São João da Pesqueira

São João da Pesqueira
Municipality

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Coat of arms
Coordinates: 41°08′N 7°24′W / 41.133°N 7.400°W / 41.133; -7.400Coordinates: 41°08′N 7°24′W / 41.133°N 7.400°W / 41.133; -7.400
Country  Portugal
Region Norte
Subregion Douro
Intermunic. comm. Douro
District Viseu
Parishes 11
Government
 • President António Lima Costa (PSD)
Area
 • Total 266.11 km2 (102.75 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 7,874
 • Density 30/km2 (77/sq mi)
Time zone WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1)
Website http://www.cm-sjpesqueira.espigueiro.pt

São João da Pesqueira (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɐ̃w ʒuˈɐ̃w dɐ pɨʃˈkɐjɾɐ]) is a town and municipality in the district of Viseu in Portugal. The municipality comprises the town of São João da Pesqueira, which is the seat of the municipality, and a number of nearby villages, organized into parishes (frequesias) as listed below. The population of the entire municipality in 2011 was 7,874,[1] in an area of 266.11 km².[2] Its altitude is 850m. The present mayor is António Lima Costa, elected by the Social Democratic Party. The municipal holiday is June 24.

Location

The municipality is bordered on the north by the River Douro and the municipality of Alijó, on the northeast by Carrazeda de Ansiães, on the east by Vila Nova de Foz Côa (district of Guarda), on the south-east by Penedono, on the south by Sernancelhe, on the west by Tabuaço and on the north-west by Sabrosa.

Economy

São João da Pesqueira is well endowed with vineyards producing for the port wine industry, and is considered as the heart of the Douro wine region as demarcated by the Marquês de Pombal, who lived in Pesqueira when he was young. The municipality includes much attractive countryside, and a spectacular viewpoint over the Douro valley and the Valeira dam from the chapel of São Salvador do Mundo (Ermo). The hermit Friar Gaspar (1594 - 1615) lived and died there. Tourist attractions include a substantial museum of wine in Pesqueira, and a network of waymarked hiking trails, including a section of the GR 14 Porto to Strasbourg Rota dos Vinhos da Europa.

History

São João da Pesqueira is the oldest recognized municipality in the country, created in 1055, thus taking precedence over such major cities as Coimbra, Guimarães or Lamego.

Demographics

Population of the municipality of São João da Pesqueira (1801 – 2011)

1801 1849 1900 1930 1960 1981 1991 2001 2011
3203 573412505127641512410219 9581 8653 7874

Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 11 civil parishes (freguesias):[3]

References

  1. ↑ Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ↑ Direção-Geral do Território
  3. ↑ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 110" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 July 2014.

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