Barcelos | |
|---|---|
   .jpg)  Top: The entrance to the city of Barcelos coming from the parish ofBarcelinhos; middle:Igreja Matriz de Barcelos; City Hall and statue of BishopAntónio Barroso; bottom: The medieval tower; Tower view of the Church of Bom Jesus da Cruz and the gardens | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Interactive map of Barcelos | |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Region | Norte |
| Intermunic. comm. | Cávado |
| District | Braga |
| Parishes | 60 |
| Government | |
| • President | Mário Constantino Lopes (PSD) |
| Area | |
• Total | 378.90 km2 (146.29 sq mi) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 116,959 |
| • Density | 308.68/km2 (799.48/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) |
| Website | https://www.cm-barcelos.pt |
Barcelos (Portuguese pronunciation:[bɐɾˈsɛluʃ]ⓘ) is a city and a municipality inBraga District in theMinho Province, in the north ofPortugal. The city of Barcelos had 26,042 inhabitants in 2021, while the municipality had 116,959 inhabitants in 2024 across an area of 378.90 square kilometres (146.29 mi2).[1][2] With 61 parishes, it is the municipality with the highest number of parishes in the country. Barcelos lies on thePortuguese Way, a Christian pilgrimage route connecting to theCamino de Santiago.
It is known for theRooster of Barcelos and for its textile andadobe industries, as well as its horseback riding events and "figurado" style of pottery, which are comical figurines with accentuated features of farmers, folk musicians, and nativity scene characters. Barcelos is part of theUNESCO Creative Cities Network as a Crafts and Folk Art City.[3]
The area of present-day Barcelos municipality shows evidence of human occupation since prehistoric times.[4] Findings from this period include a hillfort (castro) from at least theIron Age, located on Saia mountain, in the parish ofCarvalhas. Rock carvings have been found at this site, including a depiction of aswastica, a rare finding in Portugal, and circular and hook shaped drawings.[5]
During theRoman period, avilla was established in the area ofVila Cova, likely used for agricultural production. This marked a transition in the population centers from the hilltops towards the lower fertile lands. Ceramic findings indicate that this locality was likely continuously inhabited habitation, even after the conquest of the area by theSuebi and theVisigoths.[6]
The site of the medieval town of Barcelos does not appear to have been settled before the foundation of Portugal in the 12th century. Its location was significant as a crossing point on the route from Porto toPonte de Lima andViana do Castelo, and it became an important stop for pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela.Afonso I granted Barcelos a royal charter (foral) between 1156 and 1169 and by 1177 the town already housed aleper hospital outside the walls, making it one of the earliest such institutions in Portugal.[4]
In the 1258Inquirições, it is mentioned that 78 households lived in the town and couto of Barcelos. Then, the town was organized around a central core with its church and butcheries, surrounded by suburban neighbourhoods such as Cimo de Vila and Fundo da Vila. The main thoroughfare, corresponding roughly to the modern Rua António Barroso, linked the southern river crossing with the northern road. In 1298 King Denis created the title ofCount of Barcelos, granting the town and surrounding lands toJoão Afonso Telo.[4]
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The town’s development accelerated with the construction of theBarcelos Bridge over theCávado River, commissioned byCount Pedro Afonso and built between 1325 and 1328. TheGothic bridge greatly facilitated communication between Barcelos andBarcelinhos and reinforced the town's role as a regional commercial hub. Around the same period, Count Pedro ordered the enlargement of the parish church, today’sIgreja Matriz de Barcelos.[4]
The 14th century also saw the establishment of aJewish community in Barcelos. The first reference dates from 1369, and by the late 15th century about twenty Jewish families lived in the town, with asynagogue and a distinct Jewish quarter. Followingthe decree of 1497 issued by Manuel I, Barcelos’s Jews were forced to convert, becomingNew Christians.[4]
The town further expanded during the 15th century, under the influence ofCount Afonso, the firstDuke of Bragança. He ordered the construction of the Palace of the Counts of Barcelos shortly after his marriage in 1401 to the daughter of ConstableNuno Álvares Pereira. In 1425, the town was enclosed by defensive walls, including defensive towers. Other works of this period included the pillory and the enlargement of the parish church, which was elevated to collegiate status in 1464. Surviving references indicate that in this century most of Barcelos' houses were roofed and one or two stories high, although some rare three-story buildings are also recorded, such as the Solar dos Pinheiros.[4]
