Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo (Portuguese pronunciation: [fiˈɣɐjɾɐ ðɨ kɐʃˈtɛlu ʁuˈðɾiɣu] ) is a municipality in the District of Guarda in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 5,150,[1] in an area of 508.57 km2.[2] Located in the Riba Coa (near the River Coa), just like other municipalities around Riba Coa, such as Almeida, Meda, Pinhel and Sabugal. Known for its castle which is a listed National monument, as well as pine-wood forests and rolling hills.

Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
Flag of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
Coat of arms of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
Coordinates: 40°53′N 6°57′W / 40.883°N 6.950°W / 40.883; -6.950
Country Portugal
RegionCentro
Intermunic. comm.Beiras e Serra da Estrela
DistrictGuarda
Parishes10
Government
 • PresidentCarlos Condesso (PSD)
Area
 • Total508.57 km2 (196.36 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total5,150
 • Density10/km2 (26/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Local holidayJuly 7
Websitehttp://www.cm-fcr.pt

The municipality borders the frontier with Spain, formed by the Águeda River, a tributary of the Douro, which it joins at Barca D'Alva, approximately 18 km north of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo town.

The present Mayor is Carlos Condesso, elected by the Social Democratic Party. The municipal holiday is July 7.

Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo figures in José Saramago's 2008 novel The Elephant's Journey.[3]

Climate edit

Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo has a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Temperatures can easily surpass 35 °C (95 °F) in the summer and go below 0 °C (32 °F) in the winter. It is one of the coldest towns in Portugal in the winter. It registered a record low temperature of −12.6 °C (9.3 °F) on January 12, 1967, making it the fifth coldest temperature ever recorded in the country and the third coldest since 1960.[4]

Climate data for Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, 1961-1990, altitude: 635 m (2,083 ft)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 22.6
(72.7)
24.8
(76.6)
29.4
(84.9)
32.2
(90.0)
34.8
(94.6)
41.5
(106.7)
40.6
(105.1)
44.0
(111.2)
41.4
(106.5)
32.6
(90.7)
25.3
(77.5)
23.2
(73.8)
44.0
(111.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.8
(47.8)
10.9
(51.6)
13.6
(56.5)
15.8
(60.4)
20.2
(68.4)
25.4
(77.7)
29.6
(85.3)
29.3
(84.7)
25.9
(78.6)
19.2
(66.6)
12.8
(55.0)
9.0
(48.2)
18.4
(65.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)
6.2
(43.2)
8.1
(46.6)
10.2
(50.4)
13.7
(56.7)
18.1
(64.6)
21.3
(70.3)
20.9
(69.6)
18.4
(65.1)
13.2
(55.8)
7.9
(46.2)
4.9
(40.8)
12.3
(54.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.2
(32.4)
1.5
(34.7)
2.6
(36.7)
4.6
(40.3)
7.2
(45.0)
10.8
(51.4)
13.0
(55.4)
12.5
(54.5)
10.9
(51.6)
7.2
(45.0)
3.0
(37.4)
0.8
(33.4)
6.2
(43.2)
Record low °C (°F) −12.6
(9.3)
−12.0
(10.4)
−9.6
(14.7)
−5.6
(21.9)
−4.1
(24.6)
2.1
(35.8)
4.5
(40.1)
5.5
(41.9)
1.6
(34.9)
−7.6
(18.3)
−8.1
(17.4)
−9.6
(14.7)
−12.6
(9.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 67.3
(2.65)
71.5
(2.81)
44.4
(1.75)
54.0
(2.13)
48.6
(1.91)
39.5
(1.56)
21.8
(0.86)
10.7
(0.42)
36.6
(1.44)
61.8
(2.43)
70.2
(2.76)
57.6
(2.27)
584
(22.99)
Average relative humidity (%) 86 83 77 75 70 65 61 62 64 76 83 86 74
Mean monthly sunshine hours 107 132 185 199 261 296 352 330 230 187 135 101 2,515
Source: Instituto de Meteorologia[5][6][7]

Parishes edit

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 10 civil parishes (freguesias):[8]

Notable people edit

  • João Pedro (born 1986) a retired professional footballer with over 470 club caps

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ^ "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  3. ^ José Saramago, The Elephant's Journey, (translated by Margaret Jull Costa), Harvil Secker, London, 2010.
  4. ^ "Atlas Climático Ibérico" (PDF). IPMA. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Plano Municipal de Defesa da Floresta Contra Incêndios" (PDF). Vila Nova de Foz Côa Municipality. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Plano de Gestão da Região hidrográfica do Douro" (PDF). APA. p. 184. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Plano Municipal de Emergência de Proteção Civil de Almeida" (PDF). Câmara Municipal de Almeida. p. 6. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  8. ^ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 50" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2014.

External links edit