PARADELA
Formerly, it was a village of the parish of São João da Poenteira, (this is the correct toponym). Today they inverted the terms, being headquarter of the so called Paradela parish. However, like Outeiro, Venda Nova, Ferral, Paredes and Travassos do Rio, the previous patron of São João remained. It is a parish with broad horizons and panoramic landscapes towards the south and west with great variety and depth.
In the parish of Paradela is seated a dam assuming a great innovation in terms of construction:the enormous dike was raised with boulder in bulk, concreted upstream and with an innovative discharge system in a giant funnel associated to the depth tunnel. Like the dam of Venda Nova, its water is carried through giant tubes that make the turbines move in the Central de Vila Nova producing hydropower. Deserving of a cultural visit is the blazons dos Carvalhos, in the Casa do Loureiro, and the local expert potters José Pereira and wife.
CONTIM
All the three villages that form the parish have served as headquarter: in all of them Mass was said and able baptisteries were raised. Half of São Pedro, village founded on a mountain top where it still remains, belonged to the Commendation of São Tiago of Mourilhe. However, the most idyllic corner of the entire plateau may be the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Vila de Abril that was medieval hermitage full of religiousness and myths.
She is one of the “Sete Senhoras” honoured on the 8th of September of each year. Pay attention to the poetry of this myth: Reportedly, a hermit (the hermits, as possible traces of an ancient monastery that had been there, lived in the location, at least until the eighteenth century) a beautiful day of many centuries ago, as he opened the door of the chapel to the pilgrims, noticed that the Saint was missing from the altar. He then convinced the assistants to join him in prayers that prolonged the whole day. At sundown in the horizon, over the Alto de São Pedro do Rio, a triangular shadow lengthened through the building... It was the Saint that returned very tired...
- The hermit furrowed his eyebrow and chided Her: “ – Maria, how could you... you left me so anxious, worried and ill?
- And the Saint returned to Her altar before the bemused people that were present. It was so, unceremoniously, that the last vicar of the parish told the poetic myth.
FIÃES DO RIO
It occupies second to last in terms of littleness of territory. Here, in 1902, was born Bento António Gonçalves, that at an early ages migrated to Lisbon. Still very young, the headed the labor / union fights as an operative (lathe operative) in the Arsenal da Marinha that made him get arrested by the Pide and condemned to exile in Tarrafal (Cabo Verde) where he later died at the age of forty.
He was the first Secretário Geral do Partido Comunista Português (PCP). Its wooden bridge, like the one in Covelães, crossing the Cávado river, is very old. Referring to it, many funny adventures and stories are told. There passed groups of people of the north margin, in direction of São Bartolomeu, the less known of the twelve apostles that from His chapel chained the demon and deliver them from evil possessions.
Area: 30.8 km2
Population Density: 9.4 hab/km2
Present Population: 288
Patron: São João(Paradela), S. Vicente(Contim), Santo André(Fiães do Rio)
Attractions:
Barragem, Bolideira, Castro, Capela da Senhora de Fátima(Paradela);
Santuário da Vila de Abril, Passadeiras de Vilaça(Contim);
Casa de Bento Gonçalves e Ponte(Fiães).
Parish villages: (7) Paradela, Ponteira, Contim, São Pedro, Vilaça, Fiães do Rio e Loivos.
Address:
União de Freguesias de Paradela, Contim e Fiães
Rua da Estrada, n.º 17
5470-362 Paradela - Montalegre
Telephone: 934 113 110
