Avintes is a Portuguesecivil parish in the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia. The population in 2021 was 10,838,[1] in an area of 8.82 km2.[2] It is known in Portugal as "Terra da Broa", meaning "Land of the Broa", referring to the Broa de Avintes, a typical farmhouse bread widely consumed in Northern Portugal, which originated in Avintes.
Some origins of the parish, date back to the early settlement during the Megalithic cultures of the Iberian peninsula; there are references to the area of Arcas, an ancient necropole, designated for its dolmens that might have been constructed in this region.[3]Arcas and Arcaínhas were synonymous with Celtic dolmen and Castro culture populations. Yet, other historians suggest this name was actually a corruption of the term Areias referring to "sand".[3] Regardless, few direct links specify the association with Neolithic cultures and settlement, although most assume that region was settled by Castro builders.[3] Roman occupation of the peninsula occurred from the 2nd century B.C., forcing-out many of the indigenous cultures and imposing a provincial system in which the region of Avintes was part of the much larger Scallabitanus. There, too, is little to substantiate Roman occupation of this area. Even the celebrated "Roman bridge" over the Febros is likely medieval in construction.[3]
After successive politico-administrative reorganizations (first by the Suebi, then the Visigoths), the region was taken by Arab forces from the south, following the Battle of Guadalete, in 714.[3] The Reconquista that retook the lands south of the Douro, brought the region under the domain of the Galician province of Coimbra temporarily, under the regency of Count Vimara Peres, who organized the defense of the lands for King Alfonso III.[3] But the land returned to Arab control around the 10th century. It was during this time that the first concrete reference to the village of Abientes, by celebrated writer D. Gundesindo, appeared (today in the Torre do Tombo), but whose reproduction is uncertain, even as Alexandre Herculano transcribed it.[3][4]
Avintes was later referenced during the Inquirições (Inquiries) of King Afonso III in 1258, where it pertained to the judicial sector of Gondomar (south of the Douro River).[5] In similar inquiries during the reign of King Denis, around 1284 (or 1288), the area was referenced as São Pedro de Avintes, where its religious limits were identified and its stewardship fixed to its vicar, Martim Anes. Little more is mentioned of the area, which was part of the parish of Seixezelo.[5]
In 1300, the religious administration was donated to the Monastery of Santo Tirso, through a donation made by D. Constança Gil, who transferred several lands in Avintes, along the Douro, Porto and Soalhães, in memory of her husband and son, D. Gomes Sobrado and Martim Anes, respectively.[5] Yet, by 16 April 1346, these lands were under the stewardship of the clerics of the Monastery of Pedroso.[5] By 1487, it, once again, changed hands, passing to the Brandão family, through the donation made by D. Francisco de Sonsa, Abbott of Pedroso to Fernão Brandão.[5] Fernão Brandão and his son, Diogo Brandão, were masters of the Estates of Avintes, and their descendants, by matrimonial descent, Counts of Avintes and Marquesses of Lavradio.[5]
It was the daughter of Diogo Brandão, D. Isabel Brandão, who married, in 1570, D. Francisco de Almeida (eldest son of D. João de Almeida, Governor General of Tangiers and Governor of Angola), thus transferring the Estates of Avintes to the Almeida clan.[5] D. Luís de Almeida received the title of Count of Avintes on 17 February 1664 from King Afonso, and in 1689 from King Peter II full rights of donatario to the comarca.[5] The history of the Almeidas is ripe with grand deeds and illustrious personalities, who occupied their seat in Avintes until the First Portuguese Republic.[5] On 17 January 1725, the fourth Count, D. António de Almeida Soares Portugal, was made Count of Lavradio by King John V, in recognition of the service of his uncle, D. Tomaz de Almeida, first patriarch of Lisbon; by royal proclamation, signed 18 October 1753, the family was elevated to the status of Marquesses of Lavradio (António de Almeida Soares Portugal who was also Governor of Angola and Viceroy of Brasil).[5]
During the French invasion of the peninsula, Avintes was likely a sideshow; the parish did not have part in the great battles, although the Duke of Wellington may have chased Marshall Soult's forces, crossing the Douro in the immediate location, since crossing at Porto would have been difficult. Osório Gondim, was clearer, when he pronounced that "...nothing occurred here of note, unless you count the sack of the church".[5]General Junot ordered all objects of value be carted to Porto, and from there they escaped to France.[5]
During the Liberal Wars, Avintes hosted several pro- and anti-Miguelist/Absolutist disturbances: like an old woman who was injured by pro-Liberal supporters for having cheered passing Miguelist forces; or the time after the breaking of the siege of Porto, when there celebrating in Valbom, a Miguelist regiment attacked sympathizers traveling to the festival-like party, causing only one death in Avintes, while in Gramido the bodies covered the ground.[5]
With these events, on 16 May 1832, Avintes became a municipality (formalized on 28 June 1834), and the first municipal council is installed in Tulha dos Dízimos on the 1 June, presided by António Francisco Aleixo (elected in September 1834).[5] This small council had a working budget of 37,635 réis, in addition to a tax of meat sales, and a fee on sales made in the market along the Largo da Gandra (which itself had been operating since the reign of John IV).[5]
Geography
It is a town (pt. Vila) on the left bank of river Douro, east of the city of Gaia and south of Porto.
