Alfaião
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Coordinates: 41°45′47″N 6°43′37″W / 41.763°N 6.727°W / 41.763; -6.727 | |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Region | Norte |
| Intermunic. comm. | Terras de Trás-os-Montes |
| District | Bragança |
| Municipality | Bragança |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.58 km2 (6.79 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 521 m (1,709 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
| |
| • Total | 173 |
| • Density | 9.8/km2 (25/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC±00:00 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) |
| Postal code |
5300
|
| Area code | 273 |
| Patron | São Martinho |
Alfaião is a Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Bragança. The population in 2011 was 173,[1] in an area of 17.58 km².[2]
Located in the central part of the municipality of Bragança, it was located a dozen of kilometres southeast of the Roman castro of Brigantina.[3] The settlement had its beginnings in a local castro that existed during the Iron Age.[3] In 1758, metallic objects were discovered in the remnants of a building, referred to as the castle by the locals.[3] A later historian suggested that the castle was of Roman origin, owing to the discovery of old military implements from that period. The same author also alluded to a second fortification "in top of the mountain...there was an old ancient Castle, and it can still be seen the bowls used there..."[3] Similar references were echoed by the Abbot of Baçal (and other investors), who confirmed the existence of two different settlements in Alfaião: Castelo das Freiras and Alto da Veiga (or also Vale de Castro.[3]
Few references to Alfaião's founding exist, and the parish was only mentioned in documents during the middle of the 13th century. One of the records date back to the Inquirições (administrative inventory) of 1258 ordered by Afonso III include a reference to a "parrochia Sancti Martini de Alfayãa", in the lands near Bragança.[3] Further references are sketchy, indicating that during the reign of King Sancho I the parishioners of Alfaião developed their community in parallel with the growth and establishment of Bragança.[3] After the creation of the bishopric of Miranda do Douro, the local Church of São Martinho fell within the authority of that church, until the diocese was extinguished and the clergy transferred to the Sé in Bragnaça.[3][4] At the time it had 70 inhabitants.[4]
The parish had its own local magistrate, subordinate to the superior judges and government of the city of Bragança by 1775. The local community had no local postal authority, and a visitor from the University in Coimbra referred to a community of less than 30 homes.
The topography in this region is planar, with hilltops oscillating between 500 and 750 metres high. The rapids of the Sabor River cut across the southern portion of the parish.[3]
Owing to its distance from Bragança, its demographic level has declined since the middle of the 20th century, when at the time its population hovered around 331 inhabitants.[3]
It is connected primarily across the EN217 (Bragança-Izeda-Mogadouro corridor) and rural road (by way of São Pedro de Sarracenos) to the municipal seat.
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