The North Region ( Portuguese : Região do Norte [ʁɨʒiˈɐ̃w du ˈnɔɾtɨ] ) or Northern Portugal is the most populous region in Portugal , ahead of Lisbon , and the third most extensive by area. The region has 3,576,205 inhabitants according to the 2017 census, and its area is 21,278 kilometres (13,222 mi) with a density of 173 inhabitants per square kilometre. It is one of five regions of Mainland Portugal ( NUTS II subdivisions). Its main population center is the urban area of Porto , with about one million inhabitants; it includes a larger political metropolitan region with 1.8 million, and an urban-metropolitan agglomeration with 2.99 million inhabitants, including Porto and neighboring cities, such as Braga , Guimarães and Póvoa de Varzim . The Commission of Regional Coordination of the North (CCDR-N) is the agency that coordinates environmental policies, land-use planning, cities and the overall development of this region, supporting local governments and associations.
64-483: Guimarães ( European Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡimɐˈɾɐ̃jʃ] ) is a city and municipality located in northern Portugal , in the district of Braga . Its historic town centre has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, in recognition for being an "exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town" in Europe. The Nicolinas are
128-812: A Portuguese Supercup in 1988, and Moreirense Futebol Clube , whose football (soccer) team is also in Primeira Liga for some years and already won the Portuguese Second Division in 2013/14 and the Portuguese League Cup in 2016/17. During Vitória SC European campaigns, the Portuguese team played against teams like Arsenal FC , Atletico Madrid , Real Sociedad , Eintracht Frankfurt , Parma FC and Borussia Monchengladbach . Vitória SC also has handball , basketball , volleyball and water polo squads competing in
192-508: A larger economy in that year than that of the whole countries of Bulgaria , Croatia or Slovenia , and with the largest growth in Portugal. In 2017, it reached 57,240.64 million, a 3.98% annual increase in GDP. It is highly industrialized within its densely populated western half, where well developed subregions such as Ave , Cávado , Entre Douro e Vouga , Grande Porto , and Tâmega have
256-525: A moist yellow-colored pudding-cake). Besides what is usual in Minho , such as "vinho verde" , " Papas de sarrabulho " (a pig meat and blood porridge), " Rojões " (stewed pig meat served with potatoes and entrail sausage), etc., the so-called "Bôla de carne" (Meat cakes) is also made here, consisting of a type of bread (shaped like a pizza ) served with toucinho (bacon), sardines or other toppings. The city of Guimarães has several cultural spaces of reference at
320-428: A notable business activity and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Textiles , footwear , food processing , mechanical , electrical , electronics and chemical industries, as well as finance and construction , are some of the main economic activities. Northern Portugal and Galicia form a Euroregion , based on the common historical, cultural, linguistic and economic similarities. The Euroregion has its origins in
384-677: A regional and national level. Among the several museums of the city, the Alberto Sampaio museum is the one that stands out. Founded in 1928, it opened its doors to the public in 1931; it is located in the old site of the Canon the Collegiate of Our Lady of Oliveira ( Cabido da Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira in Portuguese). It contains a rich collection of pieces from the 14th, 15th and 16th century, including one rare vest that
448-729: A strip from Cape Santo André to the urban area of Porto. Politically, Northern Portugal is divided into 86 municipalities ( municípios ), which in turn are subdivided into 1,426 civil parishes ( freguesias ). The region was subdivided in supramunicipal districts in 1835. Northern Portugal includes the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Vila Real, and Bragança, and partly the districts of Aveiro, Viseu, and Guarda. The largest municipalities are Vila Nova de Gaia (304,149), Porto (231,962), Braga (193,333), Matosinhos (172,669), Gondomar (164,255), Guimarães (156,852), Santa Maria da Feira (136,720), Maia (134,959), Vila Nova de Famalicão (133.590) and Barcelos (116,777), according to
512-418: A very intense medieval period. Regional cuisine is renowned and varied offering products such as light wines ( vinhos verdes ) and rich wines, and a variety of handicrafts that mingles the shine of filigree with the colour of the local embroideries. Northern Portugal is also very rich in folklore and traditions dating back to antiquity. Galicia and Northern Portugal have been promoting the official candidacy for
576-456: Is a culturally varied region. It is a land of dense vegetation and profound historic and cultural wealth. What is now Northern Portugal was first settled by various pre-Celtic and Celtic tribes before being visited by a number of Mediterranean civilizations who traded in its river-mouths, including Greek , Carthaginians , conquest by the Romans , invasion by Germanic peoples , and attacks by
