Arcas (Macedo de Cavaleiros)

Arcas is a Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros in the northeast corner of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 262,[1] in an area of 23.02 km2.[2]

Arcas
Civil parish
Arcas is located in Portugal
Arcas
Arcas
Location in Portugal
Coordinates: 41.646°N 7.035°W / 41.646; -7.035
Country Portugal
RegionNorte
Intermunic. comm.Terras de Trás-os-Montes
DistrictBragança
MunicipalityMacedo de Cavaleiros
Area
 • Total23.01 km2 (8.88 sq mi)
Elevation
433 m (1,421 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total262
 • Density11/km2 (29/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Postal code
5340
Area code278
Websitehttp://arcas.jfreguesia.com/

History

Little is known as to the parish's founding, although its toponymic name may refer to the existence of megalithic funerary monuments located within its territory.[3] A legend suggests that these funerary structures existed on the site that the current church, dedicated to the Divino Senhor dos Passos, is erected.[3]

Its geographic isolation, due to its high relief, morphological obstacles and extreme climate was always a factor that prevented large human settlements.[3] Regardless, the territory came under Roman occupation, which imposed a modernizing influence on to the Celto-iberian tribes that forged in the region.[3]

With the influence of feudal nobility, such as Bragançãos, the jurisdiction was slowly populated.[3] In 1284, a foral (charter) was bestowed on Nozelos by King Denis.[3]

Geography

Arcas, parish of the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros, in the old district of Bragança, is situated on a fertile valley near the Serra de Bornes.

It is constituted by two settlements (Nozelos and Morgão), and surrounded by the neighbouring parishes of Vilarinho de Agrochão, Murçós, Ferreira, Corujas, Ala and Vilarinho do Monte.

The community has two schools that provide primary education.

Economy

The primary sector dominates the economic activities of its inhabitants, which primarily associated with subsistence agriculture. This includes fruit orchards (cherry, grape, figs), olive trees and vineyards, as well as cork, in addition to cattle herding for milk and/or meat. The secondary sector is related to these essential industries, including the production of olive oil, but also include iron and aluminium metallurgy. Commercial activities are limited to a store and market.

Architecture

Civic
  • Manor of Arcas (Portuguese: Solar das Arcas), the 18th century manorhouse was built by Admiral Pessanha, and maintained by the Pessenha family, consisting of a two-storey high, long symmetrical house dominated by flourished Baroque era windows and massive main portal with family arms[4]
  • Pillory of Nozelas (Portuguese: Pelourinho de Nozelas), the pillory marked local authority, and was constructed sometime during the 15th century. Owing to Arcas' being a patron and fief of the House of Braganza, its design was based on a typical form employed by the hereditary nobility to mark their authority.[5]

Religious
  • Chapel of Santa Rita (Portuguese: Capela da Santa Rita)[6]
  • Chapel of Senhor dos Passos (Portuguese: Capela do Senhor dos Passos)[7]
  • Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Nozelos/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção), constructed in the 16th century, and patronized by the affluent families of the House of Braganza, resulting in a two-belfrey building, but was also supported by annual rents of 20$000 to 30$000 réis[8]
  • Church of Santa Catarina (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Arcas/Igreja de Santa Catarina)[9]

Notable citizens
  • Manuel de Almeida Pessanha (20 August 1825 - 15 January 1871), a politician, Civil Governor of Bragança (in 1858), and Peer-of-the-Realm (in 1863);
  • João Manuel de Almeida Morais Pessanha (3 February 1843 - 22 June 1905), priest, military chaplain, and Knight of the Order of Aviz;
  • Francisco de Assis Pereira do Lago (8 January 1844 - 4 February 1914), the Viscount of Arcas, politician and Civil Governor of Bragança (in 1886)

References
  1. Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. Eurostat Archived October 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Junta Freguesia, ed. (2011). "História" (in Portuguese). Arcas (Macedo de Cavaleiros), Portugal: Junta de Freguesia das Arcas. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  4. Amaral, Paulo; Rodrigues, Miguel (1998). SIPA (ed.). "Solar das Arcas (n.PT010405030016)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  5. Jana, Ernesto (1993). SIPA (ed.). "Pelourinho de Nozelas (n.PT010405030002)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  6. Figueiredo, Paula (2003). SIPA (ed.). "Capela da Santa Rita (n.PT010405030061)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  7. Figueiredo, Paula (2003). SIPA (ed.). "Capela do Senhor dos Passos (n.PT010405030060)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  8. Noé, Paula (2010). SIPA (ed.). "Igreja Paroquial de Nozelos/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção(n.PT010405030059)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  9. Figueiredo, Paula (2003). SIPA (ed.). "Igreja Paroquial de Arcas/Igreja de Santa Catarina (n.PT010405030059)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
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