A Blooming Village
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Câmara Municipal de Ponte de Lima PONTE DE LIMA A BLOOMING VILLAGE PORTUGUESE APPICATION “ENTENTE FLORALE 2000” 2 INDEX Pag. PROGRAMME OF THE VISIT FROM THE EUROPEAN JURY 2 1 – Ponte de Lima, a “Blooming Village” 4 2 – A Walk through the village of Ponte de Lima 3 – Geographical Context 4 – Population 5 – Tourism 6 - Ponte de Lima (Social, Educational, Health, Sports) Infrastructures 7 – Ponte de Lima Socio-cultural Infrastructures and Activities 8 – Infrastructures and Leisure Areas 9 – Heritage 10 – Green Areas 3 European Contest “Blooming Villages” PROGRAMME Visit of the European Jury 8th and 9th June 2000 PONTE DE LIMA Tuesday: 8th June 14.00h Departure by bus to Ponte de Lima 15.00h Accommodation at Casas de Turismo de Habitação 17.00h Meeting at Madalena 20.00h Dinner at the Restaurant of Ponte de Lima Golf Course Friday: 9th June 9.30h Library (Presentation of a Video about Ponte de Lima) 10.00h Visit to Ponte de Lima Gardens 13.00h Lunch at Náutico Restaurant 14.30h Visit to the Ponte de Lima Gardens 17.00h Ponte de Lima Town Hall 17.30h Departure to the Airport 4 ITINERARY “A Walk through Ponte de Lima” Morning: Biblioteca Municipal (Library) » Igreja Matriz »Largo de S. José » Beco das Selas » Rua Formosa »Capela das Pereiras » Rua Fonte da Vila »Jardim Alberto Sampaio »Parque da Lapa » Paço do Marquês » Largo Dr. António de Magalhães » Rua de Souto »Largo da Porta Nova » Muralhas (Village walls) » Torre da Cadeia » Passeio 25 de Abril » Avenida dos Plátanos » Museu dos Terceiros » Parque da Guia » Açude » Rio Lima (Lima River) Afternoon: Náutico/ Marina » Passeio (Sidewalk along the River) » Campos do Arnado » Parque Temático do Arnado » Ponte Velha (Ancient Bridge) » Largo de S. João » Calçada dos Artistas » Rua das Neves » Câmara Municipal (Town Hall) 5 1 – Ponte de Lima, a “BLOOMING VILLAGE” In the heart of Ribeira Lima, where the valley spreads among the mountains, we find the borough which best defines and evidences in its nature and in its population, the character and the soul of the Minho province. Ponte de Lima concentrates, in a small scale, everything that shapes the character of the Minho: the small villages, farms and Solares in the plains; the belvederes with a view of the wedding between the blue sky, the green landscape and often also the white mist over the river; the presence of rivers and streams, singing in the mountains and silent in the plain. The history is also very rich, sculpted in bridges, chapels and manor houses. All is part of Mui Antiga e Leal Vila de Ponte de Lima , a title given by the Queen D. Maria II. Ponte de Lima had its origin in the Roman way Braga-Tui-Astorga. The bridge existed since this very beginning. In 1125 Queen Teresa granted Royal Charter to the village of Ponte de Lima. The market was also created at that time – one of the oldest and most colourful markets in the country, that still spreads on the banks of the river and through the village streets. In the middle of the 14th century, King Pedro I built the walls and the towers around the village. In the reign of King Manuel the medieval urban centre experienced a marked growth. Several manor and state houses were built in the 18th century, with the money from Brazil and the local agriculture income. The valley of Ponte de Lima is naturally a spontaneous garden. By the river, poplars and willows embroider its margins. In the pastures wild flowers spring as a yellow and violet tapestry with the village colours: corn marigold and borage. On the slopes, among the green of the forests, there are yellow and white spots of mimosa, genista and furze, and violet, purple flowered heather. 6 Besides all this enchanted natural landscape, the village presents Parks and Gardens full of colour, a result from the human intervention. The combination of this abundant vegetation from state and private gardens, and from the verandas of the houses make Ponte de Lima a “BLOOMING VILLAGE”, full of green areas. The village population evidences its kinship in green areas, gardens and flowers, which is well expressed through the gardens, verandas, windows embellished with flowers, the joint participation in events such as “Os Maios”, “Os Tapetes Floridos”, the embellishment of Chapels and Churches, the Popular Fairs, Festivities and Markets. To this natural and built heritage had been awarded several prizes in the areas of Environment and Gardens, namely: • The first “Blue Flag” in Portugal, to the Arnado River Beach; • “ The most blooming village of Portugal” (several awards) • Honour Award in the “European Contest of Blooming Villages”, in 1994 • European Award of Tourism and Environment, in 1995 In order to increase the local population participation in the improvement of green areas and private gardens, the Town Hall promotes several contestS, among which we may stress “Prémio Aldeia Limpa” (Tidy Villages’prize) and “Ponte de Lima mais Florida” (Ponte de Lima in Blossom), considering three different issues: Gardens, Flower Beds, and Verandas/ Windows. 