640-558: Is considered the seminal event for the foundation of the Kingdom of Portugal – was fought in the vicinity of the city. It was declared the most beautiful small city in Europe by the Condé Nast Traveler magazine in 2022. The History of Guimarães is associated with the foundation and identity of the Portuguese nationality. Guimarães, as well as other settlements, precedes the foundation of Portugal and because of its role in
704-623: Is most likely that Raymond of Burgundy came in 1091. Although some authors claim that Count Henry came with the expedition which arrived in 1087, even though "documentary evidence here is much more slight" , his presence is confirmed only as of 1096 when he appears confirming the forais of Guimarães and Constantim de Panoias . Three of these French nobles married daughters of King Alfonso VI: Raymond of Burgundy married infanta Urraca, later Queen Urraca of León ; Raymond of St. Gilles married Elvira ; and Henry of Burgundy married Teresa of León , illegitimate daughter, as her sister Elvira, of
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#1732764643982768-803: Is protected in the Northern Littoral Natural Park . The Minho , Lima , Neiva , Cávado , Ave and the Douro are the most preeminent rivers that flow to the Atlantic Ocean . Inland, the Tâmega is a major tributary which empties in the Douro river. The Douro is the most preeminent river, and one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula . The Minho river marks the northwestern Portuguese-Spanish border and
832-733: Is the second most important river. There are four World Heritage Sites : the Alto Douro Wine Region, the Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley , the Porto historical Center and the Guimarães historical Center. Throughout the region the rivers, waterfalls, vineyards and fertile plots combine with the ancestral monuments in urban centres. The region has a warm Mediterranean climate ( Csb ) on
896-500: Is very irregular as topography and distance from the sea strongly influence precipitation levels, even at short distances. The inland mountainous areas in the northwest around the peaks of Peneda, Gerês and Marão have the highest rainfall in all of Portugal. The Douro valley, however, is among the driest areas in all of Portugal. Some rainy cities include Vila Real, Braga and, on the coast, Viana do Castelo. The coast tends to have balmy weather, high solar irradiance and lower rainfall in
960-561: The 2021 Census . Ignoring municipal subdivisions, the region has one urban area, Greater Porto, with about one million inhabitants, this includes Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and some large suburbs such as Rio Tinto and Ermesinde. There is a significant urban network just above Greater Porto, with about 600,000 inhabitants: the Minho Urban Quadrilateral ( Quadrilátero Urbano do Minho ), which includes Braga, Guimarães, Vila Nova de Famalicão and Barcelos; and
1024-904: The Castro Culture Museum which is dedicated to the Castro culture. There is also: the Primitive Modern Arts Museum, located in the Domus Municipalis (the old city hall), which contains a collection of naïve art ; the Museum of the Village of São Torcato, which is dedicated to the region and its relationship with the monastery and Saint Torcato ( São Torcato in Portuguese); the Agriculture Museum of Fermentões, which exhibits collections of
1088-642: The European Union average in 2017. It is also the Portuguese NUTS II region with the highest unemployment rate (9.5% as of 2007). Northern Portuguese authorities have intensely promoted tourism as a means to attract external investment and further incomes in rural areas. Even if it was hit by the Global recession in 2009 and the Eurozone crisis in 2011 and 2012, it was the only region of
1152-651: The Galicia-North Portugal Work Community , established in 1991. This Euroregion is also backed by the Eixo Atlântico ("Atlantic Axis"), a lobby of Galician and Northern Portuguese cities and municipalities. Henry, Count of Portugal Henry ( Portuguese : Henrique , French : Henri ; c. 1066 – 22 May 1112), Count of Portugal , was the first member of the Capetian House of Burgundy to rule Portugal and
1216-503: The Guimarães line . This railway line was originally built with narrow gauge track, then modernised and rebuilt to the broad Iberian gauge in the first decade of the 21st century. The train service is operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP). Locally, Guimarães is served by TUG (Transportes Urbanos de Guimarães) which operates 21 bus routes serving the city. Guimarães is twinned with: North Region, Portugal Northern Portugal
