Saturday 7 November 2020

SISTELO (ARCOS DE VALDEVEZ - PORTUGAL)

 


SISTELO
41° 58' 24" N;  8° 22' 29" W

Sistelo is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez, with an area of ​​26.23 km² and 273 inhabitants (2011). Its population density is 10.4 inhabitants / km². It is located in Serra da Peneda, presenting a rugged relief, with altitudes ranging between 180 meters and 1360 meters.
The Order of Malta held important assets in the area of ​​this parish. That is why the parish's coat of arms bears, in chief, the eighth cross of that ancient Religious and Military Order.
The parish of Sistelo consists of 5 small places: Igreja; Estrica; Quebrada; Padrão; Porto Cova.

Climate and hydrology
The climate of this region is Mediterranean maritime, with an average annual temperature of 13ºC and an average annual rainfall of 2093 mm. The area is covered by a dense hydrographic network; of the several rivers and streams that cross the parish, the Vez river stands out, the main tributary of the Lima river.

Economy
Sistelo is a rural community perfectly adapted to mountain territory. At the base of the local economy is an agro-pastoral activity with a diversified use of the territory. Subsistence agriculture is carried out on terraces, producing regional corn, beans, and potatoes and fodder and pastures for animal feed. Cattle are one of the main sources of income, namely the indigenous breeds Barrosã and Cachena.