Editing Miranda do Douro

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox Portuguese subdivision
|type               = municipality
|official_name      = 
|image_flag         = Pt-mdr1.png
|image_shield       = MDR.png
|image_skyline      = Sé de Miranda do Douro.jpg
|image_caption      = Cathedral
|image_location     = Locator map of Miranda do Douro.svg
|region             = [[Norte Region, Portugal|Norte]]
|CIM                = [[Terras de Trás-os-Montes]]
|district           = [[Bragança District|Bragança]]
|parishes           = [[#Human geography|13]]
|leader_name        = Artur Manuel Rodrigues Nunes
|leader_party       = [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|PS]]
|coordinates        = {{coord|41|29|39|N|6|16|27|W|type:adm1st_region:PT_dim:100000|display=inline,title}}
|elevation          = 752
|elevation_min      = 
|elevation_max      = 
|area_total         = 487.18
|population_as_of   = 2011
|population_total   = 7,482
|patron             = [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Santa Maria Maior]]
|postal_code        = 5210
|area_code          = 273
|website            = http://www.cm-mdouro.pt/
}}

'''Miranda do Douro''' ({{IPA|pt-PT|miˈɾɐ̃dɐ ðu ˈðo(w)ɾu|lang|Pt-pt Miranda do Douro FF.ogg}}; {{langx|mwl|i=no|'''Miranda de l Douro'''}} {{IPA|mwl|miˈɾɐ̃dɐ ðɨl ˈdowɾʊ|}}; {{langx|es|Miranda de Duero}}) is a city and a municipality in the [[district of Bragança]], northeastern [[Portugal]]. The population in 2011 was 7,482,<ref name=ine>[http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xlang=en&xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&indOcorrCod=0005889&contexto=pi&selTab=tab0 Instituto Nacional de Estatística]</ref> in an area of 487.18&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=dgt>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal_caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2017__em_vigor_/ |title=Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país |access-date=5 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105172426/http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal_caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2017__em_vigor_/ |archive-date=5 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The town proper had a population of 1,960 in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dev.igeo.pt/atlas/Cap2/Cap2d_2.html |title=Atlas de Portugal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006143612/http://dev.igeo.pt/atlas/Cap2/Cap2d_2.html |archive-date=6 October 2014 }}</ref> Nicknamed ''Cidade Museu'' ("Museum City") of the [[Trás-os-Montes (region)|Trás-os-Montes]] region, it is located 86 kilometres from [[Bragança, Portugal|Bragança]], preserving many of its medieval and Renaissance-era traditions and architecture. It has a language of its own, [[Mirandese language|Mirandese]], which enjoys official status in Portugal, in addition to cultural and historical discontinuity with the rest of the Portuguese state. The town is located [[border town|on the border]] with [[Spain]], with the [[Douro River]] separating the two countries. The nearest town in Spain is [[Zamora, Spain|Zamora]].

The present mayor is Artur Manuel Rodrigues Nunes ([[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist]]). The municipal holiday is on 10 July.

==History==
[[File:Bishop Palace.jpg|thumb|left|Bishop Palace]]

The origin of Miranda do Douro as a populated place is still discussed by historians, but archeologist discoveries give evidence that inhabitants had been living there during the [[Bronze Age]]. Around AD 716, the Moors defeated local [[Visigoth]]ic tribes, and occupied some of the lands, calling the area ''Mir-Hândul''.<ref name="DEvans">{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I9ZxUKbxh-EC&q=miranda+do+douro&pg=RA1-PA132|title=Portugal|first=David J.J.|last=Evans|publisher=Cadogan Guides/New Holland Publishers|location=Wimbledon, England|year=2004|pages=132|isbn=9781860111266}}</ref>

