Terra de Miranda

Tierra(s) de Miranda () or Terra(s) de Miranda (); ), also known as the Praino Mirandés (in Mirandese) or Planalto Mirandês (in Portuguese), both meaning Mirandese Plateau, is a cultural and historical region in northeastern Portugal, centered around the city of Miranda de l Douro () on the border with Spain, home to the Mirandese people.

Etymology The etymology of the toponym Miranda is still debated, though it is a common place name across Portugal, Spain, and their former colonial empires. The Latin means "worthy of admiration" (whence the given name "Miranda"), and when used in a place name seems to indicate an area at or around a vantage point, such as a watchtower or a belvedere.

Geography Boundaries

Broadly speaking, the Tierra de Miranda comprises the area between the Sabor and Douro rivers, more specifically, the current municipalities of Miranda de l Douro and Bumioso, most of Mogadouro, and small parts of Bergáncia and Frezno de Spada a la Cinta. These regions were historically part of the Diocese of Astorga, and during the Reconquista were settled by people of the Kingdom of Leon, speakers of Old Leonese (which eventually evolved into Mirandese and other Asturleonese dialects).

There are two definitions of the borders of Miranda: one which follows the historically accurate borders of the region, and another which follows the current borders of the 3 main municipalities that compose it. The historically accurate definition includes parts of the municipalities of Bergáncia and Frezno de Spada a la Cinta, yet, excludes parts of Mogadouro; and the “modern” definition includes parts of Mogadouro which are not historically regarded as Mirandese, but does not include any territory of municipalities besides Miranda de l Douro, Bumioso and the aforementioned Mogadouro. Even if the historical borders are regarded as more correct by many, for modern convenience, Miranda is regarded as the territory that encompasses the 3 main municipalities in most political contexts, such as by the Mobimiento Cultural de la Tierra de Miranda (MCTM) or the Terra de Miranda Notícias newspaper.

The parishes that compose Miranda are the following:

Municipality of Miranda de l Douro: Constantim e Cicouro () Duas Igrejas () Genísio () Ifanes e Paradela () Malhadas Miranda do Douro () Palaçoulo () Picote () Póvoa () São Martinho de Angueira () Sendim e Atenor () Silva e Águas Vivas () Vila Chã de Braciosa ()

Municipality of Bumioso: Algoso, Campo de Víboras e Uva () Argozelo () Caçarelhos e Angueira () Carção () Matela Pinelo Santulhão () Vale de Frades e Avelanoso () Vilar Seco () Vimioso ()

Municipality of Mogadouro: Azinhoso Bemposta () Bruçó Brunhoso () Brunozinho, Castanheira e Sanhoane () Castelo Branco () Meirinhos Mogadouro, Valverde, Vale de Porco e Vilar de Rei () Paradela Penas Róias () Peredo de Bemposta () Remondes e Soutelo () Saldanha São Martinho do Peso () Tó Travanca () Urrós () Vale da Madre () Vila de Ala () Vilarinho dos Galegos e Ventozelo ()

Parishes which are sometimes, but not always included:

Municipality of Bragança: Outeiro Quintanilha Rio Frio e Milhão ()

Municipality of Mogadouro: Castro Vicente (

Municipality of Frezno de Spada a la Cinta: Lagoaça e Fornos (

Culture

Among the best-known cultural features of the area are the Mirandese language, the Pauliteiros, the pagan rituals practiced from Christmas to Easter, the farandulo, and bagpipe music.

Terra de Miranda

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