the settlement an official charter (foral), later to be reformulated in May 1512.[3] An anti-Jewish, Manuel expelled the Jews from the municipality, whose remaining populous or army were then responsible for destroying the remaining homes.[3]

Geography
The mountainous terrain that divides the Vale de Vilariça
The municipal council offices and building along Avenida Marchel Carmona

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 14 civil parishes (freguesias):[4]

  • Assares e Lodões
  • Benlhevai
  • Candoso e Carvalho de Egas
  • Freixiel
  • Roios
  • Samões
  • Sampaio
  • Santa Comba de Vilariça
  • Seixo de Manhoses
  • Trindade
  • Vale Frechoso
  • Valtorno e Mourão
  • Vila Flor e Nabo
  • Vilas Boas e Vilarinho das Azenhas

Economy

Rich in history, tradition, monuments and citizenry, the municipality is also an important reference for agriculture, owing to the fertility of the Vale da Vilariça. Companies, such as Frize and Sousacamp, known within and outside of Portugal, are located in within its frontiers.

The growth of tourism has meant that lodgings have developed throughout the region, including hotels, establishments catering to rural- and agro-tourism. This includes the seasonal treks in the region to the municipalities camping site.

Notable citizens
  • Joaquim Trigo de Negreiros (born 1900), lawyer and official of the civil registry, president of the administrative council of Vila Flor, before moving to Porto, becoming assistance Attorney of Portugal, Civil Governor of Porto, Subsecretary of State for Corporations and Social Security, and the Secretary of State for Social Security, in addition to providing public security forces with new equipment.[5] For eight years he was minister of the Domestic Affairs, closed Tarrafal in 1954, and as member of the Parliament in various legislatures, he was responsible for implementing the modern public health system: he originated the Hospital Escolar de Santa Maria and the Hospital of São João (in Porto), he was also responsible for the growth in nursing instruction (in 1947).[5] He was a founder of the Diário Popular.[5]
  • Artur Guilherme Trigo Vaz (born 1919), doctor, municipal councillor (1951–54 and 1964–68), president of the municipal council (1970–74), responsible for Peneireiro Dam, and president/founder of the Sport Clube de Vila Flor; Vaz also dedicated himself to the history of Vila Flor, publishing the O Passado e o Presente, in December 1949.[5]
  • Raul de Sá Correia (May 1900 - 8 December 1993), municipal secretary (1934), responsible for the construction of the library, museum and archive.[5] On his retirement he was named honorary citizen of the municipality and attributed a commemorative medal marking the 7th centenary of Vila Flor; a year later President Mário Soares honored him with Order of Henry the Navigator; and on his death a bronze bust was erected in front of his former home, and a hall in the museum dedicated to him.[5]
  • Francisco Maria Guerra (1876 - 1962), lawyer and administrator of the municipality of Miranda do Douro; conservator of the district land registry and president of the municipality of Vila Flor (1933-1946), he was responsible for a series of public works including the construction of several primary schools, bridges, cemeteries, warehouses, fountains, the opening of many municipal roads, squares and avenues, including Avenida Marechal Carmona.[5] He was honored with the Military Order of Christ, and in 1962 (following his death), a bronze statue was erected in his honor.[5]

References
  1. Instituto Nacional de Estatística Archived November 15, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país
  3. Câmara Municipal, ed. (2013), História (in Portuguese), Vila Flor, Portugal, archived from the original on 6 September 2013, retrieved 24 August 2013
  4. Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, pages 552 130-131" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  5. Câmara Municipal, ed. (2013), Curiosidades (in Portuguese), Vila Flor, Portugal, archived from the original on 6 September 2013, retrieved 24 August 2013
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