Alcafache is a

freguesia ''Freguesia'' (), usually translated as "parish" or "civil parish", is the third-level administrative subdivision of Portugal, as defined by the 1976 Constitution. It is also the designation for local government jurisdictions in the former Por ...

in the municipality (''

concelho Concelho () is the Portuguese-language term for municipality, referring to the territorial subdivision in local government. In comparison, the word ''município'' () refers to the organs of State. This differentiation is still in use in Portugal ...

'') of

Mangualde Mangualde () is a municipality in the subregion of Dão-Lafões (historical Beira Interior), central region of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 19,880, in an area of 219.26 km2. History The region of Mangualde has been a crossroads of ma ...

in the Portuguese central subregion of

Dão-Lafões Viseu Dão-Lafões is a Portuguese subregion located in the north of the Central Region. In 2021, the subregion recorded 252,984 inhabitants and a population density of 78 inhabitants per km2. The subregion has an area of 3,238 km2, which can b ...

. The population in 2011 was 921,Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)
Census 2011 results according to the 2013 administrative division of Portugal in an area of 12.88 km².

History

The Romans crossed these lands, building some bridges along the margins of the

Dão River Dão () is a Portuguese river that originates in the plateau regions of Trancoso-Aguiar da Beira in the Eirado parish, Aguiar da Beira Municipality, Guarda District, and varies between in elevation. It flows in a general northeast–southwe ...

, near the thermal springs, possibly indicating their acknowledgement of the region's aesthetic importance. Alcafache has its origin in an Arab settlement, dating from the 13th century, whose toponymy evolved from ''Carafáche'' and later ''Alcaafáchi''. The parish, which at one time was a municipality in its own right, received its first

foral 200px, Foral of Castro Verde - Portugal The word ''foral'' ({{IPA-pt, fuˈɾaɫ, eu, plural: ''forais'') is a noun derived from the Portuguese word ''foro'', ultimately from Latin ''forum'', equivalent to Spanish ''fuero'', Galician '' foro'', ...

(''charter'') in 1514, during the reign of King

Manuel I Manuel I may refer to: * Manuel I Komnenos, Byzantine emperor (1143–1180) *Manuel I of Trebizond, Emperor of Trebizond (1228–1263) *Manuel I of Portugal Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate ( pt, O Venturoso), wa ...

. The region was consecrated to the

Order of Malta The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta ( it, Sovrano Militare Ordine Ospedaliero di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme, di Rodi e di Malta; ...

at that time, and included the places Casal Mendo, Casal Sendinho, Aldeia de Carvalho, Tibaldinho, Mosteirinho and Banho. The most emblematic symbol of this region is the thermal baths of Banho. Although, today, these thermae are situated in another municipality (

Viseu Viseu () is a city and municipality in the Centro Region of Portugal and the capital of the district of the same name, with a population of 100,000 inhabitants, and center of the Viseu Dão Lafões intermunipical community, with 267,633 inhabi ...

), Alcafache is the location for many of the hotels and retreats associated with visitors to the thermal spas. Occupied intensely from April to November, the warm sulphur-rich waters are popular with elderly and those with rheumatism, muscular-skeletal illnesses and respiratory conditions (such as

rhinitis Rhinitis, also known as coryza, is irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Common symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip. The inflammation is caused by viruses, bacteria, irrita ...

and

sinusitis Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, is inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinuses resulting in symptoms that may include thick nasal mucus, a plugged nose, and facial pain. Other signs and symptoms may include fever, head ...

). The thermal spas in the region were recognized as far back as the 15th century, when a shelter constructed by a deacon from the Sé Cathedral of Viseu, to gather the poor who needed this form of treatment. On 11 September 1985 a train crash occurred along the CP's Beira Alta railway line near Alcafache, resulting in the deaths of 56 passengers (officially), yet causing many still unaccounted for deaths.

Geography

Alcafache is located roughly halfway between the centres of

and

Nelas Nelas () is a municipality located in the Centro Region of continental Portugal. The population in 2011 was 14,037, in an area of 125.71 km². History Settlement of the territory of Nelas dates back to the settlement by Neolithic and Stone a ...

Culture

Alcafache is recognized for the hundred-year tradition of embroidery, the ''bordadados de Tibaldinho'', which continue to be sought after for their quality. The regions age is also reflected in the ''Banda Filarmónica de Tibaldinho'', the philharmonic band, that continue to play at many social events. Alcafache also constructed their ''Associação Cultural de Tibaldinho'' (''Tibaldinho Cultural Association'') and the ''Grupo Coral de Alcafache'' (''Choral Group of Alcafache''), two entities that attract local participants, associated with the liturgical group ''Jovens Cristãos'' (''Christian Youth''). Throughout the year, starting in January, the parish celebrates both secular and religious and festivals, these include: feast of Santa Bárbara (4 December), the festival of ''Nossa Senhora da Piedade'' (September), São Frutuoso (first Sunday following Easter), Santa Cruz (3 May or following Sunday), ''Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres'' (Sunday of Pascoela), São Lourenço (10 August) and São Vicente (22 January).

References

{{authority control Freguesias of Mangualde