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Lagoa (Algarve)
Encyclopedia
Lagoa Municipality is a Portuguese
municipality in Faro District, in the region known as the Algarve, with about 6,100 inhabitants.
Its seat is the city of Lagoa.
The municipality has 88.50 km² in area, with 23,835 inhabitants, divided into 6 civil parishes (freguesia
s). It is bounded on the north and east by Silves Municipality, on the west by Portimão Municipality
, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean
.
The city (then town) was officially incorporated on 16 January 1773. The municipal holiday is September 8; its patron saint is Our Lady of Light. The location adjective for the city is Lagoense.
The present Mayor is José Inácio Marques Eduardo, elected by the Social Democratic Party
.
) of Lagoa was created, after its principal settlement (Lagoa) was elevated to town status.
According to historical sources, the earliest settlement of Lagoa was on the edges of a small lake or marsh [Portuguese: lagoa], which was drained in order to create fertile land and habitations which in turn were later occupied by the Muslims.
The natural resources of the area have contributed greatly to the current economic structure of the municipality based on agriculture (especially fruit and wine production), fishing, light industry, and tourism. The fishing industry (of the communities of Ferragudo
, Benagil
, Carvoeiro and Senhora da Rocha), vineyards, and the traditional products of unirrigated agriculture were the principal sources of wealth of the area up to the 1970s. Driven by the abundance of fish, the canning industry at the beginning of the last century broke open the local economy, bringing with it general prosperity and wealth.
From the 1960s, however, tourism has been the principal driver of the area’s development and the creation of the infrastructure necessary for the growth of the economic fabric. The most important outcome has been the high level of job creation over the last few decades. This activity has rapidly became the economic motor of the municipality, and has now assumed a permanent place in the local economy. Parallel to the growth of tourism has been the growth of all the related activities, especially in the construction industry, services, and general commerce.
s of Lagoa are:
All the freguesias have the status of towns, except Lagoa itself which has the status of a city.
and Albufeira
. The largest beaches are:
The city continues to improve facilities and organize events of interest to tourists. Each summer it hosts a large exhibition of craft products at the Parque de Feiras e Exposições de Lagoa (Fair and Exhibition Grounds of Lagoa), known by its official name's acronym FATACIL. Certain heritage buildings have been renovated for cultural uses in the city, notably the Municipal Library and the Convento de São José (St. Joseph Convent) – the Cultural Centre of the City of Lagoa – where various shows and a variety of exhibitions take place. Similarly the Municipal Auditorium hosts numerous shows and other events each week. As well many cultural activities take place at the Parque Municipal de Fontes, north of Estombar, all year round, including theatre, dances, and traditional folk-songs.
In the last 15 years Lagoa has registered one of the highest levels of economic development in the Algarve. It has numerous medical offices, educational (elementary, secondary, music, art) institutions as well as sports, leisure and tourism facilities. Lagoa DOC
is a Portuguese wine region centered around Lagoa municipality.
Largo do Município
8401-851 Lagoa, Algarve, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
municipality in Faro District, in the region known as the Algarve, with about 6,100 inhabitants.
Its seat is the city of Lagoa.
The municipality has 88.50 km² in area, with 23,835 inhabitants, divided into 6 civil parishes (freguesia
Freguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
s). It is bounded on the north and east by Silves Municipality, on the west by Portimão Municipality
Portimão Municipality
Portimão is a municipality in the district of Faro, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. Historically a fishing and ship-building centre, it has nonetheless developed into a strong tourist centre oriented along its beaches and southern coast.-History:...
, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
The city (then town) was officially incorporated on 16 January 1773. The municipal holiday is September 8; its patron saint is Our Lady of Light. The location adjective for the city is Lagoense.
The present Mayor is José Inácio Marques Eduardo, elected by the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Portugal)
The Social Democratic Party , is a centre-right liberal conservative political party in Portugal. It is commonly known by its initials, PSD; on ballot papers, its initials appear as PPD/PSD, with the first three letters coming from the party's original name, Democratic People's Party...
.
Demographics
| Population of Lagoa Municipality (1801 – 2004) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 1849 | 1900 | 1930 | 1960 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2004 |
| 4913 | 8232 | 12135 | 13088 | 13846 | 15635 | 16780 | 20651 | 22658 |
History
The entire region of the Algarve was conquered by the Arabs when they moved into the Iberian peninsula in the 8th century. When the area was reconquered in the mid-twelfth century by the Christian forces from the north, it was integrated into the Portuguese kingdom. Lagoa was within the area governed from Silves. On the 16 January 1773, by a charter of King José I (Joseph I), the municipality (concelhoConcelho
Concelho , in the Portuguese language, is the word municipality, when referring to the territory. The word município is used when municipality means the organ of State...
