Penafiel

Penafiel (or is a municipality and former bishopric (now a Latin Catholic titular see) in the northern Portuguese district of Porto. Capital of the Tâmega Subregion, the population was 72,265 in 2011, in an area of .
History
The region was occupied since pre-history, as evidenced by the proliferation of megalithic monuments, stone settlements and castros. This includes the Menhir of Luzim, a tall stone dating to an occupation of 3–4000 years B.C. Similarly, in the civil parish of Luzim, are the rock engravings that have existed for 3000 years. In addition, there are various rock forts (castros), subject of archaeological studies, such as the archaeological "city of the dead" in Citânia de Monte Mozinho. One of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula, it was the precursor to the Galician organized community of Cividade Gallaeci; the hill fort is dotted with traces of various cultures: Galician-Lusitanian, Roman, Visigoth and Moorish. There different legends that indicate the origins of the name Penafiel, although the common thread associates it with the many forts situated in the locality.
With the consolidation and incorporation into the Roman world, these hill forts were reorganized and moved down from the hilltops, dispersing into concentrated settlements in open areas and encircled by cultivated parcels, such as in Bouça do Ouro (Boelhe). The Roman spa town of São Vicente do Pinheiro was an example of these centres, developing around the natural resources in the region. In addition, vains of gold interspersed in the Schist and Quartzite quarries attracted Roman settlers from the empire, resulting in an intense artisanal economy, supported by the circulation of a single currency, culture and language.
In the 9th century, activity became concentrated in the Civitas Anegia on the headwaters of the Tâmega and Douro, that dominated the lands along margins of those rivers. This civitas was the precursor of Penafiel de Canas, an area that assumed an import role, but occupied a smaller area and embryonic place that concentrated on agriculture and fishing. The lands were seats of the Romanesque ecclesiastical seigneurs of the Benedictine monasteries of Paço de Sousa and Bustelo. Supporting a rich cultural influence, Paço de Sousa boasted a magnificent Romanesque architecture and gave shelter to the historian Egas Moniz Ribadouro, schoolmaster of Afonso Henriques. Other noble houses of medieval period include Barbosa de Honor (Rans), with its tower overlooking agricultural lands, or the transformed tower of Coreixas (Irivo). Romanesque religious architecture proliferated during the post-Roman period; the Romanesque temple of Boelhe or Church of São Salvador da Gândara (venerating a deceased saint's skull) attracted pilgrims to the region, as did the Church of Abragão, the late-Gothic Church of São Miguel da Eja and the funerary memorial of Ermida (Irivo).
During this time emerged a new reality: a fortified settlement that developed in the parish of Moazares, home of the Romanesque church of Santa Luzia (circled by sculpted tombs) was along the banks of the river, along the roadway from Porto and crossing the Sousa at the medieval bridge of Cepeda was an ideal local to build an urban community to specialize in services, artesnal commerce and sale of manufactured goods, supported by a medieval fair. The area was known as Arrifana de Sousa. Legend suggests that name came from the name Ariana (the daughter of Hermenegildo González and D. Mumadona Dias) who, following her father's death, inherited the land in the 10th century.
At its founding, it was dominated by two castles: one along the northern bank of the Sousa river, called the Castle of Aguiar de Sousa and the second along the southern margin, called Pena. The town was attacked several times by Moors, but, owing to its resistance was referred to in Latin as Pennafidelis, shortened to the Castle of Penafiel.
By the 13th century, many of the plots of land were owned by Castile's ex-Queen Mafalda of Portugal.
The civil parish of Arrifana de Sousa was established in the sixteenth century. In the same century, in 1519, King Manuel I of Portugal granted the region a foral (charter) that raised the settlement to the status of village. Yet, its change would only occur in the reign of King D. John V (by decree on 7 October 1741).
The site was crossed by various roads, where João Correia, a rich Portoense merchant with contracts in Flanders established his home; he was a new Christian, who raised a Manueline chapel to the Holy Spirit (and who erected his bronze funerary tomb).
As it grew, Arrifana assumed as patron saint São Martinho (Marin), and in the middle of the 16th century, a new Mannerist temple was constructed over the old chapel of João Correia.
The lands continued as an administrative dependency of Porto, until King D. John I conceded it a privilege for supporting his cause.