Architecture
The Audience Stones in Avintes
Although best known for its Baroque-era church, the parish has a small number of classified architectural constructions dating back to the early period of Portuguese expansion. These include:
Civic
Audience Stones (Portuguese: Pedras de Audiência e Carvalho Junto), constructed in mid-18th century, at a time when Avintes was a municipality in its own right, the audience stones comprise three stone benches and table in the raised platform central to the parish, originally used meetings and trials. In addition, an oak tree is part of the collection of objects;[6]
Manorhouse of the Estate of Santo Inácio de Fiães (Portuguese: Casa da Quinta de Santo Inácio de Fiães), a signeurial estate and residence, dated to the 17th century[7]
Religious
Church of São Pedro de Avintes (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de São Pedro de Avintes), which was constructed in 1758, under the direction of Jacome do Lago, following a Baroque-style;[8]
Cross of Alferes (Portuguese: Cruzeiro de Alferes), constructed in 1737, by an ensign, recognizable for the image of Nossa Senhora do Bom Successo (Our Lady of Good Success), which surmounts the cross.[9]
Tourism
Gaia Biological Park (Parque Biológico de Gaia) is a 34-acre natural reserve which features diverse flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Founded in 1983, it features more than 40 species of wild birds and a 3 km pedestrian route. [10]
Saint Inácio Zoo (Zoo Santo Inácio) founded in 2000, is the biggest zoo in Northern Portugal, housing more than 800 animals of 270 different species. [11]
Areinho de Avintes, an area surrounding the fluvial beach bathed by the Douro. Frequented by a lot of Gaia residents in the Summer time for beach-going, picnics, sports and other leisure activities. [12]
Monument to Combatants (Monumento aos Combatentes), a sculpture honoring the memory of all the Avintes citizens who fought in the Portuguese Colonial War, specially the 10 who perished. [13]
Tulipa, ex-footballer and football manager, was born in Avintes in 1972.
Futebol Clube de Avintes
Founded in 23 July of 1923, Futebol Clube de Avintes is the local football club. As of the 2022/23 season, the senior team, coached by Bruno Cunha, competes in the Divisão de Elite of the Porto Football Association, equivalent to the Portuguese 5th tier. The club's president is Rúben Rodrigues Pereira.[14]
Alandroal is a municipality in the Portuguese district of Évora located on the eastern frontier with Spain along the right margin of the Guadiana River in the Central Alentejo region. It is located 341 metres (1,119 ft) above sea level, northeast of Évora and southeast of Estremoz. The population in 2011 was 5,843, in an area of 542.68 km².
The Maria Pia Bridge is a railway bridge built in 1877, and attributed to Gustave Eiffel, situated over the Portuguese northern municipalities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.
The Fort of Leça da Palmeira, or alternately the Castle of Matosinhos is a 17th-century fort located in civil parish of Leça da Palmeira, municipality of Matosinhos in the Greater Porto region of Portugal.
The Fort of São João do Arade, sometimes referred to as the Castle of Arade, is a medieval fortification situated in the civil parish of Ferragudo in the Portuguese Algarve municipality of Lagoa.
The Castle of Carrazeda de Ansiães, normally shortened to Castle of Ansiães, is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Lavandeira, municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães of Portugal.
The Old Bridge of Santo Adrião is a two-arch bridge over the Rio Tedo in the civil parish of Vila Seca e Santo Adrião, municipality of Armamar, the Portuguese district of Viseu.
The Roman Ruins of Cerro da Vila are the remnants of a historical villa in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. Its vestiges lie in the vicinity of the resort and marina of Vilamoura, in the civil parish of Quarteira, municipality of Loulé Municipality.
The Tower of Pedro-Sem is a medieval fortification situated in the civil parish of Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos, that protected the northern Portuguese city of Porto.
The Fountain of Colher, is a fountain in the civil parish of Miragaia, in the municipality of Porto, under the level of the Rua Nova da Alfândega.
The Castle of Faria is a castle in the northern Portuguese civil parish of Gilmonde, municipality of Barcelos, in the Cávado.
The Castle of Alfeizerão, is a Portuguese medieval castle in civil parish of Alfeizerão, in the municipality of Alcobaça, in the district of Leiria.
The Castle of Arronches, is a Portuguese medieval castle in civil parish of Assunção, in the municipality of Arronches, in the district of Portalegre.
The Fort of Lagarteira is a medieval fort in the civil parish of Vila Praia de Âncora, municipality of Caminha in the Portuguese Norte, classified as a Property of Public Interest.
The Castle of Folgosinho, is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Folgosinho, municipality of the Gouveia in the district of Guarda in the Centre region of Portugal.
The Pillory of Aguiar da Beira is a pillory located in the civil parish of Aguiar da Beira e Coruche, in the municipality of Aguiar da Beira, Portuguese district of Guarda.
The Pillory of Arcos de Valdevez is a 15th-century sculpted stone column with symbolic political, administrative and judicial significance, located in the civil parish of Arcos de Valdevez (Salvador), Vila Fonche e Parada, municipality of Arcos de Valdevez.
The Prehistoric Rock-Art Site Pala Pinta is a Paleolithic-era rock-art site, recognized for cave paintings in the Portuguese municipality of Alijó, in the civil parish of Carlão e Amieiro.
The Walls of Dom Fernando, or Fernandine Walls, are medieval fortifications located in the civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória, in the municipality of Porto, Portuguese Porto.
Vila Nova de Gaia is one of the leading tourism destinations in northern Portugal, located directly opposite Porto, on the South bank of Douro river. These two cities interconnect with each other through several bridges over Douro river. Vila Nova de Gaia is home to several notable attractions, such as the Port wine cellars, Dom Luís I Bridge, the Teleferico, Monastery of Serra do Pilar, Douro Estuary and 18 km long beaches.
↑ Costa, Patrícia (2003). IGESPAR (ed.). "Cruzeiro do Alferes (n.PT011317020065)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: IGESPAR-Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
↑ "Parques de Gaia". Parque Biologico de Gaia (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-01-02.
Amaral, Ana Filomena Leite (1993), Avintes na Margem Esquerda do Douro (in Portuguese), Avintes (Vila Nova da Gaia), Portugal: Junta Freguesia de Avintes
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