Terra de Miranda
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| Miranda Land(s) | |
 View of Miranda, from atop a hill in Mogadouro | |
 A map of Tierra de Miranda, divided into official municipalities, with some settlements displayed | |
| Country |  Portugal |
| District | Bragança (Mirandese: Bergáncia) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,884.67 km2 (727.68 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 19,835 |
| • Density | 10.524/km2 (27.258/sq mi) |
| Demonym | mirandese |
| People | Mirandese people (Mirandeses) |
|---|---|
| Language | Mirandese (Mirandés) |
| Country | (Land of) Miranda ((Tierra de) Miranda) |
Tierra(s) de Miranda (Mirandese: [ˈtjera(s̺) ðə miˈɾãda]) or Terra(s) de Miranda (European Portuguese: [ˈtɛʁɐ(ʒ) ðɨ miˈɾɐ̃dɐ]); lit. 'Land(s) of 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 (Portuguese: Miranda do Douro) on the border with Spain, home to the Mirandese people.
Etymology
[edit]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 mirandus 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
[edit]Boundaries
[edit]
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).
Culture
[edit]
Among the best-known cultural features of the area are the Mirandese language,[1] the Pauliteiros, the pagan rituals practiced from Christmas to Easter, the farandulo, and bagpipe music.
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]- Map of the Terra de Miranda
- Mirandes na net. Lhengua i Cultura Mirandesa
- Ethnologue report for Miranda do Douro (Mirandese)
References
[edit]- ^ Kugel, Seth (2012-01-17). "In Portugal, Mirandese Spoken Here -- and Only Here". Frugal Traveler Blog. Retrieved 2026-03-30.