Arrifana de Sousa continued to grow as a centre of services and industry, supported by an annual fair on the feast day of São Martinho, resulting in the expansion of the urban environment to the upper elevations and the construction of the Church of the Misericórdia. Meanwhile, the nobles established their homes outside the town centre, preferring to live in their ancestral estates, established from the land rents and businesses and overseas commerce.
By law, during the reign of King Joseph (dated 3 March 1770), the place name was officially changed to Penafiel and the status of city conferred.
Ecclesiastical history
On 1 June 1770, by papal bull issued by Pope Clement XIV, the Diocese of Penafiel was established, separating it from the ecclesiastical Diocese of Porto, apparently as suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Braga. Rather than for pastoral reasons, the creation of the See was inspired by the wish of king's de facto reigning Prime Minister, the Marquess of Pombal, to punish the Bishop of Porto by depriving him of most of his diocese – the whole comarca di Penafiel (administrative district), comprising 102 parishes, even some in (suburbs) of the great Porto port city.
The Pope appointed the Carmelite Friar Inácio de São Caetano (born 1718.07.31), confessor of the future Queen Maria I of Portugal (then Princess of Brazil), as its first prelate. But he would never administer the Diocese (as he was in Brazil), and was eventually convinced by the Queen to give-up the bishopric, consoled with a nominal promotion as Titular Archbishop of Thessalonica (1778.12.14 – death 1788.11.29), while she successfully requested the Holy See to undo the See creation.
On 11 November 1778, Pope Pius VI decided by motu proprio to extinguish the diocese, incorporating its administration (once more) into the mother Diocese of Porto, which it remains part of.
The Church of Our Lady of Mercy, which had been bombarded its cathedral, lost that status without being made co-cathedral.
Titular see
In 1969 the diocese was nominally restored as Latin Titular bishopric of Penafiel (Portuguese) / (Latin adjective).
It has had the following incumbents, mostly of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank, with an archiepiscopal exception :
Bernard Theodore Espelage, Friars Minor (O.F.M.) (1969.08.25 – death 1971.02.19) as emeritate, former Bishop of Gallup (USA) (1940.07.20 – retired 1969.08.25)
John Joseph Mulcahy (1974.12.28 – death 1994.04.26) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Boston (Massachusetts, USA) (1974.12.28 – retired 1992.07.21) and emeritate
Francisco-Javier Lozano Sebastián (1994.07.09 – ...) as papal diplomat : Apostolic Nuncio (ambassador) to Tanzania (1994.07.09 – 1999.03.20), Apostolic Nuncio to Democratic Republic of Congo (1999.03.20 – 2001.12.15), Apostolic Nuncio to Croatia (2003.08.04 – 2007.12.10), Apostolic Nuncio to Moldova (2007.12.10 – 2015.12.05), Apostolic Nuncio to Romania (2007.12.10 – 2015.12.05).
Geography
Physical geography
The municipality extends within an area of , in a confluence of river valleys marked by the Douro, Tâmega and Sousa Rivers, connecting the littoral region and the Transmontana zone. It is a landscape of deep valleys, with intense irrigated zones and pasturelands, with fields encircled by forests of pine and eucalyptus. This inter-fluvial region have granite soils and is rich in water resources, permitting intensive agriculture and extraction industries. The southwest extension of the municipality include a complex of Schist and Greywacke geology, resulting in mountainous, uncultivated and largely forest lands.
An intermediary zone, dividing the littoral and mountainous regions, the region was an important transitory point, with lines of communication extending along inter-regional, land and fluvial networks. The first example was the "royal roadways" that date to the medieval period, that connect Porto and the Trás-os-Montes, that resulted the development of the urban centre, that was a fulcrum in supporting transiting peoples and goods. The Douro was an important link and penetrated the interior, while the flanks of the Alto Douro were used to produce vineyards. The "Entre-os-Rios" district was also an important part in supporting travel along the interior.
Climate
Penafiel has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) with cool to mild, rainy winters and warm to hot, dry summers
Human geography
With 28 civil parishes it includes a resident population of 72,000 inhabitants (approximately 338.4 people per kilometre square), integrated into the Associação de Municípios do Vale do Sousa (Vale de Sousa Municipal Association) and NUTSIII Tâmega Subregion. The region is settled, but in dispersed enclaves, supported by small industry and commerce, while newer residential homes juxtaposition older rural dwellings. These older homes are usually maintained by part-time farming families and seniors, perpetuated by intense migration and facilitated by their proximity to major roadways.
