Valongo

This region was occupied by the Romans, especially for gold mining in the Serra de Santa Justa. One of the traces of Roman occupation is in the municipality name, which originated in the Latin words Vallis Longus. There are still traces that would allow the detection of two main Roman connecting roads that would cross the municipality: the Porto - Guimarães road and the Alfena - Valongo - Aguiar de Sousa / Penafiel road.

This region would then be occupied by barbarian peoples (Suebi and Visigoths) and later by Arabs and Moors.

According to Father Lopes dos Reis, a native of Valongo, “the Moors entered Hespanha enthusiastic about the holy war with the alfange in one hand and Alkorão in the other, taking over with their powerful army all the places they could pass through. In Vallongo, perhaps there was no blood at all, because the inhabitants, few and without defense, could only fearlessly try to prevent the passage to a powerful enemy from whom they had known that an army of brave people had fled in terror. That is why, when the Arabs arrived in Vallongo (716), they left their people in peace without writing it, and by means of a certain tribute they gave them the freedom to live as they did here, going to settle far from the Goda settlement, which occupied the Susão and the western part of the villa, on the plain at the edge of a stream that was later called Ilhar Mourisco.”[1]

After the reconquest of Portus Cale (Porto) by Vímara Peres in 868, he was named a count and given control of the frontier region between the Limia and Douro rivers by Alfonso III of Asturias, therefore bringing the region under control of the Kingdom of Asturias.

From the General Inquiries of 1258, the current municipality was divided at the time between the parish of Aguiar de Sousa - which included S. Martinho de Campo and Sobrado, and the parish of Maia, which included S.Vicente da Queimadela, Valongo and S. Lourenço de Asmes.

From the economic and social point of view, at this time, the ownership of land was the basis of the economy and the main element of survival and power. In the area of the municipality, land belonged to the King and the Clergy - particularly the Regular Clergy.

The appearance of new settlements, the progressive extension of the term of existing settlements, the multiplication of suffragan chapels and the division of property, is evidence of the notorious demographic growth of this region over the centuries. This increase in population was accompanied by the progressive development of other sectors of the economy. Industry and commerce, initially based on incipient forms, acquire a strong expression in the economy. The traditional bakery industry is an excellent example of this: its origins date back to the Low Middle Ages, but the development of wheat bread is such a development, which allowed Valongo bakers to feed the entire surrounding region and with the product of their work. This, in turn, allows them to make a decisive contribution. for the construction of the new church, the Igreja Matriz de Valongo, whose construction dates to the end of the 18th century.

At the dawn of the 19th century, Valongo experiences the hardship of the presence of Napoleon's troops, during the French Invasions. A division settled in Valongo, turning the church into a stable and plundering values from individuals and the church.

These lands, therefore, served as a stage for battles and military movements that took place between the two straying brothers: D. Pedro, on the side of the Liberals, D. Miguel, on the part of the Miguelists/Absolutists. During this period two important battles take place: the Battle of Ponte Ferreira and the Battle of the Ant. In Ermesinde, the former Convent of Nª. Mr. do Bom Despacho (now, the Church of St. Rita), became a military hospital for Miguelists forces.

By decree published on November 29, 1836, D. Maria II creates the Municipality of Valongo with the parishes of Sobrado, Campo and Gandra (which belonged to the Municipality of Baltar) and Alfena, Ermesinde and Valongo (which belonged to the Municipality of Maia) .

On May 18, 1852, there was a lunch at Travagem offered by the Municipality chamber to the Royal Family composed of Queen D. Maria II, King D. Fernando II, then prince D. Pedro (future D. Pedro V) and then prince D. Luís (future D. Luís I). This lunch took place on the last visit of D. Maria II to the north of Portugal in the form of thanks for the creation of the Municipality of Valongo in 1836.

Years later, there would be another royal visit, this time by D. Luís and D. Maria Pia. "For a long time, there was still talk with great admiration of the gigantic and beautiful arches that were made in many places of passage of the procession and that gave the celebrations an admirable splendor."[2]

Between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 20th century, large farming houses were built in all villages whose rural nature. The road network was developed within the limits of the municipality, which began being served by transport such as the electric car and the train. The main artery of Valongo and Ermesinde saw the opening of commercial establishments. During this time, the local population increased with the arrival of people from the interior of Portugal.

By the middle of the 19th century, the region became an attractive site for the mining of slate, but also of antimony, tungsten and coal. At the borders of Ermesinde, large factories were set up, such as “Resineira”, “Cerâmica” - “Empresa Industrial de Ermesinde” and “Têxtil de Sá”, among others. The Municipality became the site for the expansion of industries such as metallurgy, textile manufacting, civil construction, public works, food, wood and furniture. Compared to the other parishes, Campo and Sobrado retain a greater level of rurality. The smallholding regime sustain their living with traditional productions - the vine, the corn and the fodder, which is linked to the production of milk. New crops such as kiwiculture and also were introduced to the region.