Murça
Encyclopedia
Murça (ˈmuɾsɐ) is a municipality in norhern Portugal
with a total area of 189.37 and a total population of 6,476 inhabitants. Situated in the central part of the eastern district of Vila Real
, and consigned to the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
region, the municipality of Murça occupies an are of approximately 189 km². The town of Murça, seat of the municipal government, is on average 40 kilometres from many of the major urban centres of the region. Murça's proximty to Vila Real and access to the IP4 motorway makes Murça potentially advantageous to development.
ic period, primarily due to the Porca de Murça (Pig of Murça), a celebrated monument to a wildboar (and presumably a Celtic divinty).
The first references to the region of Murça appeared in the Inquirições (inquiries/inventory) of King Afonso II
. Municipal autonomy became a reality in the 13th century, when King Sancho II
issued a foral
(charter) on 8 May 1224. This was later confirmed and elaborated by Afonso III
on 10 January 1268. Similar charters were elaborated on 18 April 1304 and 9 May 1512, by Kings Denis
and Manuel
, respectively.
During the Liberal Revolution (18th century) Murça five Counts were honoured by King John IV of Portugal
.
In the 20th century, an administrative commission was created on 2 January 1908, by the Partido Regenerador Liberal (Liberal Regenerator Party), to promote local politics, in order to realize the regions first elections. The Regenerator Party was successful in these early elections, resulting in the taking of office of Father João M. Ribalonga, who wold guide the administration of the municipality from 30 November 1908 until the 5 October 1910 Revolution
. The first republican municipal commission was elected on 19 March 1911.
During the Estado Novo
regime (1933-1974) the first municipal regalia, including coat-of-arms, flag and seal, were established, in addition to the changing of many road names.
After the Carnation Revolution
(25 April 1974), there was a great upheaval in local government, that forced a democratic structure and implemented many dynamic changes to financial and political laws.
Murça can be identified in terms of three subregions in the Trans-os-Montes: the Terra Quente (Hot Lands), the Terra Fria (Cold Lands) and the Zona de Montanha (Mountain Zone), with their own distinct natural, social and cultural characteristics. The are distinct contrasts in the villages and towns of Trás-os-Montes, with scolding hot summers and icy winters, in lands that are marked by granite mountain faces, schist walls and steep or shallow valleys.The green forests and granite rocks of the Serra da Garraia or Parque Florestal de Mascanho (Mascanho Forest Park) dominate the north portions of the municipality, as does the chestnut forest of Jou and Vilares. Between many of the mountains and plains are olive orchards, part of the Rota de Azeite (Olive Oil Route), and interspersed by wheat fields or almond trees in flower, or the vineyards of the Alto Douro.
The municipality is composed of 9 parishes, and is located in the district of Vila Real
.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
with a total area of 189.37 and a total population of 6,476 inhabitants. Situated in the central part of the eastern 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...
, and consigned to the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro is a historical province of Portugal located in the northeastern corner of the country. Vast plateaus, river valleys, mountains, and castles abound in Trás os Montes e Alto Douro....
region, the municipality of Murça occupies an are of approximately 189 km². The town of Murça, seat of the municipal government, is on average 40 kilometres from many of the major urban centres of the region. Murça's proximty to Vila Real and access to the IP4 motorway makes Murça potentially advantageous to development.
History
Although there are no clear references to the origin of this community, most suspect that it extends to CeltCelt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
ic period, primarily due to the Porca de Murça (Pig of Murça), a celebrated monument to a wildboar (and presumably a Celtic divinty).
The first references to the region of Murça appeared in the Inquirições (inquiries/inventory) of King Afonso II
Afonso II of Portugal
Afonso II , or Affonso , Alfonso or Alphonso or Alphonsus , nicknamed "the Fat" , third king of Portugal, was born in Coimbra on 23 April 1185 and died on 25 March 1223 in the same city. He was the second but eldest surviving son of Sancho I of Portugal by his wife, Dulce, Infanta of Aragon...
. Municipal autonomy became a reality in the 13th century, when King Sancho II
Sancho II of Portugal
Sancho II , nicknamed "the Pious" and "the Caped" or "the Capuched" , , fourth King of Portugal, was the eldest son of Afonso II of Portugal by his wife, Infanta Urraca of Castile...
issued a foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
(charter) on 8 May 1224. This was later confirmed and elaborated by Afonso III
Afonso III of Portugal
Afonso III , or Affonso , Alfonso or Alphonso or Alphonsus , the Bolognian , the fifth King of Portugal and the first to use the title King of Portugal and the Algarve, from 1249...
on 10 January 1268. Similar charters were elaborated on 18 April 1304 and 9 May 1512, by Kings Denis
Denis of Portugal
Dinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
and Manuel
Manuel of Portugal
-Kings:* Manuel I of Portugal , 14th King of Portugal* Manuel II of Portugal , 34th and last King of -Infante:* Infante Manuel, Count of Ourém , son of Peter II of Portugal...
, respectively.
During the Liberal Revolution (18th century) Murça five Counts were honoured by King John IV of Portugal
John IV of Portugal
|-|John IV was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to his death. He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown and sparked the struggle for the throne of Portugal. John was nicknamed John the Restorer...
.
In the 20th century, an administrative commission was created on 2 January 1908, by the Partido Regenerador Liberal (Liberal Regenerator Party), to promote local politics, in order to realize the regions first elections. The Regenerator Party was successful in these early elections, resulting in the taking of office of Father João M. Ribalonga, who wold guide the administration of the municipality from 30 November 1908 until the 5 October 1910 Revolution
5 October 1910 revolution
The revolution of 1910 was a republican coup d'état that occurred in Portugal on 5 October 1910, which deposed King Manuel II and established the Portuguese First Republic....
. The first republican municipal commission was elected on 19 March 1911.
During the Estado Novo
Estado Novo
There have been two regimes known as Estado Novo :*Estado Novo , the period from 1937 to 1945, under the leadership of Getúlio Vargas...
regime (1933-1974) the first municipal regalia, including coat-of-arms, flag and seal, were established, in addition to the changing of many road names.
After the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
(25 April 1974), there was a great upheaval in local government, that forced a democratic structure and implemented many dynamic changes to financial and political laws.
Geography
Murça can be identified in terms of three subregions in the Trans-os-Montes: the Terra Quente (Hot Lands), the Terra Fria (Cold Lands) and the Zona de Montanha (Mountain Zone), with their own distinct natural, social and cultural characteristics. The are distinct contrasts in the villages and towns of Trás-os-Montes, with scolding hot summers and icy winters, in lands that are marked by granite mountain faces, schist walls and steep or shallow valleys.The green forests and granite rocks of the Serra da Garraia or Parque Florestal de Mascanho (Mascanho Forest Park) dominate the north portions of the municipality, as does the chestnut forest of Jou and Vilares. Between many of the mountains and plains are olive orchards, part of the Rota de Azeite (Olive Oil Route), and interspersed by wheat fields or almond trees in flower, or the vineyards of the Alto Douro.
The municipality is composed of 9 parishes, and is located in the 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...
.
- Candedo
- Carva
- Fiolhoso
- Jou
- Murça
- Noura
- Palheiros
- Valongo de Milhais