Portuguesa, Venezuela
Portuguesa is a state of Venezuela. Located just south of the Andes in the Steppe ( Llanos). The capital is Guanare, located in the vicinity Coromoto, the most important Marian shrine in the country.
Named is the state after the Rio Portuguesa, of which it is traversed. According to legend, in this river a beautiful Portuguese woman to be drowned, who took part in an expedition of Conquistadors.
History
Several different ethnic groups living in the region with the arrival of the Europeans. Among others, the Cuibas and Caquetíos were as different strains of Guamoes Indians. The Guamoes were mainly fishermen and collectors.
Nicholas spring man and his Spanish and German troops researched this area for the first time against 1530th At 15:12 they came in to Hacarigua, a village that was later to Acarigua. In 1561, a group sat down under the direction of the Portuguese João Fernandes de Leon, from Vila Nova de Portimão, in Guanare.
Counter- November 1657 the first missionaries arrived to Guanare and Acarigua and began to preach among the Guamonteyes and other groups. In 1696 El Pilar de Araure was founded.
Administrative divisions
Portuguesa is divided into the following districts ( municipios ):