Rates (Portuguese parish)
| Rates | |
|---|---|
| Parish | |
 |
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| Coordinates: 41°24′29″N 8°37′34″W / 41.408°N 8.626°WCoordinates: 41°24′29″N 8°37′34″W / 41.408°N 8.626°W | |
| Country | Portugal |
| Region | Norte |
| Subregion | Grande Porto |
| Metropolitan area | Porto |
| District | Porto |
| Municipality | Póvoa de Varzim |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.90 km2 (5.37 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 2,505 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (470/sq mi) |
Rates (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁatɨʃ]) is a Portuguese parish and a former township located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. The population in 2011 was 2,505, in an area of 13.90 km². The township has records dating to the 13th century and, still today, it preserves landmarks such as the townsquare and a well-preserved and notable Romanesque temple.
Rates is a medieval township that developed around the Monastery of Rates, established by Henry, Count of Portugal in 1100 AD on the site of an older temple dating to the 9th century or earlier and with sculpture elements dating to the Roman empire. A Roman road crossed near the monastery.
Rates naming seems pre-Roman in origin. The town gained importance due to the legend of Saint Peter of Rates, mythical first bishop of Braga and martyr while attempting to convert Roman pagans to Christianity, becoming in a central place in the Portuguese Way of Saint James and the local myth was used by Braga archbishops to justify their primacy in Hispania.
Rates township, a municipality, already existed in the 13th century and the ecclesiastical parish exists from time immemorial, while the earliest record dating to the 11th century.
In the 16th century, the monastery was dissolved and a commendation of the Order of Christ was created. Its first knight commander was Tomé de Sousa, who John III of Portugal made the first Governor of Brazil.
The town was extinct as it lost its municipal status in 1836 and was annexed to Póvoa de Varzim. It then became just a simple civil parish, and gained town status on July 2, 1993, due to its historical importance. however, the new status is merely honorary in nature and has no administrative significance.
Rates is located 11 km east of downtown Póvoa de Varzim; and borders Laundos to the west, and Balasar to the east. In the northeast it has a border with Barcelos and to the south with Vila do Conde.
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