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Lamego (; cel-x-proto, Lamecum) is a city and municipality in the
Viseu District The District of Viseu ( pt, Distrito de Viseu ) is located in the Central Inland of Portugal, the District Capital is the city of Viseu. Municipalities The district is composed by 24 municipalities: * Armamar * Carregal do Sal * Castro Daire * ...
, in the Norte Region of the
Douro The Douro (, , ; es, Duero ; la, Durius) is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province, central Spain, meanders south briefly then flows generally west through the north-west part o ...
in northern
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...
. Located on the shores of the
Balsemão River The Rio Balsemão ( English language: Balsemão River) is a small stream that originates in the mountain range of Serra de Montemuro. It passes through narrow canyons before it reaches the major city Lamego.MONTEIRO-HENRIQUES, Tiago, COSTA, Jos� ...
, the municipality has a population of 26,691,Instituto Nacional de Estatística
/ref> in an area of 165.42 km2. With origins before the Roman occupation of the
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula (), ** * Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica'' ** ** * french: Péninsule Ibérique * mwl, Península Eibérica * eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, def ...
, Lamego is known for its historic city center, having a long history as a principal city of the former
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro () is a historical province of Portugal located in the northeastern corner of the country. Vast plateaus, river valleys, mountains, and castles abound in Trás os Montes e Alto Douro. History A first attempt to regi ...
. Legend holds that the first
Portuguese Cortes In the Medieval Kingdom of Portugal, the Cortes was an assembly of representatives of the estates of the realm – the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie. It was called and dismissed by the King of Portugal at will, at a place of his choosing.O' ...
were held in Lamego, in 1143. The
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lamego The Diocese of Lamego ( la, Dioecesis Lamacensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese in Portugal. History Lamego became Catholic when the Visigothic king Reccared I converted to Catholicism. According to local tradition, the city of Lamego received th ...
is based in the city center.


Etymology

The toponymic name ''Lamego'' was derived from ''Lamaecus'', a Hispano-Celtic and Roman derivative referring to owners of agrarian titles in the 3rd century around the local castle.


History

The area around Lamego was inhabited by
Ligures The Ligures (singular Ligur; Italian: liguri; English: Ligurians) were an ancient people after whom Liguria, a region of present-day north-western Italy, is named. Ancient Liguria corresponded more or less to the current Italian regi ...
and Turduli, and during the Roman presence it was occupied by
Coelerni The Coelerni were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia in Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula), part of Calaician or Gallaeci people, living in what was to become the Roman Province of Hispania Tarraconensis, in what is now the southern part of the pro ...
, which left behind several monuments. Due to the placement of the castle, it is likely that a castro originally existed on the site. During the ''Inquirições'' (''Inventory/Enquiries'') of King Afonso (during the 13th century) there was reference to the Castro de Lameco, referred to as a medieval fortification. Destroyed by the Romans, the inhabitants were forced to descend into the valley and cultivate the land, as part of the Roman reorganization of the land.


Middle Ages

Lamego became Catholic when the
Visigoth The Visigoths (; la, Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, Wisi) were an early Germanic people who, along with the Ostrogoths, constituted the two major political entities of the Goths within the Roman Empire in late antiquity, or what is kn ...
ic king Rekared I converted to Catholicism. In 569, during the Council of Lugo, there appeared references to Sardinário the Bishop of Lamego. During the reign of Sisebuto (612-621), the Visigothic monarch coined currency from Lamego, indicating the importance of the region to commerce and culture. Just outside the city center is the tiny 7th century São Pedro de Balsemão Chapel, a
Visigothic The Visigoths (; la, Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, Wisi) were an early Germanic people who, along with the Ostrogoths, constituted the two major political entities of the Goths within the Roman Empire in late antiquity, or what is ...
chapel believed to be the oldest in Portugal (and second oldest in Europe). A region alternated between peace and war in the following years as Christians and Muslims fought the territory during the
Reconquista The ' ( Spanish, Portuguese and Galician for "reconquest") is a historiographical construction describing the 781-year period in the history of the Iberian Peninsula between the Umayyad conquest of Hispania in 711 and the fall of the N ...
, until
Ferdinand I of León and Castile Ferdinand is a Germanic name composed of the elements "protection", "peace" (PIE "to love, to make peace") or alternatively "journey, travel", Proto-Germanic , abstract noun from root "to fare, travel" (PIE , "to lead, pass over"), and "co ...
conquered the region definitively on 29 November 1057. As a consequence the bishopric was moved after these events (to later be restored in 1071). In 1128, the nascent national Egas Moniz, had his tenancy in Lamego while his residence was in
Britiande Britiande is a town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The wo ...
, as master of the Riba–Douro, between Paiva and Távora (in addition to the lands of Côa). The most significant moment in the town's history was in 1139, when nobles declared
Afonso Henriques Afonso I of PortugalOr also ''Affonso'' (Archaic Portuguese-Galician) or ''Alphonso'' (Portuguese-Galician) or ''Alphonsus'' ( Latin version), sometimes rendered in English as ''Alphonzo'' or ''Alphonse'', depending on the Spanish or French in ...
to be Portugal's first king. The town's Gothic cathedral was built by him, although only the Romanesque tower is left from the original building, with its carved Renaissance portal and fine cloister dating from the 16th and 18th centuries. The 12th-century castle preserves a fine keep and a very old and unusual
cistern A cistern (Middle English ', from Latin ', from ', "box", from Greek ', "basket") is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by ...
with
monogram A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series ...
s of master masons. King Sancho I issued a charter of independence in 1191, as the local community grew around two poles: the ecclesiastical parishes of and Castelo. In 1290, King Denis provided a market charter to the city, attracting merchants from Castile and
Granada Granada (,, DIN: ; grc, Ἐλιβύργη, Elibýrgē; la, Illiberis or . ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the c ...
with their oriental spices and textiles. Lamego had a privileged positioned on the routes from western Iberia, as a transit point within the settlements of the Além-Douro,
Braga Braga ( , ; cel-x-proto, Bracara) is a city and a municipality, capital of the northwestern Portuguese district of Braga and of the historical and cultural Minho Province. Braga Municipality has a resident population of 193,333 inhabitants (in ...
and
Guimarães Guimarães () is a city and municipality located in northern Portugal, in the district of Braga. Its historic town centre has been listed as a UNESCWorld Heritage Sitesince 2001, in recognition for being an "exceptionally well-preserved and ...
, from Alcântara and Mérida to Córdoba and
Seville Seville (; es, Sevilla, ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Penins ...
. It was also one of the preferred routes on the ''Saint James Way'' pilgrimage to
Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, as the destination of the Way of S ...
. But, two events changed the economic and social circumstances in the region: the conquest of Granada which drove the last of the Moors from the Peninsula; and the discovery of the maritime connection to India, which resulted in a slow decline for the region.


