Lamego (; ) is a city and municipality in the

Viseu District The Districts of Portugal, District of 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 Municipality, Armamar * Carregal d ...

, in the Norte Region of the

Douro The Douro (, , , ; ; ) is the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish Soria Province, province of Soria, meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern par ...

in northern

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

. Located on the shores of the Balsemão River, 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 ( ), 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 ...

, 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, known for its scenery, which includes plateaux, river valleys, mountains, and castles. History A first attempt to register i ...

. 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 is based in the city center.

Etymology

The toponymic name ''Lamego'' was derived from ''Lamaecus'', a

Hispano-Celtic Hispano-Celtic is a term for all forms of Celtic spoken in the Iberian Peninsula before the arrival of the Romans (c. 218 BC, during the Second Punic War). In particular, it includes: * A northeastern inland language attested at a relati ...

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 or Ligurians were an ancient people after whom Liguria, a region of present-day Northern Italy, north-western Italy, is named. Because of the strong Celts, Celtic influences on their language and culture, they were also known in anti ...

and Turduli, and during the Roman presence it was occupied by Coelerni, 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 (; ) were a Germanic people united under the rule of a king and living within the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The Visigoths first appeared in the Balkans, as a Roman-allied barbarian military group united under the comman ...

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 (; ) were a Germanic people united under the rule of a king and living within the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The Visigoths first appeared in the Balkans, as a Roman-allied barbarian military group united under the comman ...

chapel believed to be the oldest in Portugal (and second oldest in Europe). The region alternated between Christian and Muslim hands during the early

Reconquista The ''Reconquista'' (Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese for ) or the fall of al-Andalus was a series of military and cultural campaigns that European Christian Reconquista#Northern Christian realms, kingdoms waged ag ...

Period. The city was first conquered by

Alfonso I of Asturias Alfonso I of Asturias, called the Catholic (''el Católico''), ( – 757) was the third king of Asturias, reigning from 739 to his death in 757. His reign saw an extension of the Christian domain of Asturias, reconquering Galicia and León. ...

in 741, and repopulated in 868 by Alfonso III. It fell into Islamic hands briefly again during the late 10th century, until Ferdinand I of León and Castile 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, 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 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 (; , ; ) is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. To prevent leakage, the interior of the cistern is often lined with hydraulic plaster. Cisterns are disti ...

with

monogram A monogram is a motif (visual arts), 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 symbo ...

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 Sé and Castelo. In 1290, King Denis provided a market charter to the city, attracting merchants from Castile and

Granada Granada ( ; ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada (Spain), Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence ...

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 (; ) is a cities of Portugal, city and a Municipalities of Portugal, municipality, capital of the northwestern Portugal, Portuguese Braga (district), district of Braga and of the historical and cultural Minho Province. Braga Municipality ...

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 UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, in recognition for being an "exceptionally well-preserved ...

, from Alcântara and Mérida to Córdoba and

Seville Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...

. It was also one of the preferred routes on the ''Saint James Way'' pilgrimage to

Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela, simply Santiago, or Compostela, in the province of Province of A Coruña, A Coruña, is the capital of the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city ...

. 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 (), 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 Portugal, as monarch. Manu ...

issued a

foral 200px, Foral of Castro Verde - Portugal The ''Carta de Foral'', or simply ''Foral'', was a royal document in Portugal and its former empire, whose purpose was to establish a ''concelho'' (Council) and regulate its administration, borders and priv ...

(''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 (, "vine-growing"), viniculture (, "wine-growing"), or winegrowing 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 ...

along the Douro resulted in the issuance of a writ by

Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal Dom (honorific), D. 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 ( ), was a Portuguese statesman and diplomat who Despotism, despotically ruled ...

, 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 climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...

with some continental influence; with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The nearest weather station is located in Bigorne, almost higher in altitude, and having cooler temperatures as such. While snowfalls in the city may happen usually no more than once or twice per year, the surrounding mountains often experience significantly more.

Human geography

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 18 civil parishes ('' freguesias''): * Lamego (Almacave e Sé) * Avões * Bigorne, Magueija e Pretarouca * Britiande * Cambres * Cepões, Meijinhos e Melcões * Ferreirim * Ferreiros de Avões * Figueira * Lalim * 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

, 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. Local textiles are also promoted but tend to be small-scale production runs, with few medium- to large-companies involved in mass-production. The Portuguese Army's

Special Operations Special operations or special ops are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment." Special operations ma ...

regiment is also based in Lamego. 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 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'' (1993) is set in and around Lamego.

Sports

Sporting Clube de Lamego, founded on 4 June 1934 as the branch number 63 of

Sporting Clube de Portugal Sporting Clube de Portugal (), otherwise referred to as Sporting CP or simply Sporting (particularly within Portugal), or as Sporting Lisbon in other countries,

(Sporting CP), is the major sports club in Lamego.

Notable people

* Manuel Rodrigues Lamego (born ca.1590) a

Marrano ''Marranos'' is a term for Spanish and Portuguese Jews, as well as Navarrese jews, who converted to Christianity, either voluntarily or by Spanish or Portuguese royal coercion, during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, but who continued t ...

merchant and slave trader active in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. * António de Mendonça (1600–1675)

Archbishop of Lisbon The Metropolitan Patriarchate of Lisbon () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or patriarchate, patriarchal archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Its episcopal see, archiepiscopal see is the Lisbon Cathedra ...

, 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, introd ...

(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 (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 (1930-2009) Major-general of the

Portuguese Army The Portuguese Army () is the land component of the Portuguese Armed Forces, 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 its ...

and last Governor of

Portuguese Timor Portuguese Timor () was a Portuguese colony on the territory of present-day East Timor from 1702 until 1975. During most of this period, Portugal shared the island of Timor with the Dutch East Indies. The first Europeans to arrive in the regio ...

* João Botelho (born 1949) film director. João Botelho, IMDb Database
retrieved 23 August 2021. *Antônio Rodrigues de Alvarenga (1550-1614), nobleman

Sport

* José Maria Pedroto (1928-1985) footballer for

Porto Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...

with 227 club caps and 17 for

Álvaro Magalhães Álvaro Monteiro Magalhães (born 3 January 1961), known simply as Álvaro as a player, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a left-back, currently a manager. In 11 seasons in the Primeira Liga, he appeared in 224 matches and score ...

(born 1961) footballer for Benfica with 293 club caps and 20 for

* 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