1280-453: The Kingdom of Galicia . Guimarães has a significant historical importance due to the role it played in the foundation of Portugal. The city is commonly referred to as the " birthplace of Portugal " or "the cradle city" ( Cidade Berço in Portuguese) because it was in Guimarães that Portugal's first King, Afonso Henriques was born, and also due to the fact that the Battle of São Mamede – which
1344-744: The Moors and the Vikings . The region has been inhabited since prehistoric times and is a key area for the understanding of both Atlantic European , Megalithic and Castro cultures. Historically, Northern Portugal with Galicia in Spain, made up the Kingdom of Galicia . In protohistoric times, it was inhabited by Gallaeci tribes, related with the Lusitanians, and it corresponds roughly to Conventus Bracarensis of Roman Gallaecia . The historical Suebic Kingdom (5th-6th centuries AD) had its capital in
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#17327646439821408-771: The Peneda-Gerês National Park , Montesinho Natural Park , and the Alvão Natural Park . The coast, known as the Costa Verde , is a flat strip of land enclosed by sandy beaches and hills, the largest of which is the coastal plain between the Cávado and the Ave rivers. The area is known for the long stretch of picturesque sand dunes which accumulated during the Little Ice Age , part of which
1472-449: The Rua de Santa Maria was built. The monastery became the "Real Colegiada" (Royal Collegiate church ) and throughout time acquired importance due to the privileges and donations given to it by nobles and kings and it became a famous pilgrimage site. Henry, Count of Portugal approved the first national foral possibly in 1096 (but not confirmed). The foral proves the growing importance of
1536-610: The Socialist Party . Guimarães, along with Maribor , Slovenia, was the European Capital of Culture in 2012. Guimarães also received the 2026 European Green Capital Award . The city was settled in the 9th century, at which time it was called Vimaranes . This name might have had its origin in the warrior Vímara Peres , who chose this area as the main government seat for the County of Portugal which he conquered for
1600-538: The "Senhora do Monte" (Senhora hill), at northwest by the hills of Falperra, Sameiro , Outeiro and Penedice. To the south is the Penha hill , which is the highest point of the municipality, with a height of 613 metres (2,011 ft) above mean sea level . Guimarães is part of the drainage basin of Ave river which divides the municipality in half. The Ave river has as tributaries the Vizela , Torto , Febras and inside
1664-450: The 41 places to go in 2011 and called it one of the Iberian Peninsula 's emerging cultural spots. The fact that Guimarães was founded on the lands of a female convent had a great influence on the region's cuisine, especially its confectionery, such as the "Tortas de Guimarães" (Guimarães' tarts, a half moon flakey pastry wrongfully named a tart) and, mainly, the " Toucinho do céu " (normally, but incorrectly, translated as bacon from heaven,
1728-674: The Functional urban areas methology, using 2014 statistics, recognizes one metropolitan area: Porto (1,313,829inh.), one medium sized-urban area Braga (256,427) and three small urban areas: Guimarães (182,433), Viana do Castelo (88,848), and Póvoa de Varzim (63,428). According to the Portuguese statistics institute, the INE, in the 2011 Census: 4.7% of the population was foreign-born, most arrived from France, Angola, Brazil, Mozambique, Venezuela, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, South Africa, China, and Romania. Northern Portugal accounts for about 39% of
1792-541: The Vila Flor Cultural Center. This cultural center has two auditoria, exhibition center and a concert-cafe. Guimarães was the European Capital of Culture in 2012, together with Maribor in Slovenia. Guimarães is also home to association football club Vitória S.C. who compete in the Primeira Liga , the top-flight of football in Portugal . Guimarães was elected by The New York Times one of
1856-485: The actual city have roots in the 10th century. At this point, the Countess Mumadona Dias , erected a monastery in her property of Vimaranes , which led to the settlement of people in the area known as "vila baixa" (downtown). At the same time, she ordered the construction of a castle on the hill area which became known as "vila alta" (uptown), to defend the settlement. To connect these to other areas,
1920-633: The area in which Guimarães is located has had permanent settlements since the late Chalcolithic period. There is also evidence of Roman occupation, and a stone dedicated to the Roman emperor Trajan found in Caldas das Taipas suggests that this was already a spa town in Roman times . Following the Reconquista policy promoted by the Kingdom of Galicia in the 9th century, the medieval foundations of
1984-470: The blessings of their relative, the Abbot of Cluny , Raymond "promised his cousin under oath to hand him over the Kingdom of Toledo and one third of the royal treasury upon the death of King Alfonso VI" . If he could not deliver Toledo, he would give him Galicia . Henry, in turn, promised to help Raymond "obtain all the dominions of King Alfonso and two thirds of the royal treasury" . Historians who date
