{Geobox|Region
| name = Norte
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Norte
| category = NUTS II Region
| native_category = Região
| image = Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Emblematic of the northern frontier region of Portugal, the
Peneda-Geres National ParkThe Peneda-Gerês National Park , also known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal...
{{Geobox|Region
| name = Norte
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Norte
| category = NUTS II Region
| native_category = Região
| image = Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Emblematic of the northern frontier region of Portugal, the
Peneda-Geres National ParkThe Peneda-Gerês National Park , also known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal...
{{Geobox|Region
| name = Norte
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Norte
| category = NUTS II Region
| native_category = Região
| image = Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Emblematic of the northern frontier region of Portugal, the
Peneda-Geres National ParkThe Peneda-Gerês National Park , also known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal...
{{Geobox|Region
| name = Norte
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Norte
| category = NUTS II Region
| native_category = Região
| image = Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Emblematic of the northern frontier region of Portugal, the
Peneda-Geres National ParkThe Peneda-Gerês National Park , also known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal...
{{Geobox|Region
| name = Norte
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Norte
| category = NUTS II Region
| native_category = Região
| image = Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Emblematic of the northern frontier region of Portugal, the
Peneda-Geres National ParkThe Peneda-Gerês National Park , also known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal...
| etymology =
norte,
PortuguesePortuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
for
north
| country =
Portugal
| state =
| region = Norte
| district =
| capital = Porto
| capital_lat_d = 41
| capital_lat_m = 8
| capital_lat_s = 59
| capital_lat_NS = N
| capital_long_d = 8
| capital_long_m = 36
| capital_long_s = 36
| capital_long_EW = W
| capital_elevation =
| part_type =
| part_count =
| part =
| part1 =
| city =
| city1 =
| municipality_type =
| municipality_count =
| area = 21278
| highest =
| highest location =
| highest_lat_d =
| highest_lat_m =
| highest_lat_s =
| highest_lat_NS =
| highest_long_d =
| highest_long_m =
| highest_long_s =
| highest_long_EW =
| highest_elevation =
| lowest = Sea level
| lowest_location = Atlantic Ocean
| lowest_lat_d =
| lowest_lat_m =
| lowest_lat_s =
| lowest_lat_NS =
| lowest_long_d =
| lowest_long_m =
| lowest_long_s =
| lowest_long_EW =
| lowest_elevation =
| population_as_of = 2011
| population = 3689173
| population_density = 173.38
| established_type =
| established =
| leader =
| timezone =
WETWestern European Time , defined legally as Greenwich Mean Time in the United Kingdom, is the time zone covering parts of western and northwestern Europe, and includes the following countries and regions:...
| utc_offset = +0
| timezone_DST = WEST
| utc_offset_DST = +1
| code_type = ISO
| code = PT
| code1_type = NUTS
| code1 = PT11
| free_type = GDP per capita (PPS)
| free = € 14,300
| free1_type =
| free1 =
| map = LocalRegiaoNorte.svg
| map_size = 235
| map_caption = Location of the Norte Region in context of the national borders
| map_locator =
| map_locator_x =
| map_locator_y =
| website =
| footnotes = Statistics from
INEThe Instituto Nacional de Estatística is the National Statistical Institute of Portugal. Its headquarters are located in Lisbon. It also calls itself Statistics Portugal in English. The first census in Portugal was carried out in 1864...
(2005); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010)
}}
Norte ({{lang-pt|Região Norte}}, ʁɨʒiˈɐ̃w ˈnɔɾt(ɨ); "North Region") is a region in the northern part of
PortugalPortugal , 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...
. It is a land of dense vegetation and profound historic and cultural wealth. Its capital is the city of
PortoPorto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
. The region has 3,689,173 inhabitants according to the 2011 census, and its area is 21,278 km² (density of 173 inhabitants per square kilometre). It is one of five regions of Mainland Portugal (
NUTSThe Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics or Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics is a geocode standard for referencing the subdivisions of countries for statistical purposes...
II subdivisions). The Norte is a culturally varied region, thus historical rivalry between different neighbouring cities and towns are very common, although with a strong common
PortuguesePortugal , 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...
identity, but unlike other Portuguese regions where every city and town are culturally very similar.
History and culture
The region has been inhabited since prehistoric times and is a key area for the understanding of both
Atlantic EuropeanAtlantic Europe is a geographical and anthropological term for the western portion of Europe which borders the Atlantic Ocean. The term may refer to the idea of Atlantic Europe as a cultural unit and/or as an biogeographical region....
MegalithicA megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
and
CastroCastro 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...
