Angueira is a former

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of Parish (administrative division), administrative parish used for Local government in England, local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below district ...

in the municipality (''

concelho Concelho () is the Portuguese-language term for municipality, referring to the territorial subdivision in local government. In comparison, the word ''município'' () refers to the organs of State. This differentiation is still in use in Portugal ...

'') of

Vimioso Vimioso (, ) is a municipality in the district of Bragança in the northern part of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 4,669, in an area of 481.59 km². It is recognised as having a significant number of Mirandese speakers. In 1516, Vimi ...

, continental

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal: :* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...

. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Caçarelhos e Angueira. The population in 2011 was 116, in an area of 22.18 km².Eurostat
It is situated near the north-west corner of the district of Bragança.

History

Until 1853, Angueira was part of the extinct municipality of Outeiro. This early history is marked by a community of several chapels, the one to São Miguel, as legend suggests, was founded by a former general, who turned hermit (and was later buried at the door of the temple).

Geography

Angueira is located near the Portuguese frontier with Spain, in the northwest corner of the municipality of

, bordered in the north by the parishes of Avelanoso, west by Vale de Frades, south by Caçarelhos, and east by the municipality of

Miranda do Douro Miranda do Douro () or Miranda de l Douro in Mirandese () is a city and a municipality in the district of Bragança, northeastern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 7,482, in an area of 487.18 km². The town proper had a population of 1, ...

. The parish is connected with its neighbours by main roads that intersect in the village, and link it to São Joanico, Caçarelhos, Avelanoso and Spain, by the asphalted Três Marras roadway. Crossed by the river of the same name, the main settlement of Angueira is located in the centre of this parish, occupying a small portion in pasturelands and forests, on the right margin of the Angueira River, in a shallow valley. The river is Angueira's ex-libris central attraction, a meandering course that bisects the parish, yet attracts locals and tourists throughout the year.

Economy

A rural community, the residents are primarily involved in agricultural activities (supporting the raising of cattle, sheep and goats, owing to the rich pasturelands), although commercial businesses are located in the centre. Included in these activities is

apiculture Beekeeping (or apiculture) is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in man-made beehives. Honey bees in the genus ''Apis'' are the most-commonly-kept species but other honey-producing bees such as ''Melipona'' stingless bees are also kept. B ...

, fishing (mainly

threadfin Threadfins are silvery grey perciform fish of the family Polynemidae. Found in tropical to subtropical waters throughout the world, the threadfin family contains eight genera and about 40 species. An unrelated species sometimes known by the name ...

) and civil construction, in addition to hunting. The local ''Associação de Caçadores'' ( en, Huntsmen Association) has promoted hunting in this region; known for its natural ecosystem that supports rabbit, partridge and quail, the Association, has in the past helped stock species for game hunting. At one time the waters of the Angueira River were popular destinations for fisherman hoping to catch abundant

langoustine ''Nephrops norvegicus'', known variously as the Norway lobster, Dublin Bay prawn, ' (compare langostino) or ''scampi'', is a slim, orange-pink lobster which grows up to long, and is "the most important commercial crustacean in Europe". It is n ...

, principally from Spain.

Architecture

Civic

* Fountain of Pio ()

Religious

* Chapel of Santo Cristo () * Chapel of São Sebastião () * Chapel of São Miguel () * Church of São Cipriano () In addition to the religious architecture, Angueira still preserves examples of the

castro culture Castro culture ( gl, cultura castrexa, pt, cultura castreja, ast, cultura castriega, es, cultura castreña, meaning "culture of the hillforts") is the archaeological term for the material culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Pen ...

, which at one time supported the Moors, or pre-dates their period. In addition, springs, such as the ''Fonte Santa'', known for local healing properties or "miracles" that may have occurred from the fresh waters. The local government has gone so far as to requalify the area around Fonta Santa, in order to attract further eco-friendly investments in the area. Related to these changes has also been the attempted preservation of local grist mills; yet, issues associated with local property rights have made attempts for full conservation complicated.

Culture

Much like other villages in the Trás-os-Montas, Agueira is richly associated with festival, both religious and secular. Celebrations mark Christmas, the Epiphany,

Carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival ...

Easter Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samuel ...

and traditional ''Dia do folar'' (first Monday of Easter),

All Saints Day All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the church, whether they are kno ...

and summer festival.

References

{{authority control Former parishes of Portugal Freguesias of Vimioso