By the late 11th century, [[Kingdom of León|León]] possessed the region as a stepping-stone to [[County of Portugal|Portugal]].<ref name=DEvans/> The settlement of the village of Miranda developed through the initiative of King [[Denis of Portugal|Denis]], in an area that lay between the lateral slopes of the [[Douro]] and [[Fresno River]]s. It was in Miranda that the [[Treaty of Alcañices|Treaty of Alcanices]] was signed between Denis and [[Ferdinand IV of Castile]], setting the border between the [[Kingdom of Portugal]] and the [[Crown of Castile]].<ref name="CMHistoria">{{cite web|url=http://www.cm-mdouro.pt/historia/|title=O Concelho: Historia|editor=Câmara Municipal|location=Miranda do Douro, Portugal|publisher=Câmara Municipal de Miranda do Douro|language=pt|access-date=10 May 2011|year=2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20110521055028/http%3A//www.cm%2Dmdouro.pt/historia/|archive-date=21 May 2011}}</ref>

Miranda was founded on 18 December 1286, and immediately elevated to the status of ''vila'' ({{langx|en|town}}), with one of its prerequisites declaring that the administrative division would be a Crown fief.<ref name="CMHistoria" /> From that period forward, Miranda became progressively one of the most important towns that skirted the [[Trás-os-Montes Province|Trás-os-Montes]] region.<ref name="CMHistoria" />

The Castilians occupied Miranda do Douro during the late 14th century, and would remain there until they were expelled by [[John I of Portugal]].<ref name="DEvans" /> On 10 July 1545, King [[John III of Portugal|John III]] elevated ''Miranda do Douro'' to the status of city, at the same time becoming the first [[diocese]] in Trás-os-Montes (in a [[papal bull]] on 22 May 1545 by Pope Paul III, which segmented a major part of the archdiocese of Braga.<ref name="CMHistoria" /> Miranda, therefore, became the capital of the Trás-os-Montes, seat of the bishopric (that included the residence of the bishop, canons and ecclesiastical authorities), military governorship and civil centre.<ref name="CMHistoria" />

In 1762, during the [[Seven Years' War]], the army of [[Charles III of Spain]] invaded the Trás-os-Montes. During the course of his invasion, the gunpowder magazine (with over 500 barrels of powder) was hit by a cannon, destroying the four towers of the castle and many of the barrios in the vicinity.<ref name=DEvans/><ref name=CMHistoria/> Approximately a third of the city's population (about 400 residents) were killed, resulting in the ruin of the religious, demographic and urbanized portion of Miranda.<ref name=DEvans/><ref name=CMHistoria/> It was almost two years later (1764) that [[friar]] Aleixo Miranda Henriques (then the twenty-third bishop) would abandon Miranda, moving to [[Bragança Municipality|Bragança]], which had become a rival episcopal seat in the northeast part of Portugal.<ref name=CMHistoria/> By 1680, it was the only ecclesiastical seat in the region.

[[File:Parque Urbano do Rio Fresno - Miranda do Douro - Portugal (4324877456) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Urban park.]]

The area was served by a narrow gauge railway, the [[Sabor line]] ''(Linha do Sabor)'', which ran over 100&nbsp;km between Duas Igrejas-Miranda and the southern terminus at [[Pocinho]], where connections could be made to the main line to [[Porto]]. The Sabor line closed in 1988.

==Geography==

===Physical geography===
Miranda do Douro is located in a region that skirts the border between the Portuguese Trás-os-Montes region, and the Spanish autonomous community of [[Castile and León]]. The relief in this region is influenced by hard quartzite deposits near the border region, making erosion difficult, resulting in high escarpments and cliffs. The soils are composed of [[schist]]s and [[granite]] bedrocks.

====Ecoregions/Protected areas====
[[File:Arribes del Duero - Miranda edited.jpg|thumb|left|[[Douro International Natural Park]].]]

The ''Parque Natural do Douro Internacional'' ({{langx|en|Douro International Nature Park}}), which encompasses the municipalities of [[Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo]], [[Freixo de Espada à Cinta]], Miranda do Douro and [[Mogadouro]], includes an area of {{convert|85150|ha|sqmi}}, along the border portion of the Douro River. It was created on 11 May 1998 to encompass the constituent territories that encompass the Rivers  Douro and Águeda, along the Spain-Portugal border that include similar geological and climatic conditions, and to help support flora and fauna in the region, while allowing appropriate human activities. The creation of the complementary ''Parque Natural de Arribes'' in Spain, allowed the systematic protection of an area that encompassed the larger ecosystem and biome.

