About Vila Nova de Famalicão

Vila Nova de Famalicão is a municipality in the northwestern Portuguese district of Braga. The town itself has a population of 43, 158 (2011), while the municipality has 103, 310 inhabitants (2011). The municipality is located in the Cávado River valley and is crossed by the Tâmega River. It is the second most populous municipality in the Braga district (after Braga) and the sixth most populous in the Norte Region. The municipality includes several villages, including Alfândega da Fé, Baião, Barcelos, Celorico de Basto, Esposende, Fafe, Guimarães, Póvoa de Lanhoso, Terras de Bouro, Vale de Cambra and Vila Nova de Famalicão. Vila Nova de Famalicão was created on July 30, 1836, during the administrative reorganization of the Kingdom of Portugal. On February 22, 1854, it was elevated to the status of district seat. The municipality is bordered to the northeast by the municipality of Fafe, to the southeast by Felgueiras, to the southwest by Vizela, to the west by Guimarães and to the northwest by Vila Nova de Cerveira. The economy of Vila Nova de Famalicão is based on textiles, metallurgy and mechanical engineering. The municipality is also home to a number of interesting tourist attractions, such as the Soajo Ethnographic Museum, the Santa Cruz do Condado Castle and the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary.