Barroso (region)

The Terras de Barroso existed as an administrative division of Portugal from 1273 to 1876,[1] and the term "Barroso" and "Barrosã/Barrosão" (adjective) continue to be widely used to refer to the distinctive and isolated heritage, culture and landscape of this area.

'[2] The stocky Barrosã cattle with long curved horns are farmed across the North of Portugal and have been extensively studied because of their ancient genetic heritage.

The area is notable for the discovery of Gallaecian warrior statues - powerful, slightly larger than life size, stone images of iron age warrior heroes, dating to the immediate pre-Roman era.

The term is first found in the will of Saint Rosende from 942 includes among his possessions a herd of cows "in Barosa.

Possibly, the original administrative centre of this region was the castle of São Romão, which occupies a now uninhabited site on the southern bank of the Alto-Rabagão dam.