) of Lagoa was created, after its principal settlement (Lagoa) was elevated to town status.
According to historical sources, the earliest settlement of Lagoa was on the edges of a small lake or marsh [Portuguese: lagoa], which was drained in order to create fertile land and habitations which in turn were later occupied by the Muslims.
The natural resources of the area have contributed greatly to the current economic structure of the municipality based on agriculture (especially fruit and wine production), fishing, light industry, and tourism. The fishing industry (of the communities of Ferragudo
Ferragudo
Ferragudo is a Portuguese civil parish at the western border of the municipality of Lagoa Municipality, covering an area of 5.41 km² and encompassing a small population of 1867 inhabitants...
, Benagil
Benagil
Benagil is a small Portuguese village on the Atlantic Ocean in the concelho of Lagoa and the Freguesia of Carvoeiro .Up to the late 20th century, the village's economy was based on ocean fishing. Now it is a tourist area with a widely used beach, Praia de Benagil.-External...
, Carvoeiro and Senhora da Rocha), vineyards, and the traditional products of unirrigated agriculture were the principal sources of wealth of the area up to the 1970s. Driven by the abundance of fish, the canning industry at the beginning of the last century broke open the local economy, bringing with it general prosperity and wealth.
From the 1960s, however, tourism has been the principal driver of the area’s development and the creation of the infrastructure necessary for the growth of the economic fabric. The most important outcome has been the high level of job creation over the last few decades. This activity has rapidly became the economic motor of the municipality, and has now assumed a permanent place in the local economy. Parallel to the growth of tourism has been the growth of all the related activities, especially in the construction industry, services, and general commerce.
Parishes
The 6 civil parishes/freguesiaFreguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
s of Lagoa are:
- Carvoeiro
- EstômbarEstômbarEstômbar is a Portuguese civil parish/freguesia in the municipality/concelho of Lagoa, just west of the city of Lagoa itself. It is 23.83 km² in area, with 4,658 inhabitants ; the population density is 195.5 inhabitants per km²...
- FerragudoFerragudoFerragudo is a Portuguese civil parish at the western border of the municipality of Lagoa Municipality, covering an area of 5.41 km² and encompassing a small population of 1867 inhabitants...
- Lagoa
- ParchalParchalParchal is a Portuguese civil parish/freguesia in the northwest sector Lagoa Municipality, 4.5 km² in area, with 3,378 inhabitants...
- PorchesPorches (Lagoa)Porches is a civil parish/freguesia in the municipality/concelho of Lagoa in Portugal, about 10 km east of the city of Lagoa. It is 15.57 km² in area, with 1,901 inhabitants ; its population density is 122.1 persons/km²...
All the freguesias have the status of towns, except Lagoa itself which has the status of a city.
Beaches
Lagoa is a municipality rich in beaches. They have been improved dramatically over the last few decades, in terms of infrastructure and access, as well as in terms of water quality and the environment. They now successfully compete with the better known beaches of PortimãoPortimão
Portimão is a Portuguese town located in the District of Faro in the Region of Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão . In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão...
and Albufeira
Albufeira
Albufeira is a Portuguese municipality in the Faro District, Algarve region. Its name came from the Arabic: البحيرة . The city has a population of 13,646. The municipality has a population of 35,281 inhabitants and a total area of 140.6 km²...
. The largest beaches are:
- Praia da Albandeira
- Praia da Angrinha (Ferragudo)Praia da Angrinha (Ferragudo)Praia da Angrinha is situated along the wide estuary of the Rio Arade, south of Ferragudo, in the municipality/concelho of Lagoa.Map location:...
- Praia do Barranco
- Praia do Barranquinho
- Praia de Benagil (Carvoeiro)
- Praia dos Caneiros (Blue Flag beach)
- Praia do Carvalho (Carvoeiro)
- Praia de Carvoeiro
- Praia da Cova Redonda
- Praia de Ferragudo
- Praia Grande (Ferragudo)Praia Grande (Ferragudo)Praia Grande is on the east bank of the wide estuary of the Rio Arade, south of Ferragudo, in the municipality/concelho of Lagoa , in Portugal.Map location:...
- Praia do Levante
- Praia da MarinhaPraia da MarinhaPraia da Marinha is a Portuguese beach located on the Atlantic coast in the civil parish of Lagoa, in the municipality of Lagoa, Algarve.Map coordinates: It is one of the most beautiful and emblematic beaches of Portugal...