===Climate===
Miranda do Douro has a warm-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] (''Csb''). Due to its inland location in the ''Nordeste Transmontano'', the area experiences extreme weather fluctuations. A common saying of the region goes: ''Em Miranda há nove meses de Inverno e três de Inferno ("In Miranda there are nine months of winter and three months of Hell")''.<ref name="Concelho">{{cite web|url=http://www.cm-mdouro.pt/concelho/|title=O Concelho|editor=Câmara Municipal|location=Miranda do Douro, Portugal|publisher=Câmara Municipal de Miranda do Douro|language=pt|access-date=10 May 2011|year=2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090623001214/http://www.cm-mdouro.pt/concelho/|archive-date=23 June 2009}}</ref> Summers tend to be dry and warm; while winters are rigorously cold with some snowfall,<ref name=Concelho/> having average minimum temperatures hovering around {{convert|0|C}} in January, and frequently falling negative, with 70 days of frost per year on average.<ref name="IPMA">{{cite web |url=http://www.ipma.pt/bin/file.data/climate-normal/cn_71-00_MIRANDA_DO_DOURO.pdf |title=Monthly Averages for Miranda do Douro (1971–2000)|publisher=Instituto de Meteorologia}}</ref> The summer is completely opposite: hot and dry with maximum temperatures hovering around {{convert|30|C}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cm-mdouro.pt/clima/|title=O Concelho: Clima|editor=Câmara Municipal|location=Miranda do Douro, Portugal|publisher=Câmara Municipal de Miranda do Douro|language=pt|access-date=10 May 2011|year=2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20110521054852/http%3A//www.cm%2Dmdouro.pt/clima/|archive-date=21 May 2011}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Miranda do Douro, elevation: {{convert|693|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}, 1971-2000 normals and extremes
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes

|Jan record high C = 16.5
|Feb record high C = 20.0
|Mar record high C = 23.8
|Apr record high C = 28.5
|May record high C = 31.4
|Jun record high C = 36.1
|Jul record high C = 39.4
|Aug record high C = 40.8
|Sep record high C = 38.6
|Oct record high C = 29.2
|Nov record high C = 23.2
|Dec record high C = 20.5
|year record high C =

|Jan high C = 8.2
|Feb high C = 11.0
|Mar high C = 14.1
|Apr high C = 15.6
|May high C = 19.3
|Jun high C = 24.7
|Jul high C = 28.8
|Aug high C = 28.9
|Sep high C = 24.9
|Oct high C = 18.4
|Nov high C = 12.6
|Dec high C = 9.2
|year high C =

|Jan mean C = 4.1
|Feb mean C = 6.1
|Mar mean C = 8.3
|Apr mean C = 10.0
|May mean C = 13.4
|Jun mean C = 17.9
|Jul mean C = 21.2
|Aug mean C = 21.1
|Sep mean C = 17.9
|Oct mean C = 12.7
|Nov mean C = 7.8
|Dec mean C = 5.4
|year mean C =

|Jan low C = 0.0
|Feb low C = 1.1
|Mar low C = 2.5
|Apr low C = 4.4
|May low C = 7.6
|Jun low C = 11.1
|Jul low C = 13.5
|Aug low C = 13.4
|Sep low C = 11.0
|Oct low C = 7.2
|Nov low C = 3.1
|Dec low C = 1.5
|year low C =

|Jan record low C = -12.3
|Feb record low C = −11.6
|Mar record low C = -13.2
|Apr record low C = -5.2
|May record low C = -3.4
|Jun record low C = 2.1
|Jul record low C = 5.1
|Aug record low C = 4.3
|Sep record low C = -0.2
|Oct record low C = -4.9
|Nov record low C = -6.0
|Dec record low C = -7.4
|year record low C =

