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Gondomar, Portugal

Coordinates: 41°9′N 8°32′W / 41.150°N 8.533°W / 41.150; -8.533
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Gondomar
Municipality
Flag of Gondomar
Flag
Coat of arms of Gondomar
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 41°9′N 8°32′W / 41.150°N 8.533°W / 41.150; -8.533
Country Portugal
RegionNorte
Metropolitan areaPorto
DistrictPorto
Parishes7
Government
 • PresidentMarco Martins (PS)
Area
 • Total
131.86 km2 (50.91 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
164,257
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Websitehttp://www.cm-gondomar.pt

Gondomar (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡõduˈmaɾ] ⓘ) is a Portuguese municipality located in the eastern part of the Porto Metropolitan Area, just 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from central Porto. The population in 2021 was 164,257,[1] in an area of 131.86 square kilometres (50.91 sq mi).[2] The name "Gondomar" is sometimes attributed to the Visigothic king Gundemar, who may have established a religious domain in the region around the 7th century.[3]

Notable for its long-standing tradition in jewelry-making, Gondomar is considered the heart of Portugal's goldsmithing industry, accounting for 42% of the country's annual production.[4] Gondomar's local gastronomy is deeply influenced by the nearby Douro River with dishes like shad and lamprey being regional specialties.[citation needed] Gondomar's current mayor is Marco Martins.[5]

History

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Archaeological discoveries reveal that Gondomar has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The area also shows evidence of Roman occupation, particularly through gold mining activities in the surrounding regions.[3]

The name "Gondomar" is often attributed to the Visigothic king Gundemar, who is said to have established a couto (ecclesiastical domain) there in 610, although no evidence supports the presence of Visigothic knights in the area.[3] Gondomar officially became a couto in 1193 when King Sancho I granted the Carta de Couto as part of a conciliatory agreement with the Bishop of Porto, Martinho Rodrigues, following a conflict between the diocese and the monarchy. This charter confirmed and expanded the bishop’s influence over the region, which had been part of the diocese's holdings since 1120 through a donation by Countess Teresa to Bishop Hugo. The Carta de Couto was later confirmed by King Afonso II during the Inquirições and recognized Gondomar as the honra (noble domain) of Soeiro Reymondo, who owned a manor in the area.[6]

In 1515, during the reign of King Manuel I, Gondomar was granted its first foral (charter), which modernized its administrative and fiscal framework as part of the monarch’s broader reforms aimed at centralizing power and updating local taxation systems. These fertile lands were also granted to Margarida de Vilhena, who was awarded various privileges, including income and rents from the territory.[3][6]

Over the following centuries, the jurisdiction (Julgado) of Gondomar underwent several changes. Various administrative adjustments in the localities of Melres, Rio Tinto, Lomba, and São Pedro da Cova altered the municipality's boundaries. Avintes and Campanhã were previously a part of the municipality, although they are now part of the municipalities of Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto respectively.[3]

In 1868, the parishes of São Cosme, Valbom, Rio Tinto, Fânzeres, São Pedro da Cova, Jovim, Foz do Sousa, Covelo, Medas, Melres, and Lomba were incorporated into the municipality. São Cosme was officially confirmed as Gondomar's municipal seat in 1927 following a formal request to the Presidency of the Republic.[3]

In 1875, the opening of the Minho and Douro railway lines connected the parish of Rio Tinto to Porto and the Minho and Trás-os-Montes regions. The station became a vital hub for transporting goods such as coal from São Pedro da Cova, corn, furniture, and passengers, driving industrial development in the area. The original station, unable to accommodate growing demand, was replaced in 1935 by the current building.[7] In 2011, the Porto Metro light-rail system reached the areas of Rio Tinto, Baguim do Monte and Fânzeres.[8]

Significant milestones in the 20th century include the establishment of the parish of Baguim do Monte in 1985 and Gondomar's elevation to city status in 1991, followed by Rio Tinto in 1995 and Valbom in 2005.[3]

Demographics

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Population of Gondomar Municipality (1801 – 2021)
1801 1849 1900 1930 1960 1981 1991 2001 2011 2021
7 220 19 103 32 428 49 758 84 599 130 751 143 178 164 096 168 027 164 257

Cities and towns

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Cities are:

Parishes

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Administratively, the municipality is divided into 7 civil parishes (freguesias):[9]

Economy

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Gondomar is recognized as the capital of goldsmithing in Portugal, accounting for 42% of the country’s annual production in the jewelry and goldsmithing sector. The municipality is home to approximately 445 businesses in this field, 70% of which are sole proprietorships, generating an estimated turnover of 50 million euros annually and employing around 800 people, making it the fourth-largest employment sector in the municipality. Jewelry from Gondomar is exported to countries such as Spain, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, the United States, France, and Switzerland. To further enhance the industry's identity and global reach, Gondomar launched the "Gondomar Original Jewellery" certification mark in 2023.[4]

Sports

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The town has one association football team called Gondomar who currently play in the Campeonato de Portugal, the fourth tier of Portuguese football.

Transports

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Gondomar is integrated into the Porto metropolitan area's public transportation network. The Porto Metro serves the municipality with Line F (Orange Line), which connects Fânzeres, Baguim do Monte, and Rio Tinto to central Porto and the municipalities of Matosinhos, Maia, Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim. The line has frequent service intervals of 15 minutes during peak hours.[10]

The Rio Tinto Train Station is part of Portugal's railway network, with Comboios de Portugal providing urban services to Porto, Braga, Guimarães, and Marco de Canaveses. It has an interface in Rio Tinto with the Porto Metro.[11]

Additionally, Gondomar is served by STCP buses, which provide regular connections to Porto, and by other bus operators under the UNIR network, linking the municipality to surrounding areas.[12][13]

Notable people

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Sport

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Sister cities

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Gondomar has the following sister cities:[14]

References

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  1. ^ INE (2021). "Censos". Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  2. ^ "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "História" [History]. Câmara Municipal de Gondomar (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  4. ^ a b "Capital da ourivesaria em Portugal dá as mãos para ganhar o mundo". www.jornaldenegocios.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  5. ^ "Biografia". Câmara Municipal de Gondomar (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  6. ^ a b "Arquivo Histórico Municipal de Gondomar > O Arquivo > Fundos e Coleções > Documentos Para a História > Carta de Couto e Foral Manuelino". arquivohistorico.cm-gondomar.pt. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  7. ^ Correia, Filipe. "Estação de Caminhos-de-Ferro de Rio Tinto" [Rio Tinto railway station]. Biblioteca Municipal de Gondomar (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  8. ^ "História" [History]. Metro do Porto (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  9. ^ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 53" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Nova Linha Laranja (F)" [The new orange line (F)]. Metro do Porto (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  11. ^ "Estação de Rio Tinto" [Rio Tinto Station]. Comboios de Portugal (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  12. ^ "Grande Porto vai ter novos (e mais) autocarros: UNIR arranca a 1 de dezembro com 439 linhas a ligar 17 municípios" [Greater Porto will have new (and more) busses: UNIR is lauched on 1 December with 439 lines connecting 17 municipalities]. Expresso (in European Portuguese). 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  13. ^ "UNIR - Nova rede metropolitana de autocarros" [UNIR - New metropolitan bus network]. Câmara Municipal de Gondomar (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  14. ^ "Barton | Inglaterra". Câmara Municipal de Gondomar (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
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