Boticas (Portuguese pronunciation: [buˈtikɐʃ] ^ⓘ) is a municipality in northern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 5,750,^[1] in an area of 321.96 km².^[2]

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Boticas
Municipality
The Serra da Barroso, between Salto and Boticas
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 41°41′14″N 7°40′4″W
Country	Portugal
Region	Norte
Intermunic. comm.	Alto Tâmega
District	Vila Real
Parishes	10
Government
• President	Fernando Pereira Campos
Area
• Total	321.96 km2 (124.31 sq mi)
Elevation	883 m (2,897 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	5,750
• Density	18/km2 (46/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC±00:00 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Postal code	5460
Area code	276
Patron	Nossa Senhora da Livração
Website	http://www.cm-boticas.pt

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One of the symbols of Boticas is the Galaico Warrior, an anthropomorphic carved monolith (found in the 17th century) in the castro of Lesenho, at an altitude of 1075 metres, under fields of the parish of São Salvador de Viveiro and municipality of Boticas, considered the most important Gallaecian castro in Portugal.^[3] The Galaico (or "Castrejo") Warrior is an important example of Portuguese archaeology and represents, according to several experts, the image of a deity and warrior of the "castreja" civilisation that lived in this area of Portugal.^[3]

There were several castros (27) dating back to this early civilization, in addition to various Roman monuments.^[3] Boticas has its origins in the Roman civitas Batocas, that was centre of mining, and its Termas de Carvalhelhos, thermal springs with (supposedly) rejuvenating miracle waters. Coins from the period of Byzantine Emperor Constantine X Doukas were also found in Covas de Barroso in 1880, in addition to vestiges in Poços das Freitas or the mines of Carvalhelhos, where Romans were known to have mined gold and silver.

No later than 314, Boticas (or Betecas) also became a diocese, as the episcopal term of its only recorded bishop, Sabino (death unknown), starts then. It was presumably suppressed around 400, without direct successor see.^[4]

Waves of barbarian tribes and Moorish invaders crossed the lands of Boticas during the Middle Ages (many of the local toponymic names reflect this period, such as Côto dos Mouros, Penedo dos Mouros, Estrada dos Mouros, Cova da Moura, Moura Encantada and Mouril).^[3]

The municipality of Boticas was historically part of the Terras de Barroso an administrative division that existed from the 13th the 19th century; many people in the area have the surname Barroso and this term is still used today to refer to the geographical region and distinctive culture of Boticas together with the neighbouring municipality of Montalegre. The first use of the name Barroso came from lineage of the Guedeões (taken from a tower in the locality of Sipiões), whose progeny would adopt and permeate the lands of Botica.^[5][6][7] King Afonso II tried to unite the lands of the Barrosos in 1273, but was unable.^[3]

It was Egas Gomes Barroso, son of Gomes Mendes Guedeão and his wife Chamôa Mendes de Sousa, both members of the nobility of Count Peter (son of King Denis of Portugal), who were grandchildren of Gueda "The Older". Egas, a rich man during the reigns of Kings Sancho II and Afonso III, went in 1247 (in the reign of the latter) to Seville to support King Ferdinand III "The Saint" in Castile. Egas' sons formed two distinct lineages: the Bastos, descendants of his second son, Gomes Viegas de Basto; and the Barroso, descendants of Gonçalo Viegas Barroso and Maria Fernandes de Lima. The Barrosos, were the predominant line, fixing themselves in Braga and Barcelos, becoming signeurs and administrators of the lands of the Trás-os-Montes.

Afonso IV continued the process of uniting and defending the territory in 1331, constructing castles and walls around the castle of Montalegre.^[3] King Ferdinand donated the lands to Rui Vasques Pereira in 1367, and later to Vasco Gonçalves Barroso.^[3] The lands of Boticas changed hands frequently thereafter, until John I finally donated the lands to his friend Nuno Alvares Pereira: the territory would remain in the hands of the Duke of Braganza and their descendants.^[3]

With a resident population of over 6000 inhabitants in 2001, the municipality was only recently established. It was a creation during the Liberalist regimes of the 19th century, along with the great administrative reforms that developed after the second Liberal Revolution (1832).^[3] The municipality of Boticas was legally and definitely established by a 6 November 1836 decree, with parishes de-annexed from the neighbouring municipalities of Chaves and Montalegre, along with the extinction of the municipality of Dornelas and the ancient lands of the Barroso nobility.^[3] Other toponymic locations (such as the settlements of Alturas do Barroso and Covas do Barroso), administrative divisions and territory, which also extended to the municipality of Montalegre and the extinct municipality of Ruivães (now part of the municipality of Vieira do Minho), also corresponded to lands of the Barroso family. Boticas, already a central place, was, since the municipality was created, the municipal seat.^[3]

Boticas is known for vinho dos mortos (English: wine of the dead). During the invasion of the French army between 1807 and 1809 the inhabitants buried their locally produced wine in the sandy soil rather than let it fall into the hands of the enemy. After Napoleon's army, led by General Andoche Junot, was gone, they dug up the bottles.^[9] Initially fearing that the wine had spoiled, the locals found the low temperatures and darkness seemed to concentrate the flavors and improve the taste. The practice of burying them for about two years it still routine and the wine is sold under the title of Vinho Regional Transmontano with the label of Armindo Sousa Pereira.^[10]

The municipality is marked by the local gastronomy, which includes the local presunto, stuffed trout, smoked-meats and Barrosan veal.

• List of Catholic dioceses in Portugal