Mesão Frio
| Mesão Frio | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | |||
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| Coordinates: 41°9′26″N 7°53′35″W / 41.15722°N 7.89306°WCoordinates: 41°9′26″N 7°53′35″W / 41.15722°N 7.89306°W | |||
| Country |
 Portugal
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| Region | Norte | ||
| Subregion | Douro | ||
| Intermunic. comm. | Douro | ||
| District | Vila Real | ||
| Parishes | 5 | ||
| Government | |||
| • President | Alberto Monteiro Pereira (PPD-PSD) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 26.65 km2 (10.29 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 78 m (256 ft) | ||
| Highest elevation | 1,025 m (3,363 ft) | ||
| Lowest elevation | 50 m (160 ft) | ||
| Population (2011) | |||
| • Total | 4,433 | ||
| • Density | 170/km2 (430/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1) | ||
| Postal code | 5040 | ||
| Area code | 254 | ||
| Website | http://www.cm-mesaofrio.pt | ||
Mesão Frio (Portuguese pronunciation: [mɨˈzɐ̃w ˈfɾi.u]) is a municipality in the district of Vila Real in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 4,433, in an area of 26.65 km².
The occupation of the territory of Mesão Frio dates back to the Romans, who occupied a castro in the area around Cidadelhe (from excavations encountered in this location).
The early nucleu of the modern Mesão Frio was founded near the Church of São Nicolau, which was erected on the instruction of Queen Maud of Savoy, Afonso Henriques' wife.
Mesão Frio was an early shelter on the Roman roadway; it was initially a respect, successively serving travellers, stabling horses and providing fresh animals, the settlement itself evolving approximately in the 3rd century, from the Latin “mansionis frigidae”.
Even before the establishment of a Kingdom of Portugal, the territory was occupied by Subei, Visigoths and Arabs, and for a time were the lands of Penaguião, extending between the Douro and Corgo Rivers, the sierra of Marão and the lands of Panóias (Vila Real). The first medieval references to Mesão Frio appeared in the correspondence of Henrique, Count of Portugal, where it was called “Meijon-Frio”. Its name evolved over centuries with the Portuguese language taking on variations that included: Meijon Frio, Meijó Frio, Mey Johan Frio, Meyon Frio, Meyão Frio and Mezam Frio, until reaching its current variation.
At one time, there was a legend that the toponymy was attributed to Esteves Gracia Monzon Friwn, who in 942 (during the reign of Ramiro II of León) entered along the Douro River with French knights whom took lands and rechristened them. This origin story was supported by the existence of six tombs within the Church of São Nicolau. The funerary monument was sculpted with the coat of arms of French knights, at a time when French knights crossed the territory during the Reconquista (718-1492).
The first foral was allocated by Afonso Henriques in February 1152, and later confirmed by Afonso II on 15 October 1217, while the King was Trancoso. Three days before St. Andrew's Day in 1513, King Manuel I of Portugal renovated the foral (a copy of which is located in the municipal archive).
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Wikipedia