King Manuel I granted Barcelos a new royal charter in 1515. Around the same time, the town expanded beyond the medieval walls. This growth was linked to the Miracle of the Holy Cross in 1504, when a cross was said to have appeared in the fairground. A chapel was soon erected on the site, and in 1505 a local merchant donated an image of Christ brought fromFlanders.[4]
In the 18th century, Barcelos benefited from wealth returning fromBrazil, which financed the construction of manor houses. In addition, several religious buildings were built, such as the Igreja do Senhor da Cruz, the Monastery of Terço, and the Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco. The Campo da Feira, increasingly surrounded by substantial buildings, became a central space for commerce and religious festivities.[4] In 1755,an earthquaque felt across Portugal caused part of the town's walls to collapse.[4][7]
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The 19th century brought significant changes to Barcelos and Portugal, following thePeninsular War and theLiberal Wars. Thedissolution of monasteries in 1834 led to major changes in urban property, as religious buildings were repurposed. During the second half of the century, the town saw significant urban improvements, including the D. Pedro V Market in 1866, the municipal cemetery in 1877, and the introduction of piped water and public lighting. In 1870 a spinning factory was established near the Cávado River, marking the early stages of industrial activity in the town. The arrival of theMinho railway line in 1877 proved decisive for Barcelos’s development. The railway bridge, designed byGustave Eiffel, and the new train station, reinforced growth towards the north and northeast, attracting factories, workshops, and middle-class residences.[4]
Barcelos continued to grow during the 20th century, and was elevated to city status in 1928.[4][8] This economic development led to the demolition of most of its medieval walls, as well as the redevelopment of parts of the historic centre.[4]
The town is closely associated with theRooster of Barcelos (Portuguese:o galo de Barcelos), which often serves as anational symbol of Portugal. This depiction originates in a tale associated with the Senhor do Galostone cross in Barcelos.[9]
According to one version of the story, a Galician pilgrim on hisway to Santiago de Compostela was wrongly accused of a crime and condemned to hang. Before his execution he asked to be taken to the judge who had sentenced him. The judge was dining with friends, and the pilgrim declared that a roasted rooster on the table would crow as proof of his innocence. When the pilgrim was being hanged, the bird miraculously stood up and crowed. The judge rushed to the gallows and found that the knot had not tightened, saving the pilgrim’s life and freeing him. The pilgrim later returned to Barcelos and erected a stone cross commemorating thedivine providence.[10]
Several other versions of the story are known. In one, an innkeeper hides a silver object in the pilgrim’s bag to accuse him of theft, and the miracle is produced by a rooster that he carried. Other retellings introduce saintly figures such asJames the Great,St. Paul orOur lady of the Pillar, reflecting the iconography of the Senhor do Galo stone cross.[9]
Barcelos municipality covers an area of 378.90 square kilometres (146.29 mi2) and is located in theCávado intermunicipal community, inBraga District, in theNorth of Portugal.[11][12] It is bounded by the municipalities ofViana do Castelo andPonte de Lima to the north,Vila Verde andBraga to the east,Vila Nova de Famalicão to the southeast,Póvoa de Varzim to the southwest, andEsposende to the west.[12] The municipality is divided into 61 civil parishes and the city of Barcelos comprises the parishes ofBarcelos, Vila Boa e Vila Frescainha,Barcelinhos andArcozelo.[8][12]
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 61 civil parishes (freguesias):[13]
Barcelos has aMediterranean climate (Köppen:Csb) with warm summers and very wet, mild winters.
| Climate data for Barcelos, 1985-2021, altitude: 36 m (118 ft) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 9.0 (48.2) | 9.9 (49.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 13.3 (55.9) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.8 (65.8) | 20.7 (69.3) | 20.5 (68.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 15.9 (60.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 9.9 (49.8) | 14.8 (58.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 175.0 (6.89) | 138.1 (5.44) | 116.7 (4.59) | 125.9 (4.96) | 88.3 (3.48) | 40.9 (1.61) | 25.2 (0.99) | 28.0 (1.10) | 67.1 (2.64) | 178.2 (7.02) | 185.9 (7.32) | 182.8 (7.20) | 1,352.1 (53.24) |
| Source: Portuguese Environment Agency[14] | |||||||||||||
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Barcelos is home toGil Vicente Futebol Clube (football) andÓquei Clube de Barcelos (roller hockey). The city has a multi-use stadium,Estádio Cidade de Barcelos, which is primarily used for football matches.
El Jadida,Morocco[15]
Pontevedra,Spain[16]
Recife,Brazil[17]
São Domingos,Cape Verde[18]
Svishtov,Bulgaria[19]
Vierzon,France[20]| International | |
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| Other | |
