Editing Valongo

{{Expand Portuguese|topic=geo|Valongo|date=March 2011}}
{{Infobox Portuguese subdivision
| type            = municipality
|seat=[[Valongo Municipal Chamber]]| image_flag      = Pt-vlg3.png
| flag_border     = no
| image_shield    = VLG1.png
| image_skyline           = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = Cruzeiro de Valongo - Portugal (39565147355).jpg
| photo1b                 = Rio Ferreira - Portugal (34837005213).jpg
| photo2a                 = Capela do Senhor do Calvário - Valongo - Portugal (38977898184) (cropped).jpg
| photo2b                 = Church of Valongo by Henrique Matos 01.jpg
| photo2c                 = Igreja de Santa Justa - Valongo - Portugal (40167211944) (cropped).jpg
| photo3a                 = Valongo - Portugal (41007322214) (cropped).jpg
| spacing                 = 2
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size                    = 280
| foot_montage            = 
}}
|coordinates             = {{coord|41|11|N|8|30|W|type:adm1st_region:PT_dim:100000|display=inline,title}}
| image_map       = LocalValongo.svg
|region             = [[Norte Region, Portugal|Norte]]
|metro              = [[Metropolitan Area of Porto|Porto]]
|district           = [[Porto District|Porto]]
| leader_party            = [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|PS]]
| leader_name             = José Manuel Ribeiro 
| area_total_km2          = 75.12
| population_total        = 94,672
| population_as_of        = 2021
| parishes         = [[#Parishes|4]]
| website                 = http://www.cm-valongo.pt/
}}
'''Valongo''' ({{IPA|pt|vɐˈlõɡu|-|Pt-pt_Valongo_FF.ogg}}) is a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[Municipalities of Portugal|municipality]] located in the [[District of Porto]] and 10&nbsp;km from [[Porto]], in the northern region of [[Portugal]].

The municipality area consists of {{Convert|75.12|km2|mi2}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carta Administrativa Oficial de Portugal {{!}} DGT |url=https://www.dgterritorio.gov.pt/cartografia/cartografia-tematica/caop?language=en |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=www.dgterritorio.gov.pt |language=pt-pt}}</ref> and 94,672 inhabitants in 2021,<ref name="ine3">{{Cite web |last=INE |date=2021 |title=Censos |url=https://tabulador.ine.pt/indicador/?id=0011609 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Instituto Nacional de Estatística}}</ref> and it is subdivided into four parishes: [[Alfena]], Campo e Sobrado, [[Ermesinde]] and [[Valongo (parish)|Valongo]]. The municipality is limited to the north by the municipality of [[Santo Tirso]], to the northeast by [[Paços de Ferreira]], to the east by [[Paredes, Portugal|Paredes]], to the southwest by [[Gondomar, Portugal|Gondomar]] and to the west by [[Maia, Portugal|Maia]].

== History ==
The Municipality of Valongo was created in 1836 as a part of the administrative reform of the country, which occurred during the reign of [[Maria II of Portugal|D. Maria II]]. However, human occupation of this region predates the [[Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=História |trans-title=History |url=https://www.cm-valongo.pt/descobrir/historia/historia |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Câmara Municipal de Valongo |language=pt-pt}}</ref>

===Ancient history===
This region was occupied by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]], especially for gold mining in the Serra de Santa Justa. One of the traces of Roman occupation is in the municipality name, which originated in the Latin words ''Vallis Longus''. There are still traces that would allow the detection of two main Roman connecting roads that would cross the municipality: the [[Porto]] - [[Guimarães]] road and the [[Alfena]] - Valongo - Aguiar de Sousa / [[Penafiel]] road.<ref name=":0" />

This region would then be occupied by the germanic [[Kingdom of the Suebi|Suebi]] and [[Visigothic Kingdom|Visigoths]] and later by Arabs and [[Moors]]. Toponyms in the municipality from this period include "Luriz" of [[Germanic languages|germanic]] origin and “Moirama”, “Ilhar Mourisco” and “Alfena” from [[Arabic]] origin.<ref name=":0" />

