Lamego

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Lamego (pron. lɐ'megu) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The municipality has a population of about 27,054 inhabitants. The city itself has a population of about 8,848 in the historic center and approximately 17,000 in i`ts urban area. Region:Norte;Sub Region:Douro. District:Viseu. Diocese:Lamego. Lamego is an historical,immemorial city,south of the river Douro. The present Mayor is Francisco Manuel Lopes, elected by a coalition between the Social Democratic Party and the People's Party.

The municipal holiday is September 8.

It is the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Lamego.

Parishes

Almacave (city of Lamego)
Avões
Bigorne
Britiande
Cambres
Cepões
Ferreirim
Ferreiros de Avões
Figueira
Lalim
Lazarim
Magueija
Meijinhos
Melcões
Parada do Bispo
Penajóia
Penude
Pretarouca
Samodães
Sande
Sé (city of Lamego)
Valdigem
Várzea de Abrunhais
Vila Nova de Souto d'El-Rei

History

The most significant moment in the town's history was in 1143, when nobles declared Afonso Henriques to be Portugal's first king. The town's Gothic cathedral was built by him, although only the Romanesque tower is left from the original building, with its carved Renaissance portal and fine cloister dating from the 16th and 18th centuries. The 12th century castle preserves a fine keep and a very old and unusual cistern with monograms of master masons.

Just outside the town, within walking distance from the back of the cathedral, is the tiny 7th century São Pedro de Balsemão Chapel, a lovely Visigothic chapel believed to be the oldest in Portugal and second oldest in Europe.

References

External links

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Last updated on Tuesday March 25, 2008 at 14:39:46 PDT (GMT -0700)
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