Early modern era

Manuel I of Portugal Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate ( pt, O Venturoso), was King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521. A member of the House of Aviz, Manuel was Duke of Beja and Viseu prior to succeeding his cousin, John II of Portuga ...
issued a
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. Also in the 16th century, Manuel de Noronha (one of the more notable prelates of Lamego) was appointed the Bishop of Lamego, occupying the role for the next 18 years and referred to the ''"great builder"'', responsible for the cult of ''Nossa Senhora dos Remédios'' (''Our Lady of Remedies''). In the 17th and 18th century, the ''solares'' (''country estates'') were slowly constructed in Lamego, resulting from the wine commerce down the Douro. The economic growth of
viticulture Viticulture (from the Latin word for '' vine'') or winegrowing (wine growing) is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of '' Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, r ...
along the Douro resulted in the issuance of a writ by
Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal and 1st Count of Oeiras (13 May 1699 – 8 May 1782), known as the Marquis of Pombal (''Marquês de Pombal''; ), was a Portuguese statesman and diplomat who effectively ruled the Po ...
, to designate the area as the ''Região Demarcada do Douro'' and the establishment of the ''Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro'' (''General Company of the Wine Agriculture of the Upper Douro''). In 1835, Lamego was the capital of the district, but lost this title to Viseu (December 1835), under the authority of the King's Minister Luís Mouzinho de Albuquerque. In 1919, in an attempt to restore the monarchy, Lamego became the capital of the district for 24 days. During the second half of the 19th century, during the presidency of the Viscount of Guedes Teixeira, Lamego begins a process of modernization with the construction of new avenues. After the establishment of the First Republic, during the presidency of Alfredo de Sousa, Lamego undergoes a new phase of building, including the construction a bridge over the Coura River.


Twin towns – sister cities

* Bouchemaine, France


Geography


Climate

Lamego has a
Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The nearest station from Lamego is located in Bigorne almost higher in altitude. Temperatures there are cooler than in Lamego.


Human geography

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 18 civil parishes (''
freguesias ''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 Port ...
''): * Lamego (Almacave e Sé) * Avões * Bigorne, Magueija e Pretarouca *
Britiande Britiande is a town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The wo ...
* Cambres * Cepões, Meijinhos e Melcões * Ferreirim * Ferreiros de Avões * Figueira *
Lalim Lalim is a civil parish (''freguesia'') in Lamego Municipality in the Viseu District of the Norte Region of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 729,Lazarim * Parada do Bispo e Valdigem * Penajóia * Penude * Samodães * Sande * Várzea de Abrunhais * Vila Nova de Souto d'El-Rei


Economy

The principal activities in this region are tied to the service sector, with commerce and agriculture also representing an important part of the economy. In particular
viticulture Viticulture (from the Latin word for '' vine'') or winegrowing (wine growing) is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of '' Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, r ...
, since the municipality (and other municipalities in the region) have been designated as part of the ''Denominação de Origem Controlada'' (DOC), a control used to classify wine products as a locally produced product of origin, for national and international marketing. Lamego has a large shopping centre, with approximately 30 main shops, three malls of medium-size and several small traditional shops. Industrial activities are concentrated in the industrial zone in the parish of Várzea de Abrunhais. Lamego textiles are also promoted but tend to be small-scale production runs, with few medium- to large-companies involved in mass-production. The tourist sector is primarily associated with the monuments and religious buildings, and has been a growing part of the local economy. The extension of the A24 motorway has been important in attracting more visitors and businesses to the region.


