Why Vila Real?
Vila Real, a "Wonderful Kingdom!"
With over seven hundred years of existence, the city was once known as the "royal court of Trás-os-Montes" due to the high number of manors bearing coats of arms and family crests, attesting the presence of noble figures that established in the city by influence of the Marquis of Vila Real, the most powerful aristocratic house in Portugal, during the 16th and 17th centuries, after the Dukes of Braganza and the Dukes of Aveiro. Many of these family crests are still visible today in the manors spread throughout the old city and in the Carreira Garden.
How big is Vila Real?
Evolution of the City's Population
The General Censuses of the Portuguese population took place from
1864 onwards, following the guidelines of the International
Statistical Congress in Brussels in 1853. They are available for
consultation on the National Institute of Statistics (INE)
website.
Note: From 1900 to 1950, the data refer to the "de facto"
population, that is, those who were present in the municipality
at the time the censuses were carried out. Hence, there are some
differences in relation to the designated resident
population.
For more information click here.
| 1864 | 1900 | 1930 | 1940 | 1960 | 1970 | 1981 | 1991 | 2011 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32146 | 35976 | 37951 | 43142 | 47773 | 44550 | 47020 | 46300 | 51850 | 49571 |
CAFÉS
My favorite cafés in Vila Real
Share Food&Drinks
A lively all-day café with an outdoor terrace that serves everything you could want from breakfast and brunch to evening cocktails.
Address:
Avenida da Europa Loja 8 - Edificio Encosta do Rio 2000, 5000-557 Vila Real
What I like about it
This is one of the best brunch spots in Vila Real but if you go at any time of day there will be something delicious on the menu!
Café Concerto
The Café-Concerto Maus Hábitos at Teatro Municipal de Vila Real, it has a gallery and restaurant space with a stage, aiming to be the new agent of cultural and artistic action in the northern interior of the country.
Address:
Café-Concerto Alameda de Grasse, Edifício Teatro 5000-703 Vila Real
What I like about it
The food and Cocktails are to die for, it's the perfect spot to spend your evening.
Pastelaria Gomes
Pastelaria Gomes was founded in 1925. The use of Conventual Recipes, the development of Regional and Traditional recipes with a markedly unique and original nature, make it a unique space to visit.
Address:
Rua António Azevedo 2 5000-514 Vila Real
What I like about it
If you have a sweet tooth it's really worth trying this pastry shop, the sweets are to die for.