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2048-455: The city was in January 2009, though nearby hills such as Penha may experience it more often. The average annual temperature is 14 °C. There is not much diversity, especially in the urban areas, but the municipality has some species of cynegetic interest such as: the red fox , the wild boar , the turtle dove , the thrush , the pigeon and the red-legged partridge . In the green areas of
2112-466: The city's main festivities. Guimarães is referred as the capital of the Ave Subregion (one of the most industrialised subregions in the country), and located in the historical Minho Province . The municipality has a population of 156,830 inhabitants according to the most recent data of 2021 in an area of 240.95 square kilometres (93.03 sq mi). The current mayor is Domingos Bragança, of
2176-548: The city's newspapers are: There are two stations headquartered in the town: Radio Fundação (95.8 FM ) and Radio Santiago (98.0 FM). The Guimarães TV transmission is made online since 24 July 2007; it is the result of a collaboration between the city's assembly and the Guimarães Cybercenter. Its contents are feature in the Região Norte TV channel which is available through cable. The "canalguimarães"
2240-576: The city, the Selho , the Couros and the Santa Lúzia stream. Guimarães is located in a valley surrounded by hills, at some distance from the sea. Summers tend to be lightly humid and hot, though still with some oceanic moderation compared to other locations further inland. Winters are generally cool and rainy, with about 29 days with frost per year on average. The last time it snowed with accumulation in
2304-512: The city, the most common species are rodents, especially squirrels. Administratively, the municipality of Guimarães is divided into 48 civil parishes ( freguesias ), previously having 69, but some of these were extinct and merged in 2013, after a nationwide territorial reorganization. Guimarães is an average size city but with a booming cultural life. Besides its museums, monuments, cultural associations, art galleries and popular festivities, it has since September 2005, an important cultural space,
2368-565: The coast and a hot Mediterranean climate ( Csa ) along the Douro Valley. Northwestern Portugal has temperate summers and mild winters, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the diurnal temperature variation rarely reaches 10 °C (50.0 °F), while inland northeastern Portugal has hot summers and cold longer winters, hence continental features, and the diurnal temperature variation can reach 20 °C (68.0 °F). Rainfall
2432-419: The conservation of the city's magnificent historical centre. Guimarães hosted the 2024 European Trampoline Championships . Granite rock formations occupy the majority of the municipality but schist rocks can also be found in certain zones in the northwest of the municipality. On the southeast, clay can be found in stream bed of the Ave, Vizela and Selho rivers. The municipality is delimited at north by
2496-509: The construction of a few more churches, convents and palaces. It was by the ending of the 19th century that new urbanistic ideas of hygiene and symmetry that the village, that was promoted to city by the Queen Maria II on 23 June 1853 had its greatest changes. The complete demolition of the city walls was authorized and the creation of many streets and avenues could start at that point. The controlled process of urbanization permitted
2560-538: The death of " Sibilla, mater ducus Burgundie " (Sibylla, mother of the Duke of Burgundy), under the reasoning that she was not called duchess herself and hence must have been the wife of Henry, the only father of a duke who never himself held the ducal title, yet this was probably a reference to her daughter-in-law, Sibylla , mother of the then-reigning Hugh II . Historian Jean Richard suggested that she might instead have been called Clémence. Whatever her name, her son Henry
2624-587: The defeat of the Christian troops in the Battle of Sagrajas in October 1086, in the early months of the following year, King Alfonso VI appealed for aid from Christians at the other side of the Pyrenees . Many French nobles and soldiers heeded the call, including Raymond of Burgundy , Odo I (Henry's brother), and Raymond of St. Gilles . Not all of them arrived at the same time in the Iberian Peninsula and it
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2688-527: The family conflicts and political unrest to serve on both sides and aggrandize his domains at the cost of the squabbling royal couple. Caught under siege in Astorga by the King of Aragon, then at war with Urraca, Henry held the city with the help of his sister-in-law. Henry died on 22 May 1112, from wounds received during the siege. His remains were transferred, following his previous orders, to Braga where he
