Póvoa de Varzim is a city (and a parish) on the coast of northern Portugal with a population of 63,470(the municipality in the 2001 census) and 88 km². The urban area of the city includes the parish of A Ver-o-Mar (English: "Watching-the-Sea") and the population is 36,671. Póvoa de Varzim, sometimes erroneously called Póvoa do Varzim, is located 25 km (17 miles) north of the Oporto. Póvoa de Varzim is the northern-most part of Oporto metropolitan area. It is best know in Portugal because of the fishery activities. Some times known as the "Northern Algarve" or "Portuguese Rio de Janeiro".
The concelho or municipality is divided into 12 freguesias or parishes, and it's essentially a beach resort, with some light industry. Póvoa de Varzim has also a monumental Casino.
History
Origins of Povoa de Varzim
The history of Povoa de Varzim dates back to its prehistoric origins. It was the land of Varazim, of the Euracini Roman family, who owned it in Roman times and gave his name to it. Some archaeological finds in Martim Vaz, Junqueira, and Vila Velha, inform us of this town in antiquity. The old town on City Hill dates back to six thousand years. It is named “Cividade de Terroso” and provides a good view of the whole city and nearby coast. However, the deeds of this territory - Villa Euracini - are dated 953 and belong to the cartulário of the student body of Guimarães as stated in Livro de Mumadona.
The name Varazim comes directly from the old Roman name of VILLA EVRACINI, in Lusitania. "Eura" (in Latin EVRA) became "Vara" (VRA) and "Cini" (Latin spelling) became "Zim" (lusitanic Romance spelling). Varzim is, in fact, an evolution of the Old Name. EVRACINI evolved to Vracini, Vrazim, Varazim and finnaly to Varzim.
Póvoa de Varzim in the Middle Ages
In 1308, after enrolling the fifty-four couples of Varazim, King Denis of Portugal created a charter giving them reguengo de Varazim de Susão but obliging them to establish a Póvoa, a small harbour. This harbour has provided Póvoa de Varzim with its livelihood and has been a force for development and prosperity.
King Manuel I of Portugal ordered a new charter to the village in 1514 altering the financial part of the old charter and providing it with alternative mechanisms for the jurisdiction of the monastery. The small town of Póvoa, that had no more than five hundred inhabitants, benefited from its location on the coast becoming involved in the discoveries and conquests of the age. It became a city with its own council house, public square and pillory.
Modern Times
In the nineteenth century, the city became a summer holiday destination for the rich people of Porto and from other places of Minho Province. This was the time of the "Café-Concerto", private gambling. Railways linked Porto and Póvoa in 1875 and another line between neighboring Vila do Conde and Póvoa in 1874, and the town knew great development, became the most important touristic area of Northern Portugal, due to its large beaches and a centre for food and textile industries.
The fishing industry has lost much of its importance but still employs many inhabitants. Póvoa is essentially a tourist town, but unlike other urban areas of Porto, Póvoa is not a bedroom community for commuters to nearby Porto, it has a vibrant night life (mainly the beach discos known as Buddha and Hit Bar) attracks many visitors from the region and outside, it serves has a centre for the neighbouring towns of Esposende and Vila do Conde. The holiday beaches have modern and attractive buildings. Gaming is regulated and official. It takes place in the monumental casino whose beautiful interior is decorated by many artistic creations. The city of Póvoa de Varzim has become the centre of the tourist region of Costa Verde (Green Coast). In late 20th century, early 21st century, the city was largely renewed, with many Gardens and expensive traditional Portuguese sidewalks (these sidewalks made of little Black or White stones, known as Calçada exists in Rio de Janeiro and Paris, for instance), which gives the city a cosmopolitan look.
Parishes
Póvoa de varzim has 12 parishes (freguesias):
- A Ver-o-Mar
- Aguçadoura
- Amorim
- Argivai
- Balazar
- Beiriz
- Estela
- Laúndos
- Navais
- Póvoa de Varzim (parish)
- Rates
- Terroso
Monuments
Póvoa de Varzim is mostly a modern city, but there are Portugal's National Monuments: The pillory of Póvoa de Varzim and the romanic Church of São Pedro de Rates, that is known that exits at least since the 9th century. The temple was rebuilt by Count Henry of Portugal and his wife in the 11th or 12th century. In there, was the cadaver of Saint Peter of Rates (saint that gave the name to the small town of São Pedro de Rates) that gave birth to a legend. In the legend, Saint Peter of Rates was a bishop (ordered by Saint James, the Moor killer) and when he was in a mass, non-belivers behaded him. But a hermit named Félix (name today given to a sacred mount in Póvoa de Varzim), that lived there with his nephew, gave sepulture to the decomposed and mutilated corpse of the bishop. In 1552 the body of Saint Peter of Rates was transferred to Braga.
Other monuments are Municipal Hall of Póvoa de Varzim that dates back to the 18th century; the fort built in 1701, neighboring the Casino; the pillory of São Pedro de Rates; the "Solar dos Carneiros"; the 17th century barroc Nossa Senhora da Conceição church and many other churches in the city such as Nossa Senhora da Lapa", "São Roque", "Nossa Senhora das Dores" and "Misericórdia".
Marina
The Marina of Póvoa is a modern marina located at 41º 22' N Lat. and 08º 46' W Long., making it a stop for boats that are exploring the west iberian coast. It is located in a sheltered area and provides facilities with boat yard services. In the marina the traditional fishing is still done. The depth is from 1,60 to 3,00 meters.
Culture
Póvoa de Varzim has the typical Camisolas poveiras, local pullovers, made traditionally for fisherman to protect them from the cold. These pullovers have runes and fishery motives. The runes are due to Viking settlers that have passed the writing system to the Póvoa's fishermen, a thousand years ago. The runes are used as a family "Coat of Arms" (or signature). In the past they were also used for telling and remembering things, and not for direct reading. These Rune drawings are also used to decorate sidewalks and family inscriptions in the main church of the city (Igreja Matriz).
Other typical handcrafts are the Tapetes de Beiriz (Beiriz carpets), of the parish of Beiriz. These are notable carpets awarded and demanded nationally and internationally, thus they cost from 160 euros per square metre to 250 euros. Tapetes de Beiriz decorates the Dutch Royalty Palace and Portuguese public buildings.
The people of the parish of Estela (name taken directly from Latin STELLA, literally star - in Portuguese star became estrela, the origin is the same) and nearby parishes have a unique way of agriculture in the world, the Campos de masseira where a rectangular and large dig is made in one of the large and sandy beaches. In the dig's sides known as quatro vales (four valleys), vineyards are cultivated, to protect the centre area from the North Winds, known has Nortada (typical wind of Póvoa de Varzim, due to two hills). This wind is also the responsible for Póvoa's lowest rain precipitation in the region. In the centre area, fresh water, not salty, is found and everything can be cultivated, but large amounts of water must be added plus Sargasso from the nearby ocean.
Famous people from Póvoa de Varzim
An important figure of the city is Eça de Queirós, a famous 19th century novelist. His work was translated into several languages and he is seen as one of the greatest Portuguese writers of all times, together with Luis de Camões and Fernando Pessoa. Other famous person is the "Sea Wolf" (lobo do mar) Cego do Maio . Lobo do Mar is today the symbol of the city's Football Club, Varzim Sport Club . The scientist Rocha Peixoto is also noteworthy.
External links
Last updated: 05-26-2005 02:37:53
Last updated: 08-17-2005 06:40:00
