Lamego (; ) is a city and municipality in the Viseu District, in the Norte Region of the Douro in northern Portugal. Located on the shores of the Balsemão River, the municipality has a population of 26,691, in an area of 165.42&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

With origins before the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, Lamego is known for its historic city center, having a long history as a principal city of the former Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province. Legend holds that the first Portuguese Cortes were held in Lamego, in 1143. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lamego is based in the city center.

Etymology

The toponymic name Lamego was derived from Lamaecus, a Hispano-Celtic and Roman derivative referring to owners of agrarian titles in the 3rd century around the local castle.

History

thumb|left|150px|[[Castelo de Lamego|Lamego Castle, with origins in the 5th century.]]

The area around Lamego was inhabited by Ligures and Turduli, and during the Roman presence it was occupied by Coelerni, which left behind several monuments. and repopulated in 868 by Alfonso III. It fell into Islamic hands briefly again during the late 10th century, until Ferdinand I of León and Castile conquered the region definitively on 29 November 1057. As a consequence the bishopric was moved after these events (to later be restored in 1071).

Human geography

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 18 civil parishes (freguesias):

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

Economy

thumb|left|Our Lady of Remédios Park.

The principal activities in this region are tied to the service sector, with commerce and agriculture also representing an important part of the economy. In particular viticulture, since the municipality (and other municipalities in the region) have been designated as part of the Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC), a control used to classify wine products as a locally produced product of origin, for national and international marketing.

Lamego has a large shopping centre, with approximately 30 main shops, three malls of medium-size and several small traditional shops. Industrial activities are concentrated in the industrial zone in the parish of Várzea de Abrunhais. Local textiles are also promoted but tend to be small-scale production runs, with few medium- to large-companies involved in mass-production. The Portuguese Army's Special Operations regiment is also based in Lamego.

A 686-step staircase leads from the main street to the Baroque church alongside the shrine of Our Lady of Remedies, which has become one of the city's tourist attractions.

The tourist sector is primarily associated with the monuments and religious buildings, and has been a growing part of the local economy. The extension of the A24 motorway has been important in attracting more visitors and businesses to the region.

Culture

thumb|right|Ribeiro Conceição Theatre.

Lamego is considered one of the principal cities of the Portuguese Baroque, for its numerous churches, palaces, and civic buildings. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lamego and has a cathedral.

The following cultural institutions are based in Lamego:

  • Ribeiro Conceição Theatre
  • Lamego City Museum
  • Lamego Municipal Library
  • Lamego Image Archive
  • Clav'Art
  • APC - Amigos Pela Cultura
  • ArqDoc – Lamego Document Archive

The film Abraham's Valley (1993) is set in and around Lamego.

Sports

Sporting Clube de Lamego, founded on 4 June 1934 as the branch number 63 of Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sporting CP), is the major sports club in Lamego.

Notable people

thumb|right|140px|Gentil Guedes Gomes

  • Manuel Rodrigues Lamego (born ca.1590) a Marrano merchant and slave trader active in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
  • António de Mendonça (1600–1675) Archbishop of Lisbon, from 1670 to 1675.
  • Manuel Pinto da Fonseca (1681–1773) a nobleman, the 68th Grand Master of the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John, from 1741 to 1773.
  • Diogo de Carvalho e Sampayo (1750–1807) a nobleman, magistrate, diplomat and scientist.
  • José Augusto Guedes Teixeira, (Wiki PT) (1843-1890) Civil Governor of Porto District
  • Fausto Guedes Teixeira, (Wiki PT) (1871-1940) contemplative and melancholic lyric poet
  • Emília de Sousa Costa (1877-1959) a teacher, feminist and writer of novels
  • Gentil Guedes Gomes, (Wiki PT) (1896-1970) lawyer, poet and writer
  • Fernando Monteiro de Amaral (1925-2009) 7th President of the Assembly of the Republic
  • Mário Lemos Pires (1930-2009) Major-general of the Portuguese Army and last Governor of Portuguese Timor
  • João Botelho (born 1949) film director.
  • Antônio Rodrigues de Alvarenga (1550-1614), nobleman
  • José de Melo e Castro de Abreu (1774-1829), military officer

Sport

  • José Maria Pedroto (1928-1985) footballer for Porto with 227 club caps and 17 for Portugal
  • Álvaro Magalhães (born 1961) footballer for Benfica with 293 club caps and 20 for Portugal
  • Jorge Silva (born 1972) a retired footballer with 382 club caps
  • Chico Silva (born 1978) a retired footballer with 311 club caps
  • Gonçalo Santos (born 1986) a footballer with over 290 club caps

References

;Notes

;Sources

  • Photos from Lamego