Arcas (Macedo de Cavaleiros)
| Arcas | |
| Civil Parish (Freguesia) | |
| Official name: Freguesia das Arcas | |
| Country |  Portugal |
|---|---|
| Region | Norte |
| Subregion | Alto Trás-os-Montes |
| District | Vila Real |
| Municipality | Macedo de Cavaleiros |
| Localities | Morgão, Nozelos |
| Center | Arcas |
| - elevation | 433 m (1,421 ft) |
| - coordinates | 41°38′25″N 7°3′10″W / 41.64028°N 7.05278°W |
| Lowest point | Arcas |
| - location | Macedo de Cavaleiros |
| Length | 9.29 km (6 mi), Northwest-Southeast |
| Width | 5.08 km (3 mi), Southwest-Northeast |
| Area | 23.02 km2 (9 sq mi) |
| Population | 389 (2001) |
| Density | 16.9 / km2 (44 / sq mi) |
| LAU | Freguesia/Junta Freguesia |
| - location | EM 535, Arcas, Macedo de Cavaleiros |
| President Junta | Artur do Nascimento Vasco Parreira |
| President Assembleia | Carlos Alberto Ferreira |
| Timezone | WET (UTC0) |
| - summer (DST) | WEST (UTC+1) |
| ISO 3166-2 code | PT- |
| Postal Zone | 5340-031 Arcas |
| Area Code & Prefix | (+351) 278 XXX XXX |
| Demonym | Macedense |
| Parish Address | EM 535 5340-031 Arcas |
| Website: http://arcas.jfreguesia.com/ | |
| Statistics from INE (2001); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010) | |
Arcas is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros in the northeast corner of Portugal. In 2001, its population included 389 inhabitants, spread-out over an area of 23.02 km² (there were approximately 17 inhabitants per square kilometre).
Contents |
[edit] History
Little is known as to the parishes founding, although its toponomic name may refer to the existence of megalithic funerary monuments located within its territory.[1] Legend suggests that these funerary structures existed on the site that the current church dedicated to the Divino Senhor dos Passos.[1]
Its geographic isolation, due to its high relief, morphological obstacles and extreme climate was always a factor that prevented large human settlements.[1] Regardless, the territory came under Roman occupation, which imposed a modernizing trend on to the Celto-iberian tribes that forged in the region.[1]
With the influence of feudal nobility, such as Bragançãos, the jurisdiction was slowly populated.[1] In 1284, a foral was bestowed on Nozelos by King Denis.[1]
[edit] Geography
Arcas, parish of the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros, in the old district of Bragança, is situated on a fertile valley near the Serra de Bornes.
It is constituted by two settlements (Nozelos and Morgão), and surrounded by the neighbouring parishes of Vilarinho de Agrochão, Murçós, Ferreira, Corujas, Ala and Vilarinho do Monte.
The community has two schools that provide primary education.
[edit] Economy
The primary sector dominates the economic activities of its inhabitants, dominated by subsistence agriculture. This includes primarily fruit orchards (cherry, grape, figs), olive trees and vineyards, in addition to cattle herding for milk and/or meat. Cork is also exploited. The secondary sector is related to these essential industries, including the production of olive oil, but also include iron and aluminium metallurgy. Commercial activities are limited to a store and market.
[edit] Notable citizens
- Manuel de Almeida Pessanha (20 August 1825 - 15 January 1871), a politician, Civil Governor of Bragança (in 1858), and Peer-of-the-Realm (in 1863);
- João Manuel de Almeida Morais Pessanha (3 February 1843 - 22 June 1905), priest, military chaplain, and Knight of the Order of Aviz;
- Francisco de Assis Pereira do Lago, Viscount of Arcas (8 January 1844 - 4 February 1914), politician and Civil Governor of Bragança (in 1886)
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Junta Freguesia, ed (2011). "História" (in Portuguese). Arcas (Macedo de Cavaleiros), Portugal: Junta de Freguesia das Arcas. http://arcas.jfreguesia.com/historia.php. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