, Carvoeiro - Praia do Mato
- Praia do Molhe
- Praia Nova (Porches)Praia Nova (Porches)Praia Nova is a small beach near Praia da Senhora da Rocha on the Atlantic coast of the civil parish/freguesia of Porches in the municipality/concelho of Lagoa in Portugal.Map coordinates:...
- Praia da Senhora da Rocha (Porches)Praia da Senhora da Rocha (Porches)Praia da Senhora da Rocha or Praia [da] Nossa Senhora da Rocha is a small fishing community and beach on the Atlantic coast of the civil parish/freguesia of Porches in the municipality/concelho of Lagoa in Portugal...
(Blue Flag beach) - Praia do Pintadinho
- Praia dos Tremoços
- Praia do Vale de Centeanes (Blue Flag beach)
Heritage Sites
- Principal Church (Lagoa))Igreja Matriz (Lagoa)The Igreja Matriz of Lagoa is situated in the heart of the city. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Light .-History and design:...
- Principal Church (Estômbar)Igreja Matriz (Estômbar)The Igreja Matriz of Estômbar in the municipality/concelho of Lagoa is situated in the heart of the town. The church is dedicated to Santiago/São Tiago .-History:...
- Principal Church (Porches)Igreja Matriz (Porches)The Igreja Matriz , is situated in the freguesia of Porches, in the concelho of Lagoa in Portugal.Founded in the 16th century, today the church has few vestiages of its early roots...
- Convent of Saint Joseph (Lagoa)Convent of São José, Lagoa (Algarve)The Convent of Saint Joseph in the city of Lagoa , Portugal, was built on the north edge of the old town, with its belvedere tower straddling the main road north to Silves...
- Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Lagoa)Convento de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Lagoa)The Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is found in the Municipality of Lagoa in the Algarve, Portugal.-History:Founded in 1550 by Pedro Fernando, scribe of the household of Catherine of Austria, Queen of Portugal, the Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was built about one kilometer to the...
- Convent of Saint Francis (Estômbar)
- Shrine of Our Lady of the Incarnation (Carvoeiro)Shrine of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (Carvoeiro)The Shrine of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação is a small shrine situated in the freguesia Carvoeiro, in the concelho of Lagoa , in Portugal....
- Fort of Saint John of Arade (Ferragudo)Fort of São João do AradeThe Fort of São João do Arade is located in the Algarve in the town and civil parish/freguesia of Ferragudo, in the municipality/concelho of Lagoa, in Portugal.Map location: Situated in a dominant position at the mouth of the Rio...
- Fort and Chapel of Our Lady of the Rock (Porches)Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha (Porches)The Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha , , also known as Porches Castle, is situated in the freguesia of Porches, in the concelho of Lagoa in Portugal...
Economy
Lagoa is actually one of the most important tourist areas of the Algarve. There are various factors which have contributed to its popularity, namely the variety of offerings to visitors (the beauty of its beaches, modern tourist accommodation, its golf courses, its cultural heritage), orderly planning of land use within the council area, its social stability, and the friendliness of its citizens.The city continues to improve facilities and organize events of interest to tourists. Each summer it hosts a large exhibition of craft products at the Parque de Feiras e Exposições de Lagoa (Fair and Exhibition Grounds of Lagoa), known by its official name's acronym FATACIL. Certain heritage buildings have been renovated for cultural uses in the city, notably the Municipal Library and the Convento de São José (St. Joseph Convent) – the Cultural Centre of the City of Lagoa – where various shows and a variety of exhibitions take place. Similarly the Municipal Auditorium hosts numerous shows and other events each week. As well many cultural activities take place at the Parque Municipal de Fontes, north of Estombar, all year round, including theatre, dances, and traditional folk-songs.
In the last 15 years Lagoa has registered one of the highest levels of economic development in the Algarve. It has numerous medical offices, educational (elementary, secondary, music, art) institutions as well as sports, leisure and tourism facilities. Lagoa DOC
Lagoa DOC
Lagoa is a Portuguese wine region centered around the Lagoa municipality in the Algarve region. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada . The region is bordered to the west by the Portimão DOC and to the east by Tavira DOC...
is a Portuguese wine region centered around Lagoa municipality.
Scenic/Recreational Sites
- Algar Seco
- FATACIL
- Sítio das FontesParque Municipal das Fontes (Lagoa)The Parque Municipal das Fontes , or Fontes de Estômbar , is a park surrounding a major spring situated on the left bank of the estuary of the Rio Arade, north of the town of Estômbar, in the concelho of Lagoa .The park,formally created in 1989, consists of about de 18 ha and is an important...
Municipal Address
Camera Municipal de LagoaLargo do Município
8401-851 Lagoa, Algarve, Portugal