Vidigueira Municipality

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Vidigueira is a small town ( Vila ) in Portugal with 2951 inhabitants (as at 30 June 2011). Vidigueira is one of the agricultural centers of the Alentejo. Here also excellent wines are produced in addition to olives and their processing into oil. Vidigueira located on the wine route in the Alentejo.

History

In the immediate vicinity of Vidigueira the Roman archaeological site of São Cucufate found in Vila de Frades. Here Roman nobles have around 400 BC begun to prepare a stately farm with bath house and chapel.

Today's church was in the reign D.Afonsos III. created, mid-13th century and in the course of settlement policy after the completion of the Reconquista. Vidigueira was first documentary mentioned in 1255, as yet insignificant place. The area was 1385 Nuno Álvares Pereira donated to the Knights, in recognition of his contribution to the independence of the Kingdom of Portugal in the revolution of 1383rd Under the reign D.Manuels I. the area fell to the crown. 1519 Vidigueira received first city rights, and Vasco da Gama became Count of Vidigueira ( Primeiro Conde da Vidigueira ).

Economy

Vidigueira is known for the production of good wine and olive oil on a regional basis. In recent years, the quality of these products through the cooperative was established ( founded in 1957 ) further increased. In the years 2006 and 2007 they won the new olive oil product " RELIQUIA because Vidigueira " national awards. In the field of wine marketing the wines of the brand Navegantes have become nationally known and popular. At the annual event Pão e Laranjas (bread and oranges) the agricultural products of the area are shown and offered. The Turismo Rural ( Rural Tourism ) for some time also plays a growing role in Vidigueira. The district administration advertises on the web for the region ( Camara Municipal Vidigueira ). Vidigueira is also the name of a wine-growing sub-region in the Alentejo.

Management

Circle

Vidigueira is the seat of an eponymous district ( concelho ) in the district of Beja. June 30, 2011 had the circle 5934 inhabitants in an area of 316 km ².

The neighboring districts are (clockwise starting from the north ): Portel, Moura, Serpa, Beja and Cuba.

The following municipalities ( Freguesias ) lying in circle Vidigueira:

• Pedrógão
• Selmes
• Vidigueira
• Vila de Frades

Demographics

Local holiday

• Ascension of Christ

Twinning

• Portugal: Sines
• Portugal: Nisa
• Portugal: Évora

Sons and daughters of the town

• Aquiles Estaço (1524-1581), humanist writer, translator and philologist
• Free António das Chagas (1631-1682), a Franciscan monk and writer
• Fialho de Almeida (1857-1911), writer and journalist

The parents of the Dutch philosopher Baruch de Spinoza (1632-1677) came from Vidigueira.