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 62.9
|Feb rain mm = 54.2
|Mar rain mm = 29.9
|Apr rain mm = 56.4
|May rain mm = 59.3
|Jun rain mm = 35.9
|Jul rain mm = 16.3
|Aug rain mm = 14.4
|Sep rain mm = 33.8
|Oct rain mm = 60.5
|Nov rain mm = 61.7
|Dec rain mm = 76.4
|year rain mm =

|Jan precipitation days = 11.3
|Feb precipitation days = 10.8
|Mar precipitation days = 8.6
|Apr precipitation days = 11.7
|May precipitation days = 11.0
|Jun precipitation days = 7.0
|Jul precipitation days = 4.0
|Aug precipitation days = 3.9
|Sep precipitation days = 5.8
|Oct precipitation days = 9.6
|Nov precipitation days = 8.8
|Dec precipitation days = 12.0
|year precipitation days =

| Jan snow days = 1.1
| Feb snow days = 0.6
| Mar snow days = 0.5
| Apr snow days = 0.4
| May snow days = 0.1
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0
| Nov snow days = 0.1
| Dec snow days = 0.3
| year snow days =

|Jan sun = 100.2
|Feb sun = 137.9
|Mar sun = 200.7
|Apr sun = 203.7
|May sun = 248.0
|Jun sun = 306.4
|Jul sun = 348.1
|Aug sun = 331.7
|Sep sun = 227.7
|Oct sun = 183.4
|Nov sun = 136.9
|Dec sun = 93.2
|year sun =

|source = [[Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera|Instituto de Meteorologia]]<ref name="IPMA">{{cite web |url=http://www.ipma.pt/bin/file.data/climate-normal/cn_71-00_MIRANDA_DO_DOURO.pdf |title=Monthly Averages for Miranda do Douro (1971–2000)|publisher=Instituto de Meteorologia}}</ref>}}

===Human geography===
{{stack|
{{Historical populations
|title = Population of<br>Miranda do Douro<br><small>(1801 - 2011)</small>
| 1801 | 88881
| 1849 | 7146
| 1900 | 10639
| 1930 | 11272
| 1960 | 18972
| 1981 | 9948
| 1991 | 8697
| 2001 | 8048
| 2011 | 7482
}}
}}

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 13 civil parishes (''[[freguesia (Portugal)|freguesias]]''):<ref>{{cite web|title=Law nr. 11-A/2013, pages 552 71-72|url=http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2013/01/01901/0000200147.pdf |access-date=28 July 2014|author=Diário da República|author-link=Diário da República|language=pt}}</ref>
* [[Constantim e Cicouro]] ({{Langx|mwl|Custantin i Cicouro}})
* [[Duas Igrejas (Miranda do Douro)|Duas Igrejas]] ({{langx|mwl|Dues Eigreijas}})
* [[Genísio]] ({{langx|mwl|Zenízio}})
* [[Ifanes e Paradela]] ({{Langx|mwl|Infainç i Paradela}})
* [[Malhadas]]
* [[Miranda do Douro (parish)|Miranda do Douro]] ({{langx|mwl|Miranda de l Douro}})
* [[Palaçoulo]] ({{langx|mwl|Palaçuolo}})
* [[Picote (Miranda do Douro)|Picote]] ({{langx|mwl|Picuote}})
* [[Póvoa (Miranda do Douro)|Póvoa]] ({{langx|mwl|Pruoba}})
* [[São Martinho de Angueira]] ({{langx|mwl|San Martino}})
* [[Sendim e Atenor]] ({{Langx|mwl|Sendin i Atanor}})
* [[Silva e Águas Vivas]] ({{Langx|mwl|Silba i Augas Bibas}})
* [[Vila Chã de Braciosa]] ({{langx|mwl|Bila Chana de Barceosa}})

[[File:Miranda do Douro 10.JPG|thumb|200px|The municipal seat and principal town of the municipality of Miranda.]]

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal}}
Miranda do Douro is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Cidades Geminadas|url=https://www.cm-mdouro.pt/pages/117|website=cm-mdouro.pt|publisher=Miranda do Douro|language=pt|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Aranda de Duero]], Spain
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Bimenes]], Spain
[[File:Museu terra miranda.jpg|thumb|200px|"Museu da Terra de Miranda" (museum of the lands of Miranda).]]

