Estela is one of the seven civil parishes of
Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim (, ) is a Portugal, Portuguese city in Norte Region, Portugal, Northern Portugal and sub-region of Greater Porto, from its city centre. It sits in a sandy coastal plain, a cuspate foreland, halfway between the Minho River, Minho ...
, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 2,307,
[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)]
Census 2011 results according to the 2013 administrative division of Portugal in an area of 11.54 km².
Estela is known for the traditional
masseira farm practice in sand dunes and its name derives from Latin ''Stella'' (star). It is the largest agricultural parish of Póvoa de Varzim and, along with Aguçadoura and Navais, it forms the agricultural area of Póvoa de Varzim. These parishes despite having small populations experienced very sharp population declines. The built up area is becoming of suburban nature, due to the fast access to the core of Póvoa de Varzim throw the EN13 highway. Local horticultural formerly consumed regionally is currently exported to other Western European markets. Its large fine sand dune beaches are a popular destination for nudists and holds a notable links golf course in the beachfront.
History
Estela Parish is known since at least the 11th century. The "Couto" letter of the parish of Estela and
Villa Mendo dates from 1140 and was given by king
Afonso I
Afonso I of PortugalOr also ''Affonso'' (Archaic Portuguese-Galician) or ''Alphonso'' (Portuguese-Galician languages, Portuguese-Galician) or ''Alphonsus'' (Latin version), sometimes rendered in English as ''Alphonzo'' or ''Alphonse'', dependi ...
, the first king of Portugal to the monks of Tibães. It is said, that in this document, King Afonso declares himself by the first time as King of Portugal.
Geography
Estela is located 7 km from the north of
Póvoa de Varzim City Center. The north has border with the municipality of
Esposende
Esposende () is a city and a municipality in Braga District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 34,254, in an area of 95.41 km². The city itself (the parish Esposende, Marinhas e Gandra) had a population of 9,197 in 2001. It gained cit ...
, at east by
Laúndos, the south with the parishes of
Aguçadoura,
Navais
Navais is a parish and former civil parish in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 1,683 inhabitants and a total area of 4.23 km². A 2013 law amalgamated it into the new União das Freguesias de Aguçadour ...
, and
Terroso and it as a shoreline in the Atlantic Ocean by the west. With the city, Estela is one of the zones most dynamic at tourist level of municipality, there’s a golf course, considered one of the best link courses in Portugal, the camping park and hotels.
In the 18th century, the monks of Tibães planted pinewood, which today characterizes the civil parish of Estela.
Localities
Contriz, Teso, Urzes, Carrascos, Baldoia, Barros, Frinjo, Fontainha, Carregosa, Igreja, Outeiro, Estrada, and Pedrinha.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Estela (Povoa de Varzim)
Parishes of Póvoa de Varzim