Editing Town (section)

=== Portugal ===
Like other Latin cultures, in Portugal a town ({{lang|pt|vila}}) is a populated place larger than a village ({{lang|pt|aldeia}} and smaller than a city ({{lang|pt|cidade}}). Similarly, although these places are not defined under the [[Constitution of Portugal|Portuguese Constitution]] and have no political and administrative functions (with associated organs), they are defined by law,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.povt.qren.pt/tempfiles/20080213151143moptc.pdf |title=Law no. 11/82 (Lei das designações e determinação de categoria das povoações), of June 2 |access-date=6 August 2010 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20100608050009/http%3A//www.povt.qren.pt/tempfiles/20080213151143moptc.pdf |archive-date=8 June 2010 }}</ref> and a town must have:
* at least 3,000 voters
* at least half of these services: health unit, pharmacy, cultural centre, public transportation network, post office, commercial food and drinking establishments, primary school and/or bank office

In special cases, villages can receive the status of town if they possess historical, cultural or architectonic importance.

A Portuguese town or city is so merely an urban settlement located in the area of a [[concelho|municipality]], in comparison to the North American context, where they have political functions.

A town can be enterily located inside the area of a single [[freguesia]] (subdivion of a municipality) or can occupy several freguesias.

[[Portuguese heraldry#Municipal heraldry|Portuguese local governments heraldry]] reflects if the seat of the respective freguesia or municipality is a city, town or another type of settlement. The [[coat of arms]] of a local government with a seat in a town bears a mural crown with four towers, while the coat of arms of a local government with a set in a city bears a crown with five towers.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/pt-_m.html#rules |website=Flags of the World|title = Portuguese municipal flags |publisher= Crwflags.com }}</ref>

This difference between towns and cities is still in use in other Portuguese-speaking countries. In Brazil, since the beginning of the 20th century, all municipal seats receive the status of city.