==Culture==
The city has been isolated from the rest of the country for many centuries, so the ancestral way of life is still vivid in the traditions and even in the language (see below). Apart from the distance, the weather conditions are also an adversary, as it is very cold and snowy in winter, and very dry and hot in summer.

Gastronomy is one of the local hallmarks, well within the tradition of Trás-os Montes. "Posta à Mirandesa", a heavy, thick steak, is the traditional dish, known and imitated through the rest of the country. The wine from the region has a high alcoholic graduation (17–18°) and matches the regional cuisine well.

The city's old quarter, with the cathedral, dates back to the [[Middle Ages]].  Most houses are small and one story high. Inside the old city proper lie the town hall and museum, the "Museu da Terra de Miranda" (museum of the lands of Miranda), which has displays of  archaeological findings, farm life, local clothing, and traditional masks.

The city has no industries but depends on commercial activity, mainly the sale of house textiles and cutlery from the village of [[Palaçoulo]]. Spaniards come in great number on holidays and weekends. There are several hotels, among them the Pousada de Santa Catarina, which overlooks the Douro River.

===Mirandese language===
[[File:Miranda09.jpg|thumb|200px|Sign outside the [[Cathedral of Miranda do Douro]] in the [[Mirandese language]].]]
{{Main|Mirandese language}}
The surrounding area is home to the speakers of [[Mirandese language|Mirandese]] (''Mirandês''), a language of the [[Astur-Leonese languages|Astur-Leonese]] family, related to [[Asturian language|Asturian]] and [[Leonese language|Leonese]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org |title=UNESCO }}</ref> Mirandese was recognised in 1999 by the Portuguese state as co-official with [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for local matters, and an estimate of between 10,000 and 15,000 people speak the language.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www10.gencat.net/pres_casa_llengues/AppJava/frontend/llengues_detall.jsp?id=43&idioma=5 |title=LINGUAMÓN - Casa de les Llengües > Asturian |access-date=17 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402042536/http://www10.gencat.net/pres_casa_llengues/AppJava/frontend/llengues_detall.jsp?id=43&idioma=5 |archive-date=2 April 2012 }}</ref>

[[File:Câmara Municipal de Miranda do Douro - Portugal (1341654816).jpg|thumb|200px|Municipality.]]

==Tourism==
Miranda do Douro is in the middle of [[Douro International Natural Park]], also known as Parque Natural do Douro Internacional in Portuguese, which is a protected natural area located in northeastern [[Portugal]] and northwestern [[Spain]]. The natural park promotes the unique ecological and cultural heritage of the region.

The park is situated along the [[Douro River]], which forms the border between Portugal and Spain for a significant portion of its course. It covers an area of approximately 85,000 hectares (210,000 acres), with about two-thirds of the park located in [[Portugal]] and the remaining third in [[Spain]].

The walking trail from Miranda do Douro to [[São João das Arribas]] is a beautiful route in Portugal that offers stunning views of the Douro River and the surrounding landscapes. The trail starts in Miranda do Douro and leads to São João das Arribas, which is known for its impressive cliffs overlooking the [[Douro River]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sikdar |first1=Rabin |title=Miranda Do Douro and the Majestic Douro International Natural Park |url=https://www.tourola.eu/miranda-do-douro-douro-international-natural-park/ |website=www.tourola.eu |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref>

==Notable citizens==
* [[Leonel Vieira]] (born 1969) film director in late 20th and early 21st century; filmed the video ''Rosa Branca'' for [[fado|fadist]] [[Mariza]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0896662/  Leonel Vieira, IMDb Database] retrieved 26 February 2022.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Kingdom of León]]
*[[Leonese language]]
*[[Planalto Mirandes IPR]]
*[[Terra de Miranda]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage}}
*{{commons-inline}}
*[http://www.cm-mdouro.pt/ City government official website]
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/1419532/ Photos from Miranda do Douro]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060829070301/http://www.bragancanet.pt/pauliteiros/ Pauliteiros de Miranda] Mirandese culture (in Portuguese)

{{Municipalities of Bragança}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miranda Do Douro}}
[[Category:Miranda do Douro]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Bragança District]]
[[Category:Cities in Portugal]]
[[Category:Populated places in Bragança District]]