Covas do Barroso
Encyclopedia
Covas do Barroso is a civil parish 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.
, 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.
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 .
The settlement of this territory corresponds with the ancient castros
discovered in this area. In many of these castros discoveries of archaeological artefacts have been common, including Byzantine
coins, from the era of Emperor Ducas.
Apart from archaeological proofs, the documented references refer to the existence of Covas do Barroso after the 12th century. Covas do Barroso was part of the municipality of Montalegre, until 6 November 1836, when the neighbouring municipality of Boticas was established. 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.
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).
Similarly, full electric light and electricity only arrived in 1966, owing to the installation of a generator in Aguieira.
.
Municipalities of Portugal
In Portugal, municipality or concelho is the most stable subdivision of Portugal since the foundation of the country.Portugal has an entirely separate system of cities and towns. Cities and towns are located in municipalities, but often do not have the same boundaries, even if built-up is continuous...
of Boticas
Boticas
Boticas is a municipality in northern Portugal with a total area of 321.96 km² and population of approximately 6116 inhabitants .-History:...
, in the old district of Vila Real
Vila Real (district)
The District of Vila Real is a district of northern Portugal. With an area of 4,239 km², the district is located west of the port city of Porto and north of the Douro River. Vila Real has always belonged to the historical province of Tras-os-Montes. Approximate population in the 2001...
. Located in the northern subregion of Alto Trás-os-Montes
Alto Trás-os-Montes
Alto Trás-os-Montes often regered as Nordeste Transmontano is one of the largest Portuguese NUTS-level 3 subregion integrated in the Norte Region...
, 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 AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, 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.
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 .
The settlement of this territory corresponds with the ancient castros
Castro culture
Castro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
discovered in this area. In many of these castros discoveries of archaeological artefacts have been common, including Byzantine
Byzantium
Byzantium was an ancient Greek city, founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas . The name Byzantium is a Latinization of the original name Byzantion...
coins, from the era of Emperor Ducas.
Apart from archaeological proofs, the documented references refer to the existence of Covas do Barroso after the 12th century. Covas do Barroso was part of the municipality of Montalegre, until 6 November 1836, when the neighbouring municipality of Boticas was established. During this creation, Covas do Barroso passed into the administration of the latter, while judicially it was integrated into the Comarca
Comarca
A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...
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
Ribeira de Pena
Ribeira de Pena is a municipality in the Vila Real District, in Norte Region in Portugal. The municipality has a total area of 217.5 km² and a total population of 7,251 inhabitants....
created conflict within its citizenry.
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
Portuguese real
The real was the unit of currency of Portugal from around 1430 until 1911. It replaced the dinheiro at the rate of 1 real = 840 dinheiros and was itself replaced by the escudo at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 réis...
annually).
Similarly, full electric light and electricity only arrived in 1966, owing to the installation of a generator in Aguieira.
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 CanedoCanedo
Canedo may refer to places in Portugal:* Canedo , a civil parish in the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira* Canedo , a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeira de Pena...
.