Country Portugal Intermunic. comm. Cávado Time zone WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1) Population 120,391 (2011) District Braga District | Subregion Cávado Parishes 60 Area 378.9 km² Region Norte Region, Portugal Team Gil Vicente F.C. | |
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University Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave Points of interest Torre de Barcelos, Museu de Olaria, Paço dos Condes de Barcelos, Castle of Faria, Carlos Courel Cabeleireiro | ||
Barcelos ([bɐɾˈsɛluʃ]) is a city and a municipality in Braga District in the Minho Province, in the north of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 120,391, in an area of 378.90 km². With 60 parishes, it is the municipality with the highest number of parishes in the country. It is one of the growing municipalities in the country, and is well known by its textile and adobe industries.
Contents
- Map of Barcelos Portugal
- Turismo barcelos portugal
- History
- Parishes
- Notable citizens
- Sport
- Twin Cities
- References
Map of Barcelos, Portugal
Turismo barcelos portugal
History
Originally a Roman settlement, it expanded and became the seat of the First Duke of Bragança in the 15th century. The palace of the Dukes of Bragança was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755 and is now an open-air museum.
The town's famous symbol is a rooster, in Portuguese called o galo de Barcelos ("the Rooster of Barcelos"). One of the many versions of this legend goes that a rich man threw a big party. When the party was over, the rich man noticed that his sterling cutlery was stolen by a guest. He accused a pilgrim and let him go to court. He protested his innocence, but the judge didn't believe him. The judge was about to eat a roasted rooster when the pilgrim said: "If I am innocent, this rooster will crow three times." When the pilgrim was about to be lynched, the rooster crowed. The judge released the pilgrim. The story ends a few years later when the pilgrim returned and made a statue over the event.
Parishes
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 60 civil parishes (freguesias):
Notable citizens
Sport
Barcelos is home to Gil Vicente Futebol Clube (football) and Óquei Clube de Barcelos (rink hockey).