CASTELLO BRANCO

castello branco, an episcopal city and the capital of an administrative district formerly included in the province of beira, portugal; 1560 ft. above the sea, on the abrantes-guarda railway. pop. (1900) 7288. numerous roman remains bear witness to the antiquity of castello branco, but its original name is unknown. the city is dominated by a ruined castle, and partly enclosed by ancient walls; its chief buildings are the cathedral and episcopal palace. cloth is manufactured, and there is a flourishing local trade in cork, wine and olive oil. the administrative district of castello branco, which comprises the valleys of the zezere, ocreza and ponsul, right-hand tributaries of the tagus, coincides with the south-eastern part of beira; pop. (1900) 216,608; area, 2382 sq. m.