Amarante () is a municipality and municipal seat in the Tâmega e Sousa subregion in northern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 56,264,Instituto Nacional de Estatística
/ref> in an area of . The city itself had a population of 11,261 in 2001. The city has been part of the

UNESCO Creative Cities Network The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a project of UNESCO launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities which recognized creativity as a major factor in their urban development.City of Music since 2017.

History

Amarante's origin dates to the primitive peoples that hunted and gathered in the ''Serra da Aboboreira'', sometime during the Stone Age, and extended during the Bronze Age and later the Romanization of the Iberian peninsula. The first prominent building erected during the area of Amarante was likely the ''Albergaria do Covelo do Tâmega'' sometime in the 12th century, by order of Queen D. Mafalda, wife of D. Afonso Henriques. These types of shelter were constructed in small settlements and were used by travellers, especially the poor who transited the territory. Permanent settles fixed themselves around the local churches, such as the Church of São Veríssimo and Church of Lufrei, resulting in growth during the intervening years. The urban agglomeration of Amarante became important and gained visibility with the arrival of Gonçalo (1187-1259) a Dominican friar who was born in Tagilde (Guimarães), who settled in the area following a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalém. He was instrumental in the development of the region, with many local structures attributed to his efforts, including the construction of the stone bridge across the

Tâmega River Tâmega may refer to: * Tâmega River, in Spain and Portugal * Tâmega Subregion Tâmega Subregion () is a former NUTS3 subregion, part of the NUTS2 region of Norte Region, Portugal. It was abolished at the January 2015 NUTS 3 revision. ...

. Following his death, Amarante became the destination of pilgrimages and grew substantially. In the 16th century, King D. John III expanded the local church and resulting in its conversion into a large Dominican monastery. The bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1763 and was rebuilt. In the second French invasion, during the Peninsular War, French forces commanded by Marshall Soult, found themselves at the bridge over the Tâmega, and needed to secure their connection to Spain, while advancing from Porto to Marco de Canaveses through Amarante. Soult, realizing that Beresford's Portuguese and English forces were advancing on him, sent a column to the Tâmega valley, in order to prepare the way for a new column. Under the column, commanded by Loison, through looting, skirmishes and unsuccessful attempts to cross the river, entered in Amarante on 18 April 1809, having looted and burned down the villages of Vila Meã, Manhufe and Pidre. In the village they continue to loot and burn down buildings, except for larger family residences, which were left intact and destined to function as the French headquarters and field hospitals. There are still vestiges of these events, including those in the Estate of Magalhães, the facade of the Church of São Gonçalo, the perforated tiles in the sacristy and the damaged pyramids on the bridge. The bridge was also significant to the resistance in the northern campaign. Loison did not count on the entrenched conflict between his forces and the Anglo-Portuguese forces, commanded by Brigadier Silveira. These forces, which included badly-equipped, inexperienced citizens and clergy, were able to resist for the next 14 days, impeding the passage of Napoleonic forces, later known as the ''heroic defense of the bridge of Amarante''. The circlement of the bridge ended on 2 May, around 3:00, following a diversionary manoeuvre by French forces that diverted a small pocket of Portuguese stationed at Eira do Paço, who believed the French would attempt to across by Morleiros. Taking advantage of the fog, the French placed gunpowder near the Portuguese trenches along the bridge, then detonated the explosives. These created confusion and panic among the defenders and caused death and injury in their ranks. Loison then continued his journey, until he was forced to withdrew in the upper Douro by Brigadier Silveira's forces, who he had reorganized, during Napoleon's northern march to the city of Lisbon. For his efforts, Silveira was given a cavalry command, owing to his defense of the bridge, and attributed the title of Count of Amarante and elevated to the status of General. The town was also awarded the Order of the Tower and Sword, which it displays on its coats-of-arms. The municipality of Amarante, administratively, was part of the

Minho Province Minho () was a former province in Portugal, established in 1936 and dissolved in 1976. It consisted of 23 municipalities, with its capital in the city of Braga. Today, the area would include the districts of Braga and Viana do Castelo. Minho has ...