The municipality is administered by the following civil parishes (freguesias):
Abragão
Boelhe
Bustelo
Cabeça Santa
Canelas
Capela
Castelões
Croca
Duas Igrejas
Eja
Fonte Arcada
Galegos
Guilhufe e Urrô
Irivo
Lagares e Figueira
Luzim e Vila Cova
Oldrões
Paço de Sousa
Penafiel
Perozelo
Rans
Rio de Moinhos
Rio Mau
São Mamede de Recezinhos
São Martinho de Recezinhos
Sebolido
Termas de São Vicente
Valpedre
The parishes are, largely, semi-industrialized, with a mixture of modern homes and rural dwellings in nature. Villages have houses made with small stones and granite, both of which are common in locality of Penafiel.
Economy
Extraction industries, civil construction firms and commerce employs a large number of workers, in addition to a strong concentration of service sector activities, confirmed by a Penafiel's central place in the regional economy.
Penafiel invested in new schools and renovating others during the 20th century, maintaining several kindergartens, primary and secondary schools.
The municipal council is responsible for maintaining several health centres, clinics and hospital, with Padre Américo Hospital situated in the parish of Guilhufe.
The council has some train stations in their territory of buses throughout the country and a vast road system.
Tourism
Penafiel is the centre for therapeutic treatments and spas, highlighted by the São Vicente Spa and the Inatel Entre-os Rios Spa. The São Vicente is known for the characteristic quality of its waters: the spa is known for the hyper-mineralized waters, that include concentrated sulphurous and carbonaceous akline silicates and fluoridated water. It is considered the most alkaline among the sulphurous waters of Portugal and Europe, with temperatures of about , advocated for the treatment of respiratory diseases and musculo-skeletal system ailments.
Magikland (formerly Bracalândia), one of the largest Portuguese theme parks, is located in Penafiel.
Tourism is cyclical in the region, influence by the staggering of religious and secular activities, but marked by special events throughout the year, particularly around the religious feast of São Martinho. This includes the literary festival Escritaria and the agricultural fair Agrival, which had its basis in the traditional medieval fairs.
Historical heritage
The region of Penafiel is known for a history dating to the pre-historic period, marked by dolmens, petroglyphs, necropoli and fortified settlements constructed of stone. But, over time and through the influence of various cultural groups (Romans, Visigoths, Moors) the area began to evolve into a modern centre, marked by the evolution in its architecture from rudimentary stone dolmens to signeurial manorhouses and monumental estates.
Archaeological
Castro of Monte Mozinho
Dolmen of Santa Marta (Menhir of Luzim
Prehistoric Rock-Art Site of Lomar
Prehistoric Rock-Art Site of Pegadinhas de São Gonçalo
Prehistoric Rock-Art Site of Tapada das Eiras
Tomb of Monte de São Roque
Civic architecture
Aqueduct of the Monastery of Bustelo
Asylum of Santo António dos Capuchos
Bridge Duarte Pacheco
Bridge of Espindo
Bridge of Lardosa
Bridge of Rans (
Bridge of Santa Marta
Bridge of Vau
Estate of Cimo de Vila
Estate of Abol
Estate of Aveleda
Estate of Boveira
Estate of Casa Nova
Estate of Companhia
Estate of Curveira
Estate of Fentão de Baixo
Estate of Maragossa
Estate of Mesão Fria
Estate of Mogol
Estate of Pena
Estate of Perosinho
Estate of Souto
Estate of Ventuzela
Fountain Armoriada
Hospital Padre Américo Vale do Sousa
Jailhouse of Penafiel
Judicial Courts of Penafiel
Manorhouse and Tower of Honra de Barbosa
Municipal Palace/Hall of Penafiel
Palace Hotel of Termas de São Vicente
Penafiel Railway Station
Pillory of Honra de Barbosa
Pillory of Penafiel
Residence of Cantoneiros
Residence of Reboleira
School of Novelas
Thermal Spa of Quinta da Torre
Thermal Spa of São Vicente
Tower of Coreixas
Religious architecture
Chapel of the Divino Salvador
Chapel of Lagares
Chapel of Menino Jesus
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Cividade
Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Desterro
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Lurdes
Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Monte e São Brás
Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Paz
Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Rosário
