| Type: | municipality |
| Image Location: | LocalVianaDoCastelo.svg |
| Region: | Norte |
| Cim: | Alto Minho |
| District: | Viana do Castelo |
| Leader Name: | Luís Nobre |
| Leader Party: | PS |
| Coordinates: | 41.7°N -58°W |
| Elevation: | 12 |
| Elevation Min: | 0 |
| Elevation Max: | 825 |
| Area Total: | 319.02 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Total: | 85778 |
| Patron: | Nossa Senhora da Agonia |
| Postal Code: | 4900 |
| Area Code: | 258 |
Viana do Castelo (pronounced as /pt-PT/) is a municipality and seat of the district of Viana do Castelo in the Norte Region of Portugal. The population in 2021 was 85,778,[1] in an area of 319.02 km2.[2] The urbanized area of the municipality, comprising the city, has a population of approximately 36,148 inhabitants, although the extended densely populated region reaches surrounding municipalities like Caminha and Ponte de Lima with a population above 150,000 inhabitants. It is located at the mouth of the Lima river, on the Portuguese Way path, an alternative path of the Camino de Santiago.
Human settlement in the region of Viana began during the Mesolithic era, from discoveries and archaeological excavations. Even around the Roman occupation the area was settled along the Mount of Santa Luzia.
The settlement of Viana da Foz do Lima, which it was called when King Afonso III of Portugal issued a foral (charter) on 18 July 1258, was a formalization of the 1253 Viana that the area was named.
In the 16th century, its port gained great importance as one of the entry-points for Portuguese explorers and traders, involved in the Portuguese discoveries. Many of the historical buildings originated during this period, including the church and convent of São Domingos.[3]
The prosperity that continued developed from the town's role as a port, protected by defensive structures (such as the Tower of Roqueta) to repel pirates from Galicia and north Africa. The port's ties to northern Europe came primarily from exports of wine, fruits and salt, and imports of tile, textiles and glass.
During the 1600s, several religious institutions were created. The parish of Nossa Senhora de Monserrate (Our Lady of Monserrat) was founded in 1621 next to the old barracks named Batalhão de Caçadores 9.[4] [5] In 1627 a decision was taken to establish a monastery of the Order of Saint Augustine to St. Theotonius. The monastery was inaugurated in 1630, but construction work continued for several years.[6]
After the maritime discoveries and trade, the commercial life of Viana reached its greatest proportions during the reign of Queen Maria II of Portugal, when the monarch established the Associação Comercial de Viana do Castelo in 1852 (the fourth oldest public company of its type). The queen, in order to reward the loyalty of its citizens, who did not surrender to the Count of Antas, elevated the town to the status of city on 20 January 1848, renaming the settlement with its current name.
In 1878, the railway line Linha do Minho reached Viana do Castelo connecting it to Porto to the south. The railway crossed the Lima river on a new railway bridge, Ponte Eiffel, designed by Gustave Eiffel. In 1882, the line was completed, reaching the border with Spain to the north and Viana's railway station was completed. During the construction process, the monastery of the Order of Saint Augustine was demolished and much of its stonework was repurposed for viaducts and the station building.
In 1884, the veneration of Santa Luzia (St. Lucy) strengthened after a cavalry commander Luis de Andrade e Sousa founded the Confraternity of Santa Luzia. It was founded after his poor eyesight improved following two years visiting a chapel atop the mountain of Santa Luzia. The confraternity improved the state of the chapel and its accessibility.[7]
In 1904, construction started on the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, commonly referred to as the church or sanctuary of Santa Luzia, on top of the mountain of Santa Luzia. Construction on its exterior ended in 1943, but works continue on its interior until 1959. The cult in Viana do Castelo dates back to 1743, but it grew in popularity during a pandemic in 1918. In 1926, the chapel of Santa Luzia would be demolished and its image transferred to the sanctuary.[8]
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 27 civil parishes (freguesias):[9]
Viana do Castelo has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb; Thornthwaite: ArB’2a’)[10] with substantial oceanic influences characterized by warm, relatively dry summers and mild, rainy winters. It is also one of the rainiest cities in Continental Portugal.
Home to a modern service based economy, the city, along with its region, has a seaport with naval repairing facilities. Its major industries are related to naval construction and repair, with the Estaleiros da Viana do Castelo remaining one of the few large shipyards still in operation. Home to a large cluster of wind green electricity and car-parts industries it has become one of the most dynamic exporting regions in the country.
Since the early 1990s the city started a wide urban renewal plan, pioneering the "Polis program", and including enlarging the pedestrian areas, building new modern architecture and creating new public spaces and parks. Architects such as Siza Vieira, Eduardo Souto de Moura and Fernando Távora have participated in the construction of a modern, well preserved and lively city center.
In 2010, Viana do Castelo started to implement a project of rehabilitation of the city called Viana Criativa[11] which is based on an investigation made by Paulo Caldeira along 4 years. Such project has the main purpose to attract more residents to a city where, during the last 500 years, many people around the world arrived to trade. Once upon a time, Viana was the second center of commerce of Portugal and some investigators are now recognising that fado music was born based on the typical songs of Minho region.
SC Vianense is the local football club. Founded in 1898, it is one of the oldest clubs in Portugal. They play their home matches at the 3000 capacity Estádio do Dr. José de Matos.
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal.
Viana do Castelo is twinned with:[14]
Alagoas, Brazil Cabedelo, Brazil
Hendaye, France Igarassu, Brazil Itajaí, Brazil
Lugo, Spain
Matola, Mozambique Pessac, France Porto Seguro, Brazil
Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Riom, France Viana, Brazil