Cultures. Historically, Northern Portugal had been the southern realm of Galicia (see
GallaeciaGallaecia or Callaecia, also known as Hispania Gallaecia, was the name of a Roman province and an early Mediaeval kingdom that comprised a territory in the north-west of Hispania...
), which up to the 12th century formed part of the combined
Kingdom of GaliciaThe Kingdom of Galicia was a political entity located in southwestern Europe, which at its territorial zenith occupied the entire northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Founded by Suebic king Hermeric in the year 409, the Galician capital was established in Braga, being the first kingdom which...
and
LeónThe Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
, being this southern area known as the
County of PortugalThe County of Portugal was the region around Braga and Porto, today corresponding to littoral northern Portugal, from the late ninth to the early twelfth century, during which it was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León.-History:...
. It was in the County of Portugal where Portugal's first king,
Dom Afonso HenriquesAfonso I or Dom Afonso Henriques , more commonly known as Afonso Henriques , nicknamed "the Conqueror" , "the Founder" or "the Great" by the Portuguese, and El-Bortukali and Ibn-Arrik by the Moors whom he fought, was the first King of Portugal...
, was born in the beginning of the 12th century. The Kingdom of Galicia at the time of the
Swabian DynastyThe Suebic Kingdom of Galicia was the first independent barbarian Christian kingdom of Western Europe and the first to separate from the Roman Empire, as well as the first one to mint coins. Based in Gallaecia, it was established in 410 and lasted as independent state until 584, after a century of...
(5th-6th C AD) had its capital in the now northern-Portuguese city of
BragaBraga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
. The original
Galician-PortugueseGalician-Portuguese or Old Portuguese was a West Iberian Romance language spoken in the Middle Ages, in the northwest area of the Iberian Peninsula. It was first spoken in the area bounded in the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean and the Douro River in the south but it was later extended south...
language was developed in the Galicia/North-Portugal area, taken down south as the
Portuguese KingdomThe Kingdom of Portugal was Portugal's general designation under the monarchy. The kingdom was located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Europe and existed from 1139 to 1910...
expanded, namely after Afonso Henriques era.
The region has a number of manor-houses and castles featuring coats of arms as an indication of a very intense medieval period. Regional cuisine is renowned and varied offering products such as light wines (
vinhos verdes) and rich wines, and a variety of handicrafts that mingles the shine of filigree with the colour of the local embroideries. Northern Portugal is also very rich in folklore and traditions dating back to antiquity.
Galicia and Northern Portugal have been promoting the official candidacy for the recognition of the common "intangible heritage" by
UNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. The project is backed by the
Galician GovernmentThe Xunta de Galicia is the collective decision-making body of the government of the autonomous community of Galicia, composed of the President, the Vice-President and the specialized ministers ....
, a number of Galician institutions and associations, together with local and regional governments and institutions in Northern Portugal. The official name is "
Candidatura de Património Imaterial Galego-Português".
Geography
The country's longest motorway (A1, from
LisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
to
PortoPorto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
) goes up to
BragaBraga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
(A3), in the heart of
Costa VerdeCosta Verde is a touristic region in northwest Portugal. Some cities and towns: Porto, Espinho, Caminha, Ofir - Fão, Esposende, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, Praia da Granja, Miramar, Aguda, Vila Nova de Gaia, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Barcelos, Guimarães, Ponte de Lima, Maia, Geres and Moledo...
. Following the coastline on the road from
Vila do Conde to
ValençaValença is a city in Valença Municipality, Portugal. It is a half-castle and half-land city. Bordering Galicia, Valença is also a famous Portuguese landmark to view an ancient castle town. These two parts of this city are not separated from each other and is also near to Viana Do Castelo....
, there are beaches, seaside resorts and pictoresque villages such as
CaminhaCaminha is a municipality in the north-west of Portugal, 21 km north from Viana do Castelo, located in the Viana do Castelo District.The municipality has a total area of 137.4 km² and 16,839 inhabitants ....
and
Vila Nova de CerveiraVila Nova de Cerveira is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 108.6 km² and a total population of 8,752 inhabitants .The municipality is composed of 15 parishes and is located in the district of Viana do Castelo....
. There are also scenic natural parks and mountain ranges, such as the
Peneda-Gerês National ParkThe Peneda-Gerês National Park , also known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal...
, the
Montesinho Natural ParkThe Montesinho Natural Park is a protected area located in the municipalities of Vinhais and Bragança, northeastern Portugal. Sections of the southern slopes of the Serra da Coroa fall within the park....
