Vila Real

Infobox_Municipality_pt
official_name = Vila Real
image_coat_of_arms = Vila_Real_bras%C3%A3o.gif

---

Region = Norte
Subregion = Douro
District = Vila Real
Mayor_name = Manuel Martins
Mayor_party = PSD
area_total = 378.8
population_total = 50,499
population_density = 133
Parishes = 30
coor = 41º17'N 7º48'W
params = 41_17_N_7_48_W
occasion = Saint Anthony
day = June 13
website = http://www.cm-vilareal.pt
footnotes =

Vila Real (pronounced|ˈvilɐ ʁiˈaɫ) is a town and a municipality, seat of the district of Vila Real, in Norte region, Portugal.

The municipality is composed of 30 parishes ("freguesias") and has a total area of 378.8 km² and a total population of 50,499 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper (includes 3 parishes) has a population of 24,481. [ [http://62.48.187.117/atlas/Cap2/Cap2d_2.html UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004] Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)]

Parishes

The parishes of the Vila Real municipality are:

Note: administrative parishes ("freguesias") are not necessarily coincident with ecclesiastic parishes ("paróquias").

City of Vila Real

In 2001 urban Vila Real had an approximate population of 25,000 in three parishes (S. Dinis, S. Pedro e Nossa Senhora da Conceição) while the Municipality had 49,589 inhabitants and 30 parishes in. There has been a slight population increase since the last census of 1991.

It has a spectacular location between the gorges of the Corgo and the Cabril Rivers. The Marão and the Alvão mountains overlook the town on the west side. An iron bridge crosses the Corgo linking the old town with the new one. Just outside the town itself, by the road leading to Sabrosa, is located the Mateus Palace, designed by the Italian Nazoni, author of the Clérigos Tower in Porto.

In the town there is a public university called Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Its forestry and winemaking courses have wide national recognition. There are several primary schools in addition to two middle schools ("Escola EB2/3 Diogo Cão" and "Escola EB2/3 Monsenhor Jerónimo do Amaral") and three secondary schools ("Escola Secundária Camilo Castelo Branco" --former "Liceu"--, "Esc. Sec. S.Pedro" --former "Escola Industrial"-- and "Esc. Sec. Morgado de Mateus"). There is also a private Catholic primary school ("Colégio Moderno de S. José") and a private school (Colégio de Nossa Senhora da Boavista) ranging from kindergarten to the 12th grade.

A narrow gauge railway connects the city with Peso da Régua by the Douro River. The railroad going north to Chaves was discontinued in the nineteen eighties.

East-west connections are made with Porto and Bragança through the IP4 highway (A4 motorway from Amarante westward). North-south connections are made with Chaves and Viseu through the A24 (toll-free motorway).

Recently the town has undergone major improvements in urban renewal with funds from the Polis Program. A park with sports facilities and walking paths has been built along the river, and the main square where the town hall is located has been closed to traffic and decorated with colorful fountains. A municipal theater hall and a major shopping center, the largest in the region of Trás-os-Montes, were inaugurated in 2004.

Airport

Vila Real/Douro aerodrome(VRL){PVR})The aerodrome is small but has airline service with Aerocondor to Bragança (BGC) and Cascais (Tires/Cascais/Estoril/Lisbon Coast) (PCS).

Climate

In Vila Real in July 1949, a heat burst reportedly drove the air temperature from 38 °C (100 °F) to 70 °C (158 °F).

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.cm-vilareal.pt/ Municipality official website]
* [http://www.utad.pt/ University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro]
* [http://www.teatrodevilareal.com/ Vila Real Theatre]
* [http://www.exercito.pt/portal/exercito/_specific/public/allbrowsers/asp/acessibilidade/pag_inicial.asp?ueo_id=120 Infantry Regiment no. 13]
* [http://www.novidades.com/vila_real/ web directory]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/1617281/ Photos from Vila Real]