Pontinha (Odivelas)
Encyclopedia
Pontinha, with an area of 4.64 km2, is a civil parish in the municiaplity of Odivelas
, on the periphery of the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon
, District of Lisbon, within the NUTS III Region of Lisboa e Vale do Tejo
.
For many years, Pontinha was subdivided into properties and seigniorial holdings; some of the these names remain important toponomic references in the community, such as Casal do Falcão (where the painter Vieira Lusitano lived), Quinta da Paiã (or Casal Novo), Casal de Azeitão, Quinta da Pentieira or Quinta do Enforcado. Lisboetas
, during the 18th and 19th century, were visitors to the area of Paiã, known for the "clear fresh air"; the weatlhy and upwardly mobile citizens of Lisbon would attend theatres and festivals: the Marquess of Pombal
, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, was a frequent visitor to the diplomatic home of the King of Prussia in Pontinha.
Over the centuries, the scattered population centers have merged with growth. Pontinha was part of the much larger municipality of Belém around 1852, passing briefly into the administration of Olivais around 1886, before being administered by Loures after 26 July 1886. It was defined by the construction of the Estrada Militar ou Fiscal, which facilitated the imposition of taxes on local commerce.
By the beginning of the 20th century (March 1917), the Escola Profissional Agrícola D. Dinis, situated in Paiã, had, since its founding, administered the education of agricultural sciences. Its heritage included approximately 100 hectare used as pastureland and/or lands for cultivation. Similarly, the Centro Escolar Republicano Tenente Valdez (Republican Central School Lieutnenat Valdez) was established during this period in the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, which was completely abandoned by 1911 (even after extensive restoration was completed in 1908).
By 1936, the first electric light arrived in the parish, and in 1947 the first public works that would bring canalized water and sanitation to the population of 2507 consumers (completed in 1949). By 1950, a demographic explosion resulted in the encroachment of residential dwellings that transformed Pontinha into a bedroom community of Lisbon.
On 28 June 1971, the patriarch of Lisbon created the ecclesiastical parish of Pontinha, from a portion of the parish of Santíssimo Nome de Jesus de Odivelas, even as most of the religious connections within the civil parish were associated with the neighboring parish of São Lourenço de Carnide. The religious parish is centered on the Chapel of the Sagrada Família, today a church, a temple designed by Júlio Pomar
.
On 25 April 1974, the command post for the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA) was established in Pontinha. In the aftermath of the Carnation Revolution
(1974), after Marcelo Caetano
surrendered to General António de Spínola
, members of the Estado Novo
government (including Caetano) were transported by armoured car to the military engineering barracks in Pontinho, where they remained overnight. The Pontinha barracks were also the location from which Major Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho
directed the coup d'état
during the events of the revolution. The garrison was later transformed into a museum, established through a protocol between the 1st Engineering Regiment and the Comissão Instaladora do Município de Odivelas.
An administrative division of the municipality of Odivelas since 1984, under Law No. 44/84, approved on 30 November 1984 and published on 31 December 1984, it was de-annexed from the parish of Odivelas. Quickly, the parish was elevated to the status of vila or town under Law No. 75/91 (16 August 1991) and approved on 16 June 1991.
and Odivelas, to the west by the municipality of Amadora (the parish of Alfornelos) and in the south by the municipality of Lisbon (parish of Carnide), in addition to the municipality of Sintra
. The territory that composes the parish, was once a grouping of estates, farms and agricultural fields: the Escola Profissional Agrícola D. Dinis (D. Dinis Professional Agricultural School) is one of the few remnants of this era. After the 1950s, there were many demographic shifts in Lisbon that resulted in the area's increasing importance as a residential "neighborhood". These barrios, some of which had their basis in illegal squatting or tenements, have since developed into intricate parts of the community. The population is relatively youthful, with about 5% of which includes seniors or retirement age residents.
Odivelas Municipality
Odivelas is a municipality located in the district of Lisbon in central Portugal, within the periphery of the city of Lisbon. Its total area is approximately 26.4 km², and encompasses a population of 143,995 inhabitants...
, on the periphery of the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, District of Lisbon, within the NUTS III Region of Lisboa e Vale do Tejo
Lisboa e Vale do Tejo
Lisboa e Vale do Tejo was one of the five Regions of Portugal . Today two of the subregions are in the new Lisboa Region, two in the Centro Region and one in the Alentejo Region....
.
History
Although it is likely that Arabs settled in the vicinity around the 14th century, the first documented settlement dates back to the 17th and 18th century, when nobles and some clergy established estates in the area. In its history, the region was a small agglomeration of inhabitants, living along the Rio da Costa (whose spring flowed from the Casal do Castelo), and serviced by a small dock (Porto da Paiã) that allowed the transport of goods to and from Lisbon (and permitted a nascent economy). The Quinta da Pontinha existed, at least, since 1657. This farm estate changed proprietors (and names) during several centuries: at the beginning of the 18th century, it was known as Quinta dos Brasileiros (owing to its wealthy owners originating from Brazil), and after various new occupants, in 1796, it was known as Quinta dos Valadares. It was only in 19th century, that began to be known as Quinta da Pontinha.For many years, Pontinha was subdivided into properties and seigniorial holdings; some of the these names remain important toponomic references in the community, such as Casal do Falcão (where the painter Vieira Lusitano lived), Quinta da Paiã (or Casal Novo), Casal de Azeitão, Quinta da Pentieira or Quinta do Enforcado. Lisboetas
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, during the 18th and 19th century, were visitors to the area of Paiã, known for the "clear fresh air"; the weatlhy and upwardly mobile citizens of Lisbon would attend theatres and festivals: the Marquess of Pombal
Marquess of Pombal
Count of Oeiras was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, dated from July 15, 1759, by King Joseph I of Portugal, and granted to Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Head of the Portuguese Government....
, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, was a frequent visitor to the diplomatic home of the King of Prussia in Pontinha.
Over the centuries, the scattered population centers have merged with growth. Pontinha was part of the much larger municipality of Belém around 1852, passing briefly into the administration of Olivais around 1886, before being administered by Loures after 26 July 1886. It was defined by the construction of the Estrada Militar ou Fiscal, which facilitated the imposition of taxes on local commerce.
By the beginning of the 20th century (March 1917), the Escola Profissional Agrícola D. Dinis, situated in Paiã, had, since its founding, administered the education of agricultural sciences. Its heritage included approximately 100 hectare used as pastureland and/or lands for cultivation. Similarly, the Centro Escolar Republicano Tenente Valdez (Republican Central School Lieutnenat Valdez) was established during this period in the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, which was completely abandoned by 1911 (even after extensive restoration was completed in 1908).
By 1936, the first electric light arrived in the parish, and in 1947 the first public works that would bring canalized water and sanitation to the population of 2507 consumers (completed in 1949). By 1950, a demographic explosion resulted in the encroachment of residential dwellings that transformed Pontinha into a bedroom community of Lisbon.
On 28 June 1971, the patriarch of Lisbon created the ecclesiastical parish of Pontinha, from a portion of the parish of Santíssimo Nome de Jesus de Odivelas, even as most of the religious connections within the civil parish were associated with the neighboring parish of São Lourenço de Carnide. The religious parish is centered on the Chapel of the Sagrada Família, today a church, a temple designed by Júlio Pomar
Júlio Pomar
Julio Pomar, GOL, GCM is a Portuguese painter. He studied painting in both Lisbon and Porto Academy of Fine Arts, in this last he one he joined the group of other fellow artists called Independents....
.
On 25 April 1974, the command post for the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA) was established in Pontinha. In the aftermath of the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
(1974), after Marcelo Caetano
Marcelo Caetano
Marcelo José das Neves Alves Caetano, GCTE, GCC, also spelled Marcello Caetano , was a Portuguese politician and scholar, who was the last prime minister of the Estado Novo regime, from 1968 until his overthrow in the Carnation Revolution of 1974....
surrendered to General António de Spínola
António de Spínola
António Sebastião Ribeiro de Spínola , GCTE, ComA was a Portuguese soldier, conservative politician and author, who was important in the transition to democracy following the Portuguese Carnation...
, members of the Estado Novo
Estado Novo
There have been two regimes known as Estado Novo :*Estado Novo , the period from 1937 to 1945, under the leadership of Getúlio Vargas...
government (including Caetano) were transported by armoured car to the military engineering barracks in Pontinho, where they remained overnight. The Pontinha barracks were also the location from which Major Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho
Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho
Otelo Nuno Romão Saraiva de Carvalho, GCL , formerly a Portuguese military officer, was the chief strategist of the 1974 Carnation Revolution in Lisbon.-Biography:...
directed the coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
during the events of the revolution. The garrison was later transformed into a museum, established through a protocol between the 1st Engineering Regiment and the Comissão Instaladora do Município de Odivelas.
An administrative division of the municipality of Odivelas since 1984, under Law No. 44/84, approved on 30 November 1984 and published on 31 December 1984, it was de-annexed from the parish of Odivelas. Quickly, the parish was elevated to the status of vila or town under Law No. 75/91 (16 August 1991) and approved on 16 June 1991.
Geography
It is limited in the north by the Odivelan parishes of FamõesFamões
Famões is a town in Portugal....
and Odivelas, to the west by the municipality of Amadora (the parish of Alfornelos) and in the south by the municipality of Lisbon (parish of Carnide), in addition to the municipality of Sintra
Sintra Municipality
Sintra , located in the central Lisbon Region, is a municipality consisting of several civil parishes and two urbanized cities and known for many of its 19th century Romantic architecture, which resulted in its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
. The territory that composes the parish, was once a grouping of estates, farms and agricultural fields: the Escola Profissional Agrícola D. Dinis (D. Dinis Professional Agricultural School) is one of the few remnants of this era. After the 1950s, there were many demographic shifts in Lisbon that resulted in the area's increasing importance as a residential "neighborhood". These barrios, some of which had their basis in illegal squatting or tenements, have since developed into intricate parts of the community. The population is relatively youthful, with about 5% of which includes seniors or retirement age residents.
Economy
The economy of the parish is primarily associated with the teritary sector industries; principally, these include commercial shops, restaurants, personal and domestic services. Equally important, is the civil construction sector and industrial services, such as rubber manufacturers, metallurgy, glues/resins, marble-workers, paints and frozen products.Civic
- Edifício Velho Mirante (Oldview Building) - located on Rua de Santo Eloy (in the centre of the parish), the building dates back to the 18th century, and is unusual for its trapezoidal entrance and wrought-iron gate. Although currently a restaurant, the building was own by the 18th century nobility, a probably a carriage house.
- Núcleo Museológico do Posto de Comando do MFA (Museum/Command Post of the Armed Forces Movement) - the historical command post for the MFA, responsible for toppling the dictatorship of the Estado NovoEstado NovoThere have been two regimes known as Estado Novo :*Estado Novo , the period from 1937 to 1945, under the leadership of Getúlio Vargas...
, and where Marcelo Caetano was briefly detained/arrested before being sent into exile in MadeiraMadeiraMadeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
.