2752-465: The father of the country's first king, Afonso Henriques . Born in about 1066 in Dijon , Duchy of Burgundy , Count Henry was the youngest son of Henry , the second son of Robert I, Duke of Burgundy . His two older brothers, Hugh I and Odo I , inherited the duchy. No contemporary record of his mother has survived. She was once thought to have been named Sibylla based on an undated obituary reporting
2816-520: The foundation of the country it is known as the "cradle of the Portuguese nationality". In 1128, major political and military events that would lead to the independence and the birth of a new nation took place in Guimarães. For this reason, in one of the old towers of the city's old wall is written "Aqui nasceu Portugal" (Portugal was born here). According to archeological findings in Citânia (Castro) of Briteiros and Sabroso and Penha's archeologic site,
2880-491: The king and his mistress Jimena Muñoz . Between the years 1096 and 1105, count Raymond, seeing that his influence in the curia regis was diminishing, reached an agreement with his cousin Henry of Burgundy. The birth of King Alfonso's only son, Sancho Alfónsez , was also perceived as a threat by the two cousins. They agreed to share power, the royal treasury, and to support each other. Under this agreement, which counted with
2944-547: The national exports and 29% of the national economy. The region was hit hard by the EU's expansion to Eastern Europe, globalization and centralization. Even if once the richest in Portugal and the largest regional economy after Lisbon, it is now the poorest of the 7 NUTS II regions of Portugal , with a GDP per capita of 16,000 euros , converted to 19,500 according to GDP in Purchasing Power Standards or 65% of
3008-607: The now Portuguese city of Braga and most of these migrants and invaders established themselves in Littoral Northern Portugal, when the Roman empire collapsed. After the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, a small county was established around the city of Porto, which expanded southwards and became a government, the County of Portugal in the 10th century. This county grew in ambition and it
3072-460: The pact closer to 1096 surmise that news of this agreement might have reached the king who, in order to counter the initiative of his two sons-in-law, appointed Henry governor of the region extending a flumine mineo usque in tagum (from the Minho river to the banks of the Tagus ). Until then, this region had been governed by count Raymond who saw his power limited to just Galicia, thereby nullifying
3136-602: The population had access to waste management services. However, several people complain that the city, together with other cities of the Braga district has had an unaesthetic and unorganized growth. Guimarães ranks fourth in the country for available newspapers. The oldest was the "Azemel Vimaranense", founded in 1822; it possibly had its publication halted by the Vilafrancada incidents. From 1856, other newspapers start to appear, amongst them "A Tesoura de Guimarães". Actually
3200-411: The prohibition against first-cousin marriages in church law makes it likely that the relationship between Odo and Sibylla, and hence that between Henry and Raymond, was more distant. Based on the relationship between Henry and Raymond and the apparent introduction of the byname Borel into the family of the dukes of Burgundy through this marriage, genealogist Szabolcs de Vajay suggested Henry's mother
3264-673: The recognition of the common intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO . The project is backed by the Galician Government , a number of Galician institutions and associations, together with local and regional governments and institutions in Northern Portugal. The official name is " Candidatura de Património Imaterial Galego-Português ". Northern Portugal is a mountainous region. Its peaks known as serras include Serra do Gerês (1544 m), Peneda (1416 m), Marão (1415 m) and Soajo (1415 m). Some of which forms natural parks:
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#17327646439823328-419: The reign of John I , the wall was torn down and the two parts of the city (uptown and downtown) were finally united and the city began to expand outside its old walls. The construction of St. Peter's Basilica began in 1737, and became a minor basilica in 1751, with formal completion of the work between 1883 and 1884. Until the 19th century the structure of the city did not suffer many transformations besides
3392-482: The terms of the pact. Other historians however have showed that the pact could not have been made before 1103, several years after the two counts had been granted their respective title, implying that their alliance must have prevailed over their hypothetical rivalry. After Raymond's death, Queen Urraca (Teresa's half-sister) married Alfonso the Battler for political and strategic reasons. Henry took advantage of
