Amarante honours Mota-Engil and Pedro Leonel Dias Marques da Cunha with Municipal Medals

A company founded in Amarante is set to receive the Municipal Medal of Merit, while Pedro Leonel Dias Marques da Cunha will be honoured with the Medal of Honour for his career in medicine and his service to local healthcare.

Amarante Municipal Medals ceremony: time, place and context

Mota-Engil and the doctor Pedro Leonel Dias Marques da Cunha will be among the main figures at the Amarante Municipal Medals ceremony, taking place this Wednesday, 8 July, at 18:00, in the cloister of the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Museum of Modern Art. The event forms part of the celebrations for the Day of the Municipality and the 41st anniversary of Amarante’s elevation to city status.

Municipal Medal of Merit for Mota-Engil

Established in Amarante in 1946 under the name "Mota & Companhia" by Manuel António da Mota, Mota-Engil will be awarded the Municipal Medal of Merit, the highest distinction the municipality grants to institutions. Through this honour, the local authority aims to recognise the trajectory of a business that began in the municipality and has since become one of Portugal’s largest engineering and construction groups, operating in dozens of countries while maintaining a clear link to its origins in Amarante.

Medal of Honour for Pedro Leonel Dias Marques da Cunha

Among the Municipality’s Medals of Honour, particular attention is given to the award presented to Pedro Leonel Dias Marques da Cunha, in recognition of an outstanding career in medicine and the contribution he has made to the healthcare of Amarante’s residents. The distinction also acknowledges the role he played in organising public health services and in training several generations of professionals, leaving a significant mark on the region’s health sector.

Other honourees and awards for Amarante Futebol Clube

During the same session, José Luís Gaspar Jorge-who served three terms as President of Amarante Town Council-will also be honoured for his contribution to the municipality’s development. José Augusto Silveira, chair of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Amarante, will likewise be recognised for strengthening social support provision and for modernising the institution.

The Municipal Medal of Merit will also be presented to Amarante Futebol Clube, acknowledging the club’s Liga 3 title in the 2025/2026 season and its historic promotion to Liga Portugal 2.