According to Father Lopes dos Reis, a native of Valongo, “the Moors entered Hespanha enthusiastic about the holy war with the alfange in one hand and [[Al Koran]] in the other, taking over with their powerful army all the places they could pass through. In Vallongo, perhaps there was no blood at all, because the inhabitants, few and without defense, could only fearlessly try to prevent the passage to a powerful enemy from whom they had known that an army of brave people had fled in terror. That is why, when the Arabs arrived in Vallongo (716), they left their people in peace without writing it, and by means of a certain tribute they gave them the freedom to live as they did here, going to settle far from the Goda settlement, which occupied the Susão and the western part of the villa, on the plain at the edge of a stream that was later called Ilhar Mourisco.”<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ferreira|first=Nuno|title=Igreja Matriz de Sobrado- O Segredo da Memória, Edição de Autor|publisher=Valongo|year=2016}}</ref>

After the ''[[Reconquista|reconquest]]'' of ''Portus Cale'' ([[Porto]]) by [[Vímara Peres]] in 868, he was named a count and given control of the [[March (territory)|frontier region]] between the [[Lima River|Lima]] and [[Douro]] rivers by [[Alfonso III of Asturias]], therefore bringing the region under control of the [[Kingdom of Asturias]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

===Middle ages===
From the [[Inquirições|General Inquiries]] of 1258, the current municipality was divided at the time between the jurisdiction (julgado) of [[Aguiar de Sousa]] - which included S. Martinho de Campo and Sobrado, and the jurisdiction of [[Maia, Portugal|Maia]], which included S. Vicente da Queimadela, Valongo and S. Lourenço de Asmes.<ref name=":0" />

From the economic and social point of view, at this time, the ownership of land was the basis of the economy and the main element of survival and power. In the area of the municipality, land belonged to the [[King]] and the [[Clergy]] - particularly the [[Regular clergy|Regular Clergy.]]<ref name=":0" />

The appearance of new settlements, the progressive extension of the term of existing settlements, the multiplication of suffragan chapels and the division of property, is evidence of the notorious demographic growth of this region over the centuries. This increase in population was accompanied by the progressive development of other sectors of the economy. Industry and commerce, initially based on incipient forms, acquire a strong expression in the economy. The traditional bakery industry is an excellent example of this: its origins date back to the Low Middle Ages, but the development of wheat bread is such a development, which allowed Valongo bakers to feed the entire surrounding region and with the product of their work. This, in turn, allows them to make a decisive contribution. for the construction of the new church, the Igreja Matriz de Valongo, whose construction dates to the end of the 18th century.<ref name=":0" />

===19th century===
At the dawn of the 19th century, Valongo experiences the hardship of the presence of [[Napoleon]]'s troops, during [[Peninsular War|the French Invasions]]. A division settled in Valongo, turning the church into a stable and plundering values from individuals and the church.<ref name=":0" />

These lands, therefore, served as a stage for battles and military movements that took place between the two straying brothers: D. Pedro, on the side of the Liberals, D. Miguel, on the part of the Miguelists/Absolutists. During this period two important battles take place: the [[Battle of Ponte Ferreira]] and the Battle of the Ant. In Ermesinde, the former Convent of Nª. Mr. do Bom Despacho (now, the Church of St. Rita), became a military hospital for Miguelists forces.<ref name=":0" />

By decree published on November 29, 1836, D. Maria II creates the Municipality of Valongo with the parishes of Sobrado, Campo and Gandra (which belonged to the Municipality of Baltar) and Alfena, Ermesinde and Valongo (which belonged to the Municipality of Maia).<ref name=":0" />{{Citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=Source does not go into this much detail}}