, the
Alvão Natural ParkThe Alvão Natural Park is a protected area located in the municipalities of Mondim de Basto and Vila Real, in northern Portugal. It was created in 1983 and extends through 70 km² of mountainous land.-External links:* at the ICNB website...
and two World Heritage Sites: the Alto Douro Wine Region and the Prehistoric
Rock-ArtRock art is a term used in archaeology for any human-made markings made on natural stone. They can be divided into:*Petroglyphs - carvings into stone surfaces*Pictographs - rock and cave paintings...
Sites in the Côa Valley. Throughout the region the rivers, waterfalls, vineyards and fertile plots combine with the ancestral monuments in urban centres.
Subregions
- 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...
- Ave
- Cávado
- Douro
- Entre Douro e Vouga
Entre Douro e Vouga is a NUTS3 Portuguese subregion integrated in the NUTS2 Norte Region, part of Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto. Its name stands for the fact that it covers an area between the Douro River and Vouga River. It is bordered in the north by Grande Porto Subregion and Tâmega...
- Grande Porto
Grande Porto or Greater Porto is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion, integrating the NUTS2 region of Norte, in Portugal.It corresponds to 11 municipalities out of 16, the other 5 in Entre Douro e Vouga Subregion that constitute the larger Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto, centered in the city of Porto....
- Minho-Lima
Minho-Lima is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion, belonging to Norte Region, between the Minho River and Lima River in the northern part of Portugal. It corresponds to the historical region of Alto Minho and is centered around its main city – Viana do Castelo...
- Tâmega
Economy
Norte is highly industrialized within its densely populated western half, where well developed subregions such as
AveAve is a subregion integrated in the larger Norte Region, Portugal. Is bordered to the north by Cávado Subregion, to the east and south by Tâmega Subregion and to the west by Grande Porto Subregion. It is a densely populated subregion and one of the more industrialized in the country...
,
CávadoCávado is a subregion that is integrated in the Portuguese region of Norte. It has 6 municipalities or Concelhos and is centered in the city of Braga . With an area of 1,243 km² and a population of 404,681 inhabitants, it is one of the most densely populated subregions of Portugal...
,
Entre Douro e VougaEntre Douro e Vouga is a NUTS3 Portuguese subregion integrated in the NUTS2 Norte Region, part of Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto. Its name stands for the fact that it covers an area between the Douro River and Vouga River. It is bordered in the north by Grande Porto Subregion and Tâmega...
,
Grande PortoGrande Porto or Greater Porto is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion, integrating the NUTS2 region of Norte, in Portugal.It corresponds to 11 municipalities out of 16, the other 5 in Entre Douro e Vouga Subregion that constitute the larger Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto, centered in the city of Porto....
, and
TâmegaTâmega Subregion is a NUTS3 subregion and is part of the NUTS2 region of Norte Region, Portugal. Its name derives from the Tâmega River that crosses through the subregion. With 558,000 inhabitants it is the fourth most populated subregion in Portugal. It has several important urban centers -...
have a notable business activity and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Textiles,
footwearFootwear consists of garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment, and adornment. Being barefoot is commonly associated with poverty, but some cultures chose not to wear footwear at least in some situations....
,
food processingFood processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by humans or animals either in the home or by the food processing industry...
,
mechanicalA machine manages power to accomplish a task, examples include, a mechanical system, a computing system, an electronic system, and a molecular machine. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work...
, electrical,
electronicsElectronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
and chemical industries, as well as
finance"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
and
constructionIn the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
, are some of the main economic activities. However, the region Norte is the poorest of the
7 NUTS II regions of PortugalAdministratively, Portugal is a unitary and decentralized State. Nonetheless, operationally, it is highly centralized system with administrative divisions organized into three tiers. The State is organized under the principles of subsidiarity, local government autonomy, and democratic...
, with a GDP per capita of 12,648
euroThe euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s or 58.8% of the
European UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
average. It is also the Portuguese NUTS II region with the highest
unemploymentUnemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
rate (9.5% as of 2007).
http://diarioeconomico.sapo.pt/edicion/diarioeconomico/nacional/economia/pt/desarrollo/1009999.html Northern Portuguese authorities have intensely promoted tourism as a means to attract external investment and further incomes in rural areas.
North Portugal and Galicia form a
EuroregionIn European politics, the term Euroregion usually refers to a transnational co-operation structure between two contiguous territories located in different European countries. Euroregions represent a specific type of cross-border region.-Scope:...
, based on the common historical, cultural, linguistic and economic similarities. The Euroregion has its origins in the
Galicia-North Portugal Work Community, established in 1991. This Euroregion is also backed by the so-called
Eixo Atlântico ("Atlantic Axis"), a
lobbyLobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
of Galician and North Portuguese cities and municipalities.