# Fontelo

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Civil parish in Norte, Portugal

Fontelo Civil parish Fontelo Location in Portugal Coordinates: 41°07′19″N 7°43′52″W / 41.122°N 7.731°W / 41.122; -7.731 Country Portugal Region Norte Intermunic. comm. Douro District Viseu Municipality Armamar Area • Total 7.52 km2 (2.90 sq mi) Elevation 518 m (1,699 ft) Population (2011) • Total 641 • Density 85.2/km2 (221/sq mi) Time zone UTC+00:00 (WET) • Summer (DST) UTC+01:00 (WEST) Postal code 5110 Area code 254 Patron São Domingos Website http://www.terralusa.net/index.php?site=120&sec=part4

**Fontelo** is a parish in the northern municipality of [Armamar](/source/Armamar) in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 641,[1] in an area of 7.52 km².[2]

## History

There are a few elements that prove the antiquity of the settlement of Fontelo. The [castro](/source/Castro_culture) of *São Domingos*, which was a Romanized rural *villa*, marks the first referential indication of local settlement.[3] The settlement's growth is intimately linked to the chapel that was constructed on Mount São Domingos, in place of a pagan shrine.

In the second half of the 12th century, Fontelo was divided into three "honours": that of Egas Moniz, that of Pero Viegas, and a Crown bridge.[4][5]

Fontelo became a centre of the [Knights Hospitaller](/source/Knights_Hospitaller) by donation of Veraca Sanches, daughter of [Sancho I of Portugal](/source/Sancho_I_of_Portugal), which helped resettlement of the community. During the donatorio period, the primary benefactors were the Coutinho family, rich nobles who were alcaides of Lamego and Trancoso, and who later became Counts of Marialva.[5][6] Later, it became a command of the [Sovereign Military Order of Malta](/source/Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta), with a resident bishop, granted by the *Casa dos Santos*. It was also the seat of a vicariate of the Bishopric of Lamego, later reduced to a rectorate.[4][5]

Legend recounts that King [Afonso V](/source/Afonso_V_of_Portugal) visited the ancient chapel of São Domingos with Queen [Elizabeth of Portugal](/source/Elizabeth_of_Portugal) in 1454, on his journey to battle in Toro.[5] Another visit was made a few years later by his son [John II](/source/John_II_of_Portugal) and Queen Leonor, to request divine intervention in order for the couple to conceive an heir to the throne.[5] They returned in 1483, with their son, the Infante Afonso (born on 18 May 1475) and thereafter couples that wished to conceive used to sleep on the *pedra propiciatória* (*favourable stone*), also the *fraga da fertilidade* (*boulder of fertility*), located outside the door leading to the sacristy of the chapel.[5]

The parish was established as a municipality on 17 May 1514 by the [Manueline](/source/Manuel_I_of_Portugal) [foral](/source/Foral), with its own magistrate, secretary, two councilmen, a prosecutor, jail, municipal salon and [pillory](/source/Pillory).[3] The municipality was abolished in 1834-35, and the parish was integrated into the municipality of Armamar.[3]

## Geography

Fontelo is the second most populous parish in the municipality of Armamar, with approximately 816 habitantes and 262 families.[3] In addition to Fontelo, the locality of Balteiro, is another locality within its territory, six kilometres from the municipal seat.[3] Three other localities are Comenda, Serra and Tapada.

## Economy

Agriculture, more specifically viniculture but also dairy and beef cattle, has been the most important part of the local economy. There is also civil construction and industry, primarily granite quarrying in the eastern part of Mount São Domingos.

## References

**Notes**

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ine_1-0)** [Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)](http://www.ine.pt/ngt_server/attachfileu.jsp?look_parentBoui=165404348&att_display=n&att_download=y), Census 2011 results according to the 2013 administrative division of Portugal

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dgt_2-0)** ["Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país"](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_/). Archived from [the original](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_/) on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CMHistoria_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CMHistoria_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CMHistoria_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-CMHistoria_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-CMHistoria_3-4) Câmara Municipal, ed. (2011). ["Fontelo"](http://www.cm-armamar.pt/turismo/freguesias/) (in Portuguese). Armamar, Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Armamar. Retrieved 7 June 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Monteiro,_J._Gonçalves_Monteiro_1984_p._244_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Monteiro,_J._Gonçalves_Monteiro_1984_p._244_4-1) Monteiro, J. Gonçalves Monteiro (1984) p. 244

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-JFHistoria_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-JFHistoria_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-JFHistoria_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-JFHistoria_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-JFHistoria_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-JFHistoria_5-5) Junta Freguesia, ed. (2011). ["História"](http://www.terralusa.net/index.php?site=120&sec=part4) (in Portuguese). Fontelo (Armamar), Portugal: Junta Freguesia de Fontelo. Retrieved 8 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Monteiro, J. Gonçalves Monteiro (1984) p. 245

- Monteiro, J. Gonçalves (1984), *Subsídios para a Monografia do Concelho de Armamar* (in Portuguese), Armamar, Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Armamar

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fontelo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontelo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontelo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
