Barcelos

Infobox Municipality pt
official_name = Barcelos
image_coat_of_arms = BCL.png

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Region = Norte
Subregion = Cávado
District = Braga
Mayor_name = Fernando Reis
Mayor_party = PSD
area_total = 378.9
population_total = 123,831
population_density = 327
Parishes = 89
coor = 41º32'N 8º37'W
params = 41_32_N_8_37_W
occasion = "Milagre das Cruzes" (Miracle of Crosses)
day = May 3
website = http://www.cm-barcelos.pt
footnotes =

Barcelos (pron. IPA2|bɐɾ'sɛluʃ) is a municipality located in the district of Braga, in the north of Portugal.

It has a total population of 123,831 and an area of 378.9 km². The city itself has a population of 20,625. [ [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)] With 89 parishes, it is the municipality with the highest number of parishes in the country.

The municipal holiday is May 3.

Parishes

General info

Barcelos is one of the growing municipalities in the country, especially in Minho metropolitan area and is well known by its textile and adobe industries.

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 legend says that a rich man made 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 cock and the pilgrim said: "If I am innocent, this cock will crow three times." When the pilgrim was about to be hanged the cock crowed. The judge release the pilgrim. The story ends a few years later when the pilgrim returned and made a statue over the event.

port

Barcelos is home to Gil Vicente FC (football (soccer)) and Óquei Clube de Barcelos (rink hockey).

Twin Cities

*flagicon|FRA Vierzon, France
*flagicon|ESP Pontevedra, Spain
*flagicon|CPV São Domingos, Cape Verde

References