On May 18, 1852, there was a lunch at Travagem offered by the Municipality chamber to the Royal Family composed of [[Maria II of Portugal|Queen D. Maria II]], [[Ferdinand II of Portugal|King D. Fernando II]], then prince D. Pedro (future [[Pedro V of Portugal|D. Pedro V]]) and then prince D. Luís (future [[Luís I of Portugal|D. Luís I]]). This lunch took place on the last visit of D. Maria II to the north of Portugal in the form of thanks for the creation of the Municipality of Valongo in 1836.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Years later, there would be another royal visit, this time by D. Luís and D. Maria Pia. "For a long time, there was still talk with great admiration of the gigantic and beautiful arches that were made in many places of passage of the procession and that gave the celebrations an admirable splendor."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Costa|first=José Anégia.|title=Valongo, um salto para a modernidade|year=2000|location=Paços de Ferreira|pages=8–37}}</ref>

Between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 20th century, large farming houses were built across the municipality. The road network was developed within the limits of the municipality, which began being served by transport such as the tram and train. The main artery of Valongo and Ermesinde saw the opening of commercial establishments. During this time, the local population increased with migration from the interior of Portugal.<ref name=":0" />

By the middle of the 19th century, the region became an attractive site for the [[mining]] of [[slate]], but also of [[antimony]], [[tungsten]] and [[coal]]. At the borders of Ermesinde, large factories were set up, such as “Resineira”, “Cerâmica” - “Empresa Industrial de Ermesinde” and “Têxtil de Sá”, among others. The Municipality became the site for the expansion of industries such as [[metallurgy]], [[Textile|textile manufacturing]], [[Construction|civil construction]], public works, [[Food industry|food]], [[Wood industry|wood]] and [[furniture]]. Compared to the other parishes, Campo and Sobrado retain a greater level of rurality. The [[smallholding]] regime sustain their living with traditional productions - the vine, the [[Maize|corn]] and the fodder, which is linked to the production of [[milk]]. New crops such as [[Kiwifruit|kiwi]] and also were introduced to the region.<ref name=":0" />

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations|1864|8511|1878|9450|1890|11188|1900|11853|1911|13811|1920|14763|1930|17239|1940|23568|1950|27939|1960|33300|1970|41265|1981|64234|1991|74172|2001|86005|2011|93858|2021|94672|align=right|cols=1|source=INE<ref>Instituto Nacional de Estatística. [https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_publicacoes (Recenseamentos Gerais da População)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408005823/https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_publicacoes |date=8 April 2008 }}</ref>}}

''<small>(Obs.: Number of inhabitants (Residents))</small>''	
	
{|  class="wikitable"
|- 	
! colspan="13" | Number of inhabitants per Age Group<ref>INE - http://censos.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=CENSOS&xpgid=censos_quadros</ref> 	
|- bgcolor="white"	
|	
| align="center" | '''1900'''	
| align="center" | '''1911'''	
| align="center" | '''1920'''	
| align="center" | '''1930'''	
| align="center" | '''1940'''	
| align="center" | '''1950'''	
| align="center" | '''1960'''	
| align="center" | '''1970'''	
| align="center" | '''1981'''	
| align="center" | '''1991'''	
| align="center" | '''2001'''	
| align="center" | '''2011'''	
|- bgcolor="white"	
|'''0-14''' 
| align="center" |	4 305
| align="center" |	5 186
| align="center" |	5 420
| align="center" |	6 019
| align="center" |	8 596
| align="center" |	9 646
| align="center" |	12 259
| align="center" |	15 380
| align="center" |	19 503
| align="center" |	16 466
| align="center" |	15 349
| align="center" |	15 539
|- bgcolor="white"	
|'''15-24''' 
| align="center" |	2 229
| align="center" |	2 475
| align="center" |	2 901
| align="center" |	3 589
| align="center" |	4 112
| align="center" |	5 392
| align="center" |	5 627
| align="center" |	6 840
| align="center" |	11 913
| align="center" |	13 937
| align="center" |	13 060
| align="center" |	10 480
|- bgcolor="white"	
|'''25-64''' 
| align="center" |	4 570
| align="center" |	5 272
| align="center" |	5 713
| align="center" |	6 876
| align="center" |	9 447
| align="center" |	11 421
| align="center" |	13 788
| align="center" |	16 960
| align="center" |	28 969
| align="center" |	38 470
| align="center" |	49 173
| align="center" |	55 353
|- bgcolor="white"	
|'''= or > 65''' 
| align="center" |	633
| align="center" |	633
| align="center" |	605
| align="center" |	782
| align="center" |	1 051
| align="center" |	1 390
| align="center" |	1 626
| align="center" |	2 085
| align="center" |	3 849
| align="center" |	5 299
| align="center" |	8 423
| align="center" |	12 486
|- bgcolor="white"	
| > Age unknown
| align="center" |	35
| align="center" |	27
| align="center" |	26
| align="center" |	26
| align="center" |	60
|}	
''<small>(Obs: From 1900 until 1950, data refers to de facto population, who were present in the region. Hence, some differences can be expected relative to the resident population.)</small>''

