Proença-a-Nova
Proença-a-Nova () is a municipality in the district of Castelo Branco in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 8,314, in an area of 395.40 km2. The present mayor is João Lobo. The municipal holiday is June 13. Parishes Administratively, the municipality is divided into 4 civil parishes (freguesias): Montes da Senhora Proença-a-Nova e Peral São Pedro do Esteval Sobreira Formosa e Alvito da Beira Figueira History Proença-a-Nova traces its origins to Roman times when it was called Cortiçada in the province of the Lusitani. This is corroborated by archaeological findings and the innumerable Latin names. The name Cortiçada was abandoned in C.XVI in favour of Proença. Cortiçada perhaps related to the abundant production of cork oak (cortiça) or the number of tenement houses (colmeias) that had been of great importance in the region. "The town of Proença, situated nine leagues (35km) north of [[Crato, Portugal |Crato]], and seven (23km) west of Castelo Branco, was chartered by King Afonzo III of Portugal (1248-1279). The population was 150." (Padre C. da Costa, in Portuguese Corografia)." Until the date of its first charter, by Afonso III, little is known about the village of Proença but it is believed that farming the low, fertile,