Pinhel is a municipality, former Catholic bishopric and present Latin titular see in the central subregion of Beira Interior Norte, in Portugal. The municipality population in 2011 was 9,627, in an area of 484.52 km2. The urban centre of Pinhel had about 3500 residents in 2001.
History
The origins of this municipality date back to the Calcolithic period, as many of the remnants of ancient cultures from this period remain: namely the rock-art engravings and paintings that line the Côa valley in Cidadelhe. Part of the historic district of Guarda, the region obtained its name for many pine forests that covered the region's hills and mountains. There are also several references to a pre-Roman or Roman presence, suggesting a continual occupancy since this period. During the medieval period, owing to the defensive requirements of the fledgling nation, several fortified centres developed, including the Pinhel, but also along a line that included: Trancoso, Marialva, Guarda, Castelo Rodrigo, Almeida and Castelo Mendo. The Castle of Pinhel dates from the reign of King Denis and the keep tower from his descendant, King Manuel I. Pinhel's strategic position, along the frontier with Spain, made the monarchs of Portugal retain many of these fortifications, as well as allowing the development of their territorial claims. The historical centre, with its narrow roadways, were adapted from the morphology of the terrain, with many patrimonial references to the medieval and modern eras. The homes of the city of Pinhel, some dating from the 16th century, includes some lost references to the presence of a Jewish population at one time, such as along the Rua de Santa Maria. Pinhel was, for a long time, the seat of its own diocese, before being incorporated into the Diocese of Guarda. The 17th and 18th century were periods of growth for the region, dominated the construction of estates, scattered in many of the historic corners of the municipality, some monumental and decorative. The urbanized area of Pinhel, the city of Pinhel, was elevated to this status in 1770.
Ecclesiastical History
In 1770.08.25 a bishopric was established as Diocese of Pinhel / Pinhelen, on territory split off from the Diocese of Lamego, apparently as suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Braga. The Church of the Saviour served as cathedral, until its demolition and substitution as such in 1797 by the convent church of St. Louis as ordered by bishop Don Bernardo Bernardino Beltrão Freire. It was suppressed on 1881.09.30, its territory being merged into the Diocese of Guarda.
In 1969 the diocese was nominally restored as Latin Titular bishopric of Pinhel / Pinhelen. It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal order :
Jorge Estrada Solórzano, Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of México, no previous prelature.
Geography
The municipality of Pinhel is geographically delimited, in its entirety para two waterways: the Ribeira do Massueime and east by the Côa River. It is located in the central part of the district of Guarda and confined by the municipalities of Almeida, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Meda, Trancoso and Guarda. The area includes a superficial area of, divided into 18 civil parishes, as well as one urban parish, the city/seat of Pinhel. The municipality is accessed by a rail-line, the Vila Franca das Naves line for, by the A25 roadway :