, and abutted the municipalities of Celorico de Basto (to the north), Gestaço (in the east), Gouveia (in the south) and Santa Cruz de Riba Tâmega (in the west). With administrative reforms during the 19th century, the municipalities of Gouveia, Gestaço and Santa Cruz de Ribatâmega were extinguished, and many of the local parishes were absorbed into the Amarante.

Geography

Amarante is situated in the agricultural lands of the Minho region, and belongs to the Porto district, region Norte and sub-region Támega. The

runs through the town and is crossed by a large arched bridge, the Ponte São Gonçalo. It is reputed to have helped local forces fend off a French attack in the early 19th century. Nowadays the older centre of town is dominated by a multitude of cafés and restaurants dotted along the steep banks of the southern side of the

. Amarante is also associated with the tale of Saint Gonzalo/Gonçalo de Amarante.

Climate

Parishes

Pt amarante Canadelo CovelodoMonte BD166C

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 26

civil parishes In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority. ...

: * Aboadela, Sanche e Várzea * Amarante (São Gonçalo), Madalena, Cepelos e Gatão * Ansiães * Bustelo, Carneiro e Carvalho de Rei * Candemil * Figueiró (Santiago e Santa Cristina) * Fregim * Freixo de Cima e de Baixo * Fridão * Gondar * Jazente * Lomba * Louredo * Lufrei * Mancelos * Olo e Canadelo * Padronelo * Real, Ataíde e Oliveira * Rebordelo * Salvador do Monte * São Simão de Gouveia * Telões * Travanca * Vila Caiz * Vila Chã do Marão * Vila Garcia, Aboim e Chapa

International Relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Horta is twinned with: * Wiesloch, Germany *

Châteauneuf-sur-Loire Châteauneuf-sur-Loire () is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas r ...

, France * Achères, France

Economy

On the abandoned Tâmega railway line between Amarante and Chapa Stations, the Council of Amarante built the ˝Ecopista˝ pathway for bicycles and pedestrians. The Tâmega Line Ecotrack is long and wide, running very close to the Támega River. The Amarante Golf Course, designed by Portuguese architect Jorge Santana da Silva, lies in Quinta da Deveza and was founded in 1997. It is an 18-hole, par 68 course with a total length of 5.030 metres. It is located in the Fregim parish, around from the town of Amarante. Amarante lies around half a kilometre from the A4 Motorway. There is also a bus station, served principally by Rodonorte, to the south of the Támega river. Between 1909 and 2009 Amarante was served by a narrow gauge railway line, which connected with the main Douro Valley railway line at Livraçao. Amarante station and the entire

Tâmega line The Tâmega line ''(Linha do Tâmega)'' was a railway line in northern Portugal. It closely followed the course of the Tâmega River. It closed in 2009. History The southern part of the line opened in 1909; it ran between Livração (the junct ...

closed in 2009.

Architecture

The architecture of the Amarante region is mainly in the Romanesque style, with a number of Romanesque monuments (colonnades, arches, tympana and columns) throughout the region. They were built in deserted areas or on crossroads on the outskirts of inhabited areas, serving as meeting places, accommodation and defensive positions. Amarante became part of the Sousa Valley Romanesque Route (Rota do Românico) project on the 12 March 2010. Important religious buildings can be found to the north of the Tâmega, and include the Travanca monastery, the Mancelos church, the Telões church, the Freixo de Baixo monastery and the Gatão church. On the southern side of the river, can be found the Jazente church, the Lufrei church and the Gondar monastery which are in a more modest style. * Church of Salvador ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Real/Igreja do Salvador/Igreja Velha) * Church of Santa Maria ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Jazente/Igreja de Santa Maria) * Church of São João Baptista ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Gatão/Igreja de São João Baptista) * Convent of São Gonçalo de Amarante ( pt, Convento de São Gonçalo de Amarante/Câmara Municipal de Amarante/Museu Municipal Amadeo de Souza Cardoso) * Monastery of Divino Salvador ( pt, Mosteiro do Divino Salvador/Igreja Paroquial de Freixo de Baixo/Igreja do Divino Salvador) * Monastery of Gondar ( pt, Mosteiro de Gondar/Igreja de Santa Maria/Igreja Velha) * Monastery of Lufrei ( pt, Mosteiro de Lufrei/Igreja Paroquial de Lufrei/Igreja do Divino Salvador) * Monastery of Mancelos ( pt, Mosteiro de Mancelos/Igreja Paroquial de Mancelos/Igreja de São Martinho) * Monastery of Telões ( pt, Mosteiro de Telões/Igreja Paroquial de Telões/Igreja de Santo André) * Monastery of São Salvador de Travanca ( pt, Mosteiro de São Salvador de Travanca/Igreja Paroquial de Travanca/Igreja do Divino Salvador)