Culture

Lamego is considered one of the principal cities of the Portuguese Baroque, for its numerous churches, palaces, and civic buildings. The city is the seat of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lamego The Diocese of Lamego ( la, Dioecesis Lamacensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese in Portugal. History Lamego became Catholic when the Visigothic king Reccared I converted to Catholicism. According to local tradition, the city of Lamego received th ...
and has a cathedral. The following cultural institutions are based in Lamego: *Ribeiro Conceição Theatre *Lamego City Museum *Lamego Municipal Library *Lamego Image Archive *Clav'Art *APC - Amigos Pela Cultura *ArqDoc – Lamego Document Archive The film ''
Abraham's Valley ''Abraham's Valley'' ( pt, Vale Abraão) is a 1993 Portuguese drama film directed by Manoel de Oliveira, based on a novel by Agustina Bessa-Luís, and partially inspired by Gustave Flaubert's 1857 novel ''Madame Bovary''. The film was selected as ...
'' (1993) is set in and around Lamego.


Notable people

* Manuel Rodrigues Lamego (born ca.1590) a
Marrano Marranos were Spanish and Portuguese Jews living in the Iberian Peninsula who converted or were forced to convert to Christianity during the Middle Ages, but continued to practice Judaism in secrecy. The term specifically refers to the char ...
merchant and slave trader active in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. * António de Mendonça (1600–1675)
Archbishop of Lisbon The Patriarchate of Lisbon ( la, Patriarchatus Olisiponensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or patriarchal archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Its archiepiscopal see is the Patriarchal Cathedral of ...
, from 1670 to 1675. *
Manuel Pinto da Fonseca Manuel Pinto da Fonseca (also ''Emmanuel Pinto de Fonseca''; 24 May 1681 – 23 January 1773) was a Portuguese nobleman, the 68th Grand Master of the Order of Saint John, from 1741 until his death. He undertook many building projects, introduc ...
(1681–1773) a nobleman, the 68th Grand Master of the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John, from 1741 to 1773. *
Diogo de Carvalho e Sampayo Diogo de Carvalho e Sampayo (28 May 1750 – 29 December 1807) was a Portuguese nobleman, magistrate, diplomat and scientist. A knight of the Knights Hospitaller, Order of Malta and a judge by profession, Carvalho e Sampayo became notable as an am ...
(1750–1807) a nobleman, magistrate, diplomat and scientist. * José Augusto Guedes Teixeira, (Wiki PT) (1843-1890) Civil Governor of Porto District * Fausto Guedes Teixeira, (Wiki PT) (1871-1940) contemplative and melancholic lyric poet * Emília de Sousa Costa (1877-1959) a teacher, feminist and writer of novels * Gentil Guedes Gomes, (Wiki PT) (1896-1970) lawyer, poet and writer * Fernando Monteiro de Amaral (1925-2009) 7th President of the Assembly of the Republic *
Mário Lemos Pires Mário Lemos Pires (30 June 1930 – 22 May 2009) was a major-general of the Portuguese Army and the last colonial governor of Portuguese Timor. Biography Born in Lamego, Portugal in 1930, Lemos Pires moved to Lisbon at age 18 to commence his s ...
(1930-2009) Major-general of the
Portuguese Army The Portuguese Army ( pt, Exército Português) is the land component of the Armed Forces of Portugal and is also its largest branch. It is charged with the defence of Portugal, in co-operation with other branches of the Armed Forces. With it ...
and last Governor of
Portuguese Timor Portuguese Timor ( pt, Timor Português) was a colonial possession of Portugal that existed between 1702 and 1975. During most of this period, Portugal shared the island of Timor with the Dutch East Indies. The first Europeans to arrive in th ...
* João Botelho (born 1949) film director. João Botelho , IMDb Database
retrieved 23 August 2021.


Sport

*
José Maria Pedroto José Maria Carvalho Pedroto, OIH (21 October 1928 – 7 January 1985), was a Portuguese football midfielder and manager. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 227 matches and 57 goals over 11 seasons, at the service of Lusitano, Belenenses and Por ...
(1928-1985) footballer for
Porto Porto or Oporto () is the second-largest city in Portugal, the capital of the Porto District, and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto city proper, which is the entire municipality of Porto, is small compared to its metropo ...
with 227 club caps and 17 for
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...
*
Álvaro Magalhães Álvaro Monteiro Magalhães (born 3 January 1961), known simply as Álvaro, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a left back, and a current manager. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 224 matches and six goals over 11 seasons, mainl ...
(born 1961) footballer for Benfica with 293 club caps and 20 for
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...
* Jorge Silva (born 1972) a retired footballer with 382 club caps * Chico Silva (born 1978) a retired footballer with 311 club caps * Gonçalo Santos (born 1986) a footballer with over 290 club caps


References

;Notes ;Sources *


External links


Photos from Lamego
* {{Authority control Cities in Portugal Populated places in Viseu District Municipalities of Viseu District