Baião, Portugal
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Baião () is a municipality in
Porto District The Districts of Portugal, District of Porto ( ) is located on the north-west coast of Portugal. The district capital is the city of Porto, the second largest city in the country. It is bordered by the Aveiro (district), Aveiro and Viseu (distric ...
in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 20,522,Instituto Nacional de Estatística
in an area of 174.53 km². Baião received a charter from Manuel I on 1 September 1513. The present Mayor is Paulo Pereira, elected from the
Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...
. The municipal holiday is August 24. Baião is certified by the EarthCheck Sustainable Destinations program.


Culture

In addition to the megalithic ensemble composed of the Aboboreira and Castelo de Matos ranges, which houses the Archaeological Field of the Aboboreira Mountain (CASA) with over five thousand years of uninterrupted settlement, it harbors some unique
fauna Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...
species throughout the
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
and still preserves between 30 and 40 percent of some animal and plant species existing throughout Portuguese territory. In this context, the Santo André de Ancede Convent (1113 AD) also deserves mention, predating the foundation of the Portuguese nation, whose social and economic influence during the medieval period was felt over an area extending from Porto to Régua.


Literature

In the literary realm, it's worth mentioning that Soeiro Pereira Gomes hails from the parish of Gestaçô, in the municipality of Baião, and that the writer Eça de Queirós drew inspiration from its people, landscapes, and local customs in one of his most renowned works: "The City and the Mountains." The Vila Nova Estate in Santa Cruz do Douro, Baião, is now known as "Casa de Tormes," and the Aregos train station was renamed "Tormes." António Mota, a leading national writer in the field of children's and young adult literature, widely recognized and awarded multiple times, was born on July 16, 1957, in Vilarelho, in the parish of Ovil. His book "Outros Tempos" (2006), written for adults and illustrated by the Baionense architect Marta Lemos, is an essential work for those wishing to understand the way people in the interior regions lived in the mid-20th century.


Gastronomy

In gastronomy, the municipality of Baião is renowned for the quality of its meats, particularly smoked meats and roasted lamb, as well as its wines. In order to preserve the traditional production methods of these meats and to enhance the quality of Baião wines, the Municipal Council annually promotes two gastronomic initiatives. Visited by thousands of people from various parts of the country, the first, called the "Smoked Meats and Portuguese Stew Fair," takes place in March or early April, and the second, known as the "Roasted Lamb and Oven Rice Festival," takes place at the end of July. Alongside these initiatives, there is a wine and crafts show, with special emphasis on basketry and the famous Gestaçô walking sticks, traditional sweets, notably the Teixeira Biscuit, and traditional music from the region.


Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 14 civil parishes ('' freguesias''): * Ancede e Ribadouro (town of Ancede) * Baião (Santa Leocádia) e Mesquinhata * Campelo e Ovil (town of Baião) * Frende * Gestaçô * Gove * Grilo * Loivos da Ribeira e Tresouras * Loivos do Monte * Santa Cruz do Douro e São Tomé de Covelas * Santa Marinha do Zêzere (town) * Teixeira e Teixeiró * Valadares * Viariz


Notable people

* Soeiro Pereira Gomes (1909 in Gestaçô – 1949) a Portuguese writer of realist influence * António Mota (born 1957) a Portuguese writer for children and young people. * Ricardo José Vaz Alves Monteiro (born 1983 in Gestaçô), known as ''Tarantini,'' a former footballer with 495 club caps


In popular culture

The 2023 Portuguese film '' A Minha Casinha'' was shot and is set in the municipality.


References


External links


Town Hall official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baiao Municipality Municipalities of Porto District