Notable citizens

Gundisalvus of Amarante Gundisalvus of Amarante ( pt, Gonçalo de Amarante; 1187 - 10 January 1259) was a Portuguese Catholic priest and a professed member from the Order of Preachers. He became a Dominican friar and hermit after his return from a long pilgrimage that ...

(1187 in Vizela - 1259 in Amarante), Roman Catholic priest and member of the Order of Preachers. He was canonized in 1560, and beatified in 1561 *

Diogo Veloso Diogo Veloso, or Diego Belloso in the Spanish historical accounts, (1558, Amarante, Portugal – 1599, Cambodia) was a Portuguese adventurer active in Southeast Asia in the last quarter of 16th century, acting sometimes in the service of the Spani ...

(1558-1599) a Portuguese adventurer active in Southeast Asia * José Guedes de Carvalho e Meneses (1814–1879) a Portuguese colonial administrator, governor general of

Cape Verde , national_anthem = () , official_languages = Portuguese , national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole , capital = Praia , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , demonym ...

& Mozambique * António Carneiro (1872–1930) a Portuguese painter, illustrator, poet and art professor. * Joaquim Pereira Teixeira de Vasconcelos (1877 in Amarante - 1952), a poet, pen name ''Teixeira de Pascoaes''. He was nominated five times for the Nobel Prize in Literature. * Artur Carlos de Barros Basto (1887–1961), soldier and writer about Judaism. *

Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso (14 November 1887 – 25 October 1918) was a Portuguese painter. Belonging to the first generation of Portuguese modernist painters, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso stands out among all of them for the exceptional quality of h ...

(1887–1918) a Portuguese modernist painter * Augusto Casimiro (1889–1967) a Portuguese journalist, poet and political commentator. * Agustina Bessa-Luís, (1922–2019) a Portuguese writer of novels *

António Marinho e Pinto António de Sousa Marinho e Pinto (born 10 September 1950, in Vila Chã do Marão, Amarante) is a Portuguese lawyer and former journalist. He was president of the Portuguese Bar Association from 2008 to 2013 and is well known for his controvers ...

(born 1950 in Vila Chã do Marão) lawyer, journalist and politician * Francisco Assis (born 1965) a Portuguese politician, former MEP & mayor of Amarante

Sport

* Mário Delgado (born 1924) an equestrian competed at the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...

* António José Alves Ribeiro (born 1965), known as ''Tozé'', is a Portuguese retired footballer with 330 club caps *

Nuno Gomes Nuno Miguel Soares Pereira Ribeiro (born 5 July 1976), known as Nuno Gomes, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a striker. He was given the nickname ''Gomes'' during childhood after Fernando Gomes, and was regarded ...

(born 1976) a former footballer with 463 club caps and 79 for Portugal * Ricardo Carvalho (born 1978) a retired footballer with 433 club caps and 89 for Portugal

References

External links

Official websitePhotos from AMARANTERota do Românico
{{Authority control Towns in Portugal Municipalities of Porto District Populated places in Porto District