7 2- A WALK THROUGH PONTE DE LIMA (Map no. 1) MORNING: CAPELA DAS PEREIRAS An area of architectonic interest, enriched by flower beds and the plantation of small trees near the chapel. ALBERTO SAMPAIO GARDEN A garden with flower beds of annual plants, divided by boxwood, next to Paços de Concelho and the Pillory. PAÇO DO MARQUÊS A garden with designed hedges and bushes, also with flower beds of annual plants divided by boxwood and a rose garden. There is also a green with high trees and autochthonous shrubs. LAPA PARK Lapa Park presents a wide variety of ancient trees, namely Cedrus deodara, and Cedrus libani . Other interesting species are Ulmus pendula, Tila argentea, Liriodendron tulipifera, Cercis siliquatrum, Juglans nigra, Aesculus hippocastanun, Catalpa hybrida and Acer negundo. The flower beds present shrubs and herbaceous plants adapted to the shade. This Park may be reached easily and it is located in the centre of the village, comprising also Lapa Chapel. A pergola with a Chinese wistaria, two lakes, and stone benches along the wall that surrounds the Park, turn it into an ideal place to rest. 8 LARGO DR. ANTÓNIO MAGALHÃES It is an area that leads to the centre of the Village, with flower beds of annual plants and boxwood. It is important to mention Villa Belmira, a house of Brazilian type, with a cave and a baroque garden. AVENIDA DOS PLÁTANOS A sidewalk with hundred year old planetrees, which is one of the favourite places of the Village in the summer due to its shade. Its beauty remains through the Autumn through the presence of the leaves’ different colours. GUIA PARK This Park belongs to the project of revalorization of the River Lima banks, together with the Açude (Dam). The parking area of this park is mainly laid out as a garden, full of bushes, shrubs and trees. The type of vegetation allows a contrast with Avenida dos Plátanos, presenting mainly Aesculus hippocastanum . The remaining trees and shrubs have been grouped according to their foliage and height, in order to take profit from the colour of their leaves and their blossom in the different seasons. Here we have, among others, Camellias, Azaleas, Rhododendron and Spireas. Populus nigra were planted in order to diminish the presence of an already existing building. AFTERNOON: NAUTICAL CLUB/ MARINA A green area with a sports complex – A Nautical Centre and an Equestrian Centre. There are three green areas : a parking area, a restaurant and a marina/ Açude (dam). By the river there are some shrubs and other species adapted to the riverside. 9 SIDEWALK ALONG THE RIVER Along the right bank of the river a sidewalk has been built with stone benches. A green area, with Hidrangeas and all natural local species. CAMPOS DO ARNADO Arnado : a leisure area supporting Arnado River Beach. Lindens provide a pleasant shade over the picnic tables and over part of the river beach. The yellow jasmine and the Hidrangeas along the walls complete the embellishment of this area. Picnic park: This area has been constructed to provide a picnic and a parking area. The vineyards have been kept and trees were planted to provide shade for the area. The parking area is divided from the picnic area, and supports not only the picnic area but also the River Beach and the Village Gardens (Jardins Temáticos da Vila). ARNADO THEME PARK (PARQUE TEMÁTICO DO ARNADO) This park is part of the project of global revalorization of the riverside banks. It presents an historical development of the gardens all over the centuries. The existing agricultural structures have been utilised and integrated within the erudite gardens of different time periods, allowing the presentation of a botanical garden with a glass-house. A Roman Garden, a Renaissance Garden, and Baroque Garden and a Labyrinth, originated in the Greek mythology, depict different historical periods. 10 3 - GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT (Map no. 2) The borough of Ponte de Lima with an area of 321km2, comprises 51 parishes. Together with other neighbouring boroughs, Ponte de Lima occupies a central position in an axle of a great economic and demographic dynamic. (Littoral North – Galiza/Spain, Oporto Metropolitan Area – Vigo/ Spain). This borough is characterised by mountains and hills which limit the Lima hydrological basin. In the northern part of River one may find the Arga, Antela and Formigoso mountains and the hills of Penedo and S. Simão. South stands Padela mountain. The River Lima and other streams, such as Labruja River, Estorãos River, Cabril River and Trovela River constitute the support to the local ecological life. In spite of being the largest borough of the Lima Valley in what concerns intensity of urban occupation, Ponte de Lima is incipiently populated at the urban level and evidences a rural character, characterised by a scattered population.