== Administration ==
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 4 civil parishes (''[[freguesia (Portugal)|freguesias]]''):<ref>{{cite web|title=Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 125|url=http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2013/01/01901/0000200147.pdf |access-date=4 August 2014|author=Diário da República|author-link=Diário da República|language=pt}}</ref>
* [[Alfena]]
* Campo e Sobrado
* [[Ermesinde]]
* [[Valongo (parish)|Valongo]]

== Culture ==

'''Religious Patrimony'''

The municipality has a vast religious patrimony, which includes the Mother Churches, chapels, shrines, calvaries and cruises, often associated with religious festivities and local folk stories. ''Bugiada e Mouriscada'' is a festivity where populars stage a fight between ''Bugios'' ([[christians]]) and ''Mourisqueiros'' ( [[Infidel|non-believers]]) by the possession of [[John the Baptist]], alongside other folk and everyday lives activities.

'''Slate'''

There's a strong presence of [[slate]] [[mining]] industry and different transformative industries associated with slate, whose industrialization began in the 19th century and matured in the 20th century. Slate was formed 350 million years ago by a metamorphosis of shale, clay and volcanic ash that results to a fine-grained foliated rock. Common application and uses of slate can be found in [[Slate (writing)|writing slates]], [[blackboard]]s, as a [[roofing material]], for [[billiard table]] tops and in the decoration industry. The Slate Museum (''Museu da Lousa'') is located in the town of Campo.

'''Portuguese traditional toys'''

Alfena is home to an industry of handmade portuguese traditional toys, made using different kinds of available, and often recycled,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.verdadeiroolhar.pt/valongo-alfena-e-capital-do-brinquedo-ate-domingo-cfotos/|title=Alfena é a capital do brinquedo até domingo|date=29 September 2018}}</ref> materials including paper, wood, plate, celluloid and plastic. Toys often depict objects used in daily tasks.

'''''Regueifa'' and Biscuits'''

Regueifa is a form of [[bread]] popular in northern Portugal. The manufacture of bread in Valongo has been documented since the Middle Ages. In addition to being an indispensable daily food, a means of paying forums, it is likely that the biscuit was part of the sailors' rations during the period of the discoveries, thus paving the way for the manufacture of the biscuit that we know today. With the introduction of American big corn, the bread came to prominence and with the French invasions the “''mollet''” started to be produced. Currently, regueifa is considered a delicacy in the world of bread, with the regueifa of Valongo being famous in northern Portugal.

== Notable people ==
* [[Adriano Bessa]] (born 1976), a former [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Right back (association football)|right-back]]
* [[Francisco Chaló]] (born 1964), a [[Manager (association football)|football manager]] and former footballer
* [[Martim Fernandes]] (born 2006), a professional footballer who plays as a right-back
* [[António Dias de Oliveira]] (1804-1863), the [[List of prime ministers of Portugal|President of the Council of Ministers]] in 1837
* [[Josué Pesqueira]] (born 1990), known as ''Josué,'' a footballer with over 260 club caps and 4 for [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
* [[Bruno Silva (cyclist)|Bruno Silva]] (born 1988), a [[Cycling|cyclist]]
* [[Rui Vinhas]] (born 1986), a cyclist

==See also==
*[[Serras do Porto Park]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Valongo}}
{{Municipalities of Porto}}
{{PortoMA}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Valongo| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Portugal]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Porto District]]