Covas do Barroso

Coordinates: 41°37′5″N 7°47′32″W / 41.61806°N 7.79222°W / 41.61806; -7.79222

Covas do Barroso
Civil Parish (Freguesia)
Coat of arms
Official name: Freguesia das Covas do Barroso
Country	Portugal
Region	Norte
Subregion	Alto Trás-os-Montes
District	Vila Real
Municipality	Boticas
Localities	Covas do Barroso, Romaínho, Muro
Center	Covas do Barroso
- elevation	501 m (1,644 ft)
- coordinates	41°37′5″N 7°47′32″W / 41.61806°N 7.79222°W / 41.61806; -7.79222
Length	8.91 km (6 mi), Northwest-Southeast
Width	5.67 km (4 mi), Southwest-Northeast
Area	29.58 km2 (11 sq mi)
Population	348 (2001)
Density	11.76 / km2 (30 / sq mi)
LAU	Freguesia/Junta Freguesia
President Junta	Olímpio Martins Gomes
President Assembleia	Fernando Martins Esteves
Timezone	WET (UTC0)
- summer (DST)	WEST (UTC+1)
ISO 3166-2 code	PT-
Postal Zone	5460-381 Covas do Barroso
Area Code & Prefix	(+351) 276 XXX XXX
Patron Saint	Santa Maria
Parish Address	5460-381 Covas do Barroso
Website: http://cbarroso.jfreguesia.com
Statistics from INE (2001); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010)

Covas do Barroso is a civil parish (Portuguese: freguesia) in the municipality of Boticas, in the old district of Vila Real. Located in the northern subregion of Alto Trás-os-Montes, the parish of 348 inhabitants, occupies a territory of 29.58 km², comprising three villages: Covas do Barroso, Romaínho and Muro.

History

During the Middle Ages, Covas do Barroso consisted of five settlements: Couto de Dornelas, São Salvador de Viveiro, Canedo, Cabanelas and São Martinho). But, owing to deaths caused by the plague, the latter two settlements (Cabanelas and São Martinho) were extinguished.^[1]

The place's toponymy originated from its geographic location: the place is surrounded by mountain hilltops, and once seen from Alto do Castro, appears as ditch (Portuguese: cova).^[1]

The settlement of this territory corresponds with the ancient castros discovered in this area.^[1] In many of these castros discoveries of archaeological artefacts have been common, including Byzantine coins, from the era of Emperor Ducas.^[1]

Apart from archaeological proofs, the documented references refer to the existence of Covas do Barroso after the 12th century.^[1] Covas do Barroso was part of the municipality of Montalegre, until 6 November 1836, when the neighbouring municipality of Boticas was established.^[1] During this creation, Covas do Barroso passed into the administration of the latter, while judicially it was integrated into the Comarca of Chaves (in 1839), Montalegre (in 1878), and finally integrated into the Julgado de Eiró (in 1878). The attempted transfer of Covas do Barroso to municipality of Ribeira de Pena created conflict within its citizenry.^[1]

It was not until 1839 that its inhabitants received its first primary school (supported by a school headmaster who received a stipend of 20,000 réis annually).^[1]

Similarly, full electric light and electricity only arrived in 1966, owing to the installation of a generator in Aguieira.^[1]

Geography

Covas do Barroso situated in the river-valleys of the Serra de Dornela, 17 kilometres from the municipal seat of Boticas, it consists of the localities of Covas do Barroso, Romainho and Muro. It is confronted by the parishes of Couto de Dornelas, São Salvador de Viveiro and Canedo. ^[1]

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Junta Freguesia, ed (2010). "Historial" (in Portuguese). Covas do Borroso (Boticas), Portugal: Junta Freguesia das Covas do Borroso. http://cbarroso.jfreguesia.com/historial.php. Retrieved 12 April 2011.