3456-434: The top divisions of their sports. In 2008, the city ranked second in the index of most livable city in Portugal. It is also the 10th least polluted city in the country according to IQAir. In 2004, 89% of the population had running water; it was forecast that the number would raise to 95% by 2006. In 2001, 63.5% of the population had basic sanitation; it was forecast that the number would raise to 80% by 2008. In 2001, 100% of
3520-407: The traditional agricultural practices of the region; and the Museum of São Sebastião, inaugurated on 24 March 1984, which contains mainly sacred art . Other cultural venues include: Guimarães has two major sports club, Vitória Sport Clube , whose football (soccer) team has been the city's representative in the Primeira Liga every year, having already conquered a Portuguese Cup in 2012/13 and
3584-403: The urban area of Póvoa de Varzim- Vila do Conde , with about 100,000 inhabitants. However, in Northern Portugal these tend to be well-populated with dispersed settlement between the diverse cities of the region. All these human settlements are part of the same polycentric urban-metropolitan agglomeration with 2,99 million inhabitants (2001), alongside the northern Atlantic coast. The EOCD using
3648-426: The village of Guimarães at that time, which was chosen as the capital of the County of Portugal . On 24 June 1128, the "Batalha de São Mamede" ( Battle of São Mamede ) took place in Guimarães. During the reign of king Denis , as the town was expanding, it was partially surrounded by a defensive wall . Meanwhile, mendicant orders settled in Guimarães and helped to mold the shape of the emerging city. Later, during
3712-525: The whole Iberian Peninsula to increase in GDP per inhabitant in purchasing power standards (PPS) in relation to the EU-28 average, by NUTS 2 regions, between 2007–2015. Also one of the few regions in Western Europe to do so. From 49,220 million euros to 52,740 million, while Lisbon declined from 65,590 to 63,194 million. In 2016, Northern Portugal GPD was 55,049.38 million euros at current market prices,
3776-469: Was a daughter of Berenguer Ramon I, Count of Barcelona , and his wife Guisla de Lluçà. One of his paternal aunts was Constance of Burgundy , the wife of Alfonso VI of León , and one of his great-uncles was Hugh , Abbot of Cluny , one of the most influential and venerated personalities of his time. Count Henry's family was very powerful and governed many cities in France such as Chalon, Auxerre , Autun , Nevers , Dijon, Mâcon and Semur . After
3840-408: Was another online channel that started operating in March 2010. It is the fruit of the effort put in by an arts association, the "Associação de Socorros Mútuos Artística Vimaranense", one of the oldest associations of the city. Guimarães is one of the most industrial municipalities in Portugal. Its primary industries are textiles, shoe industry and metalomechanics . Guimarães is linked to Porto by
3904-492: Was buried in a chapel at Braga Cathedral , the building of which he had promoted. After his death, his widow ruled alone. Count Henry was the leader of a group of gentlemen, monks, and clerics of French origin who exerted great influence in the Iberian Peninsula, promoted many reforms and introduced several institutions from the other side of the Pyrenees, such as the customs of Cluny and the Roman Rite . They occupied relevant ecclesiastical and political positions which provoked
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#17327646439823968-565: Was kinsman ( congermanus ) of his brother-in-law, Raymond of Burgundy , and this relationship may have come through either, or both, of their mothers, who are both of undocumented parentage. It has been suggested that Henry's mother may have been the daughter of Reginald I , which would make her the maternal aunt of Raymond who would then be Henry's first cousin. This solution is problematic, as Henry's brother Odo I, Duke of Burgundy married Raymond's sister, Sibylla , and though marriages between close kin sometimes took place through dispensation ,
4032-432: Was used by the king John I . The Martins Sarmento Society ( Sociedade Martins Sarmento in Portuguese) is one of the country oldest institutions dedicated to the study and preservation of archaeological artifacts. The society owns two museums: the Archaeological Museum of the Martins Sarmento Society, which is known by its prehistory and protohistory collections and also its numismatics and epigraphy collections; and
4096-425: Was where Portugal's first king, Dom Afonso Henriques , established the Portuguese kingdom and stated the southward expansion. The Portuguese language evolved from this area, and has a specific modern dialect, Northern Portuguese , taken down south as the Portuguese Kingdom expanded, namely after Afonso Henriques era. The region has a number of manor-houses and castles featuring coats of arms as an indication of
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