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saude
Chapel of the Sagrada Familia
Chapel of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia
Chapel of Santa Luzia
Chapel of Santo António
Chapel of São Bartolomeu
Chapel of São Bartolomeu de Louredo
Chapel of São Domingos
Chapel of São João Baptista
Chapel of São Julião
Chapel of São Lourenço
Chapel of São Mateus
Chapel of São Pedro
Chapel of São Roque
Chapel of São Sebastião
Chapel of São Simão
Chapel of Senhor dos Aflitos
Chapel of Senhor do Calvário
Chapel of Senhor do Monte
Chapel of the Thermals of Quinta da Torre
Chapel of the Thermals of São Vicente
Convent of Santo António dos Capuchos
Chris the King of São Mamede de Recezinhos (
Church of the Divino Salvador
Church of Nossa Senhora de Fátima
Church of Nossa Senhora da Saúde
Church of Nossa Senhora da Visitação
Church of Santo Adrião
Church of Santo André
Church of Santo Estêvão
Church of Santa Maria
Church of Santa Marinha
Church of Santa Marta
Church of Santiago
Church of São João Baptista
Church of São João Evangelista
Church of São Mamede
Church of São Mamede de Recezinhos
Church of São Martinho
Church of São Martinho de Recezinhos
Church of São Martinho de Tours
Church of São Miguel
Church of São Paio
Church of São Paulo
Church of São Pedro
Church of São Gens
Church of São Salvador
Church of São Tiago
Church of São Tomé
Church of São Vicente
Church of Santa Casa da Misericórdia
Hermitage Memorial
Monastery of Bustelo
Monastery of Paço de Sousa
Niche of Nossa Senhora de Fátima da Igreja
Niche of Nossa Senhora de Fátima de São Mamede
Niche of Nossa Senhora de Fátima de Uchada
Niche of São José
Paroquial Residence of Abragão
Paroquial Residence of São Martinho de Recezinhos
Sanctuary of Senhor dos Remédios
Sanctuary of Senhora da Piedade e Santos Passos
Way of the Cross of Penafiel
Way of the Cross of Senhor dos Passos
Penafiel began building its library in 1863. On 6 June 1917, a new Municipal Library of Penafiel was inaugurated, located on Avenue Araújo e Silva, which closed in October 1919, reopened to the public on 6 June 1927 and was transferred to a small lounge on Avenida Sacadura Cabral.
Sports
The most popular/practised sport within the municipality is football (soccer), leading hundreds of young people to the existing clubs. The largest club, FC Penafiel, was founded in 1951 and has regular presence on many levels of professional Portuguese seasons. During the 2014–2015 season, the club played in the Premier League after obtaining a rise from the previous season, finishing in 3rd place behind Moreirense (Champion) and FC Porto B. The club is also involved in other athletics activities winning several national and international competitions.
Notable people
José do Telhado (1818-1875) a Portuguese bandit.
Vitorino Guimarães (1876–1957) an economist and politician & 91st Prime Minister of Portugal in 1925
Neno Vasco (1878–1920) a poet, lawyer, journalist, anarchist, writer and ardent revolutionary syndicalist
António Ferreira Gomes (1906-1989) a Portuguese Roman Catholic bishop
António Barbosa de Melo (1932–2016) a Portuguese lawyer, politician and parliamentarian
Rosário Gambôa (born 1956) a Portuguese academic and politician.
Vitorino Silva (born 1971) known as Tino de Rans'', a pavement-maker, TV personality and politician.
Sport
António Oliveira (born 1952) a retired footballer with 306 club caps and 24 for Portugal.
José Coelho (born 1961) a retired footballer with 407 club caps and 8 for Portugal.
Agostinho Caetano (born 1966) a retired footballer with 320 club caps and 2 for Portugal.
Fernanda Ribeiro (born 1969) a long-distance runner, gold medallist in the women's 10,000m at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Abel Ferreira (born 1978) a former footballer and current coach of Palmeiras
Hélder Ferreira (born 1980) a retired footballer with 320 club caps
José Fonte (born 1983) a footballer with over 600 club caps and 49 for Portugal.
Pedro Moreira (born 1983) a former footballer with 378 club caps.
Nuno Morais (born 1984) a former footballer with 417 club caps.
Vítor Silva (born 1984) a footballer with over 330 club caps.
See also
List of Catholic dioceses in Portugal
References
Sources and external links
GCatholic - former & titular bishopric
Photos from Penafiel
GCatholic - former cathedral
Cities in Portugal
Municipalities of Porto District
nl:Penafiel