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Places to See Porto e Norte Visit Vila Real
Places to See Porto e Norte Visit Vila Real | Visit Vila Real |
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Visit
the capital of Trás-os-Montes in the far north-east of Portugal.
Discover the strong personality of this city standing proud on the
banks of the rivers Corgo and Cabril. The first things you’ll notice when you arrive in Vila Real are the attractive residences rising above the surrounding countryside. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, many noble families built homes here. To this day, stone coats of arms can still be spotted on the exteriors of these houses. Tour the city and its medieval centre where the first people to arrive here set up home. Head on through the oldest part of the city. Between Avenida Carvalho Araújo and Avenida Marginal, wander past noble residences interspersed with busy shopping streets – incidentally, these shops are the best in Vila Real. Finish your walk in the green of the Garden Jardim da Carreira. Head up to the top of Calvário, where there are fine views out over the city, the hills of Marão and Alvão. Approximately 3 kilometres away, make time for one of the jewels in the Portuguese Baroque crown: the Mateus Palace, with its beautiful gardens leading on to a huge estate. The interior of this Nasoni-designed masterpiece features worked wooden ceilings, furniture from a range of periods, 17th and 18th century paintings, and a library home to a rare edition of the Portuguese classic ‘Os Lusíadas’. And if you visit Vila Real in the summer try to catch the annual Encontros music festival.  |
Contact Us:
00 351 913 591 282
or
00 351 282 417 463
(office hours)
00 351 913 591 282
or
00 351 282 417 463
(office hours)
| Capital (and largest city) |
Lisbon 38°46′N, 9°11′W |
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| Official languages | Portuguese | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognised regional languages | Mirandese | |
| Demonym | Portuguese | |
| Government | Parliamentary republic | |
| - | President | Aníbal Cavaco Silva |
| - | Prime Minister | José Sócrates |
| Formation | June 24, 1128 | |
| - | Founding of the First County of Portugal | 868 |
| - | Battle of São Mamede | June 24, 1128 |
| - | Kingdom | 25 July 1139 |
| - | Recognized | 5 October 1143 |
| - | Republic | 5 October 1910 |
| - | Carnation Revolution | 25 April 1974 |
| EU accession | 1 January 1986 | |
| Area | ||
| - | Total | 92,345 km² (110th) 35,580 sq mi |
| - | Water (%) | 0.5 |
| Population | ||
| - | July 2007 estimate | 10,848,692 (75th) |
| - | 2001 census | 10,148,259 |
| - | Density | 114/km² (87th) 295/sq mi |
| GDP (PPP) | 2006 estimate | |
| - | Total | $229.881 billion (40th) |
| - | Per capita | $23,464 (2007) (34th) |
| HDI (2005) | ▼ 0.897 (high) (29th) | |
| Currency | Euro (€) (EUR) | |
| Time zone | WET | |
| - | Summer (DST) | WEST (UTC0) |
| Internet TLD | .pt | |
| Calling code | +351 | |