LOS CIRCULOS DE OCCIDENTE

Viana do Castelo is a municipality on the northern coast of Portugal which climatic characteristics are predominantly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean.

Viana do Castelo municipality comprises forty parishes with a total area of 314,36 km² - Figure 11. Diversified landscape marked by the coastline, river and mountain makes Viana do Castelo a municipality populated by approximately eighty-eight thousand of inhabitants (INE, 2011) with an aging population and a wide gastronomic variety, heritage and ethnographic culture.

Viana do Castelo presents an almost plain urban area, where it draws an ancient hull with a medieval and Renaissance matrix, framed by a Baroque radial structure (Almeida and Belo, 2007:98).

The ease of circulation/movement and arrival to a destination is a key factor in the decision to travel being essential to the development of any region (Vareiro, 2008:147). Viana do Castelo has two main routes; one central route - IP1/A3 – is the major gateway to Spain and to the rest of the Portuguese territory and a coastline complement route - IC1/A28 – linking to the Porto Metropolitan Area. Viana do Castelo is also served by two airports located

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outside of the region namely, the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto and Vigo Airport – Galicia (Spain).

Figure 11 – Viana do Castelo municipality in northern Portugal region

Source: adapted from CCDR–N (2008)

4.2.2 Economic

Following the global trends, the services area, particularly the retail trade is the sector of activity which employs more Viana do Castelo’s population followed by the secondary and the primary sector (INE, 2011).

When reflecting about the number and type of enterprises present in the municipality of Viana do Castelo there is a concentration of companies linked to wholesale and retail repair of motor vehicles followed by the building construction, as well as the clothing industry and manufacture of wood and cork (INE, 2011:247).

Regarding the unemployment rate in the 3rd quarter of 2012, figures point to 16,4% of the unemployment rate in the north of Portugal (INE, 2012).

41 4.2.3 Cultural

Viana do Castelo is rich in tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Until the XIV century the historic center was populated by people linked to the sea which has boosted the sea trade and the shipbuilding remaining visible for those who visit the city (Almeida and Belo, 2007). Regarding its historic heritage, the monumental set of the historic center is marked by a mixture of artistic styles where the main square “Praça da República”, several monuments, churches and manor houses are representative from Manuelino, Barroque, Rococo and Romantic styles. Located at the top of the hill and overlooking the city is the Santa Luzia basilica and where National Geographic magazine considers one of the most magnificent sceneries in the entire world (Fernandes, 2011: 633). The iron bridge designed by the famous Eiffel House of Paris and the Castle of Santiago da Barra, a fort located on the bank of the Lima River facing the Atlantic Ocean dating from the 16th century make part of the iconic historic built heritage of the city (Fernandes, 2011).

Adding the contemporary architecture, namely the municipal library designed by the international architect Álvaro Siza Vieira which developed the riverside area and has been subject of curiosity, research and educational visits, Viana do Castelo is a seaside city with a variety of natural and cultural aspects which gives it uniqueness. Concerning to cultural properties the municipality of Viana do Castelo has nine “national monuments”, twenty properties of public interest and two properties classified as municipal interest, two museums and eight art galleries (INE, 2011:152).

The economic importance of museums in the local economy is much more complex than their ability to attract visitors, since they have been used as the main attractions drawing tourists into the cities: ’museums reflect an essential sense of a particular time and place unavailable elsewhere, and help to define the overall tourism product’ (Tufts and Milne, 1999 cit in Deffner and Metaxas, 2006:62). Viana do Castelo has the Museum of Art and Archaeology certified by the Portuguese Institute of Museums and it is part of the Portuguese Museum Network where can be found collections including valuable examples dating from the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th century (Fernandes, 2011). The Museum of Traditional Folklore Costume’s mission is to promote and study the regional

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identity of the people from the Alto Minho, of which Viana is part and it is also certified by the Portuguese Institute of Museums and it is part of the Portuguese Museum Network (Fernandes, 2011).

Taking into account that, the creative development lies in transforming intangible elements of the culture into experiences (Richards and Wilson, 2007:17) determines the key role of the intangible cultural heritage for the maintenance of cultural diversity and tourism consumption. The intangible cultural heritage concerns the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that belong to communities and are held by specific members (Cominelli, 2012:245). Regarding the intangible cultural heritage of Viana do Castelo, it has a wide immaterial heritage, from folklore (traditional dance) to popular festivals and music. “Our Lady of Agony” is the biggest religious festival held in August where thousands of visitors come to made part of the celebrations. The folk costumes, the traditional way of working wool and flax as well as the local pottery (“Loiça de Viana”) and regional embroideries (“Bordados de Viana”) are some examples of the wide immaterial heritage of Viana do Castelo. Viana do Castelo has also handicrafts events, particularly the monthly craft exhibition and crafts fair in August.

4.3 Tourism supply and demand in Viana do Castelo