Maia (), officially Maia Borough (), is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
in the
Porto Metropolitan Area
The Porto Metropolitan Area (; abbreviated as AMP) is a metropolitan area in northern Portugal centered on the City of Porto, Portugal's second largest city.Fernanda Paula Oliveira (2009), The metropolitan area, covering 17 municipalities, is th ...
), ''
Grande Porto'' subregion, in
Norte Region, Portugal
The North Region ( ) or Northern Portugal is the most populous region in Portugal, ahead of Lisbon, and the third most extensive by area. The region has 3,576,205 inhabitants according to the 2017 census, and its area is with a density of 173 inha ...
. It is located 11 km north of central
Porto
Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...
. The population in 2011 was 135,306, in an area of . There is one city (
Cidade da Maia) and three towns (Moreira, Castêlo da Maia and Águas Santas) in the municipality.
History
The area of the current municipality (''
concelho
Concelho () is the Portuguese-language term for municipality, referring to the territorial subdivision in local government. In comparison, the word ''município'' () refers to the organs of State. This differentiation is still in use in Portugal ...
'') has been inhabited for millennia, with human occupation dating back to the
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic ( years ago) ( ), also called the Old Stone Age (), is a period in human prehistory that is distinguished by the original development of stone tools, and which represents almost the entire period of human prehist ...
period. In the many hills of the region, remains of villages from the
Iron Age
The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...
have been found. Attracted by the rich soil and abundance of resources, the
Romans also left visible marks of their occupation in the area. In the middle of the thirteenth century, the Lands of Maia (''Terras da Maia'') extended from the city of Porto to the Ave river and from the sea to the mountains. In 1304 the Lands of Maia were incorporated into those of
Porto
Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...
, losing its political and administrative autonomy. In 1360, King
Pedro I of Portugal
Peter I (; 8 April 1320 – 18 January 1367), known as Peter the Just () or Peter the Cruel (), was King of Portugal from 1357 until his death in 1367. Early life
Born on 8 April 1320 in Coimbra, Peter was the fifth child of Afonso of Portug ...
gave the land of Azurara (current
Vila do Conde
Vila do Conde (, ; "the Count's Town") is a municipality in the Norte Region, Portugal, Norte Region of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 79,533, in an area of 149.03 km2. The urbanized area of Vila do Conde, which includes the parishes of ...
), with land in Maia, to the then infant
Denis, Lord of Cifuentes, his son. The history of this municipality is also closely linked to the founding of the Portuguese nation. Some authors argue that even the Prince
Afonso Henriques had been educated here, next to the family of Mendes da Maia, who belonged to the Arcebishop of Braga D. Paio Mendes and the famous warrior
Gonçalo Mendes da Maia, the "Lidador" (today the hero of the city), named so for having entered into fearless struggle against the
Saracen
upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens
''Saracen'' ( ) was a term used both in Greek and Latin writings between the 5th and 15th centuries to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Rom ...
s. In the
Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery (), also known as the Age of Exploration, was part of the early modern period and overlapped with the Age of Sail. It was a period from approximately the 15th to the 17th century, during which Seamanship, seafarers fro ...
, the region of Maia produced sails and fabrics for use in the
Portuguese caravels. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the King
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate (), was King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521. A member of the House of Aviz, Manuel was Duke of Beja and Viseu prior to succeeding his cousin, John II of Portugal, as monarch. Manu ...
granted the charter, which provided the rent to be paid to the donee Reguengos of Maia, and regulated how to carry out punishments and courts. Between 1700 and 1836, the county was composed of 44 parishes and encompassed the entire range between the sea and the Leça and Ave rivers.
With administrative reforms initiated in 1836, Maia became a separate municipality, but reduced both in area and number of parishes. In 1857, the municipality of Maia was no more, it was then restored in 1868. Maia municipality was crossed in 1809 by the
Napoleonic army of the Duke of Dalmatia, the
Marshal Soult
Marshal General Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duke of Dalmatia (; 29 March 1769 – 26 November 1851) was a French general and statesman. He was a Marshal of the Empire during the Napoleonic Wars, and served three times as President of the Council of ...
, which was going from
Braga
Braga (; ) is a cities of Portugal, city and a Municipalities of Portugal, municipality, capital of the northwestern Portugal, Portuguese Braga (district), district of Braga and of the historical and cultural Minho Province. Braga Municipality ...
to
Porto
Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...
. Between 1832 and 1834, in the turbulent years of struggles and civil war opposing
Miguel of Portugal to
Pedro IV of Portugal
''Don (honorific), Dom'' Pedro I (12 October 1798 – 24 September 1834), known in Brazil and in Portugal as "the Liberator" () or "the Soldier King" () in Portugal, was the founder and List of monarchs of Brazil, first ruler of the Empire of ...
, it was the scene of bloody battles between the absolutist and the liberal factions.
Economy
The Maia municipality is one of the most industrialized in the
Norte Region. Among its industries are
Sonae Indústria
Sonae Indústria is a manufacturer of engineered wood products, founded and headquartered in Maia, Portugal. Present in five countries within three continents, Sonae Indústria has a wide range of products, from simple board to complete construct ...
, a leading wood-based products company; market leader for paint & coating products
CIN; fruit processing company
Frulact; and cereal processing company
Cerealis, which are headquartered in there. Other industries include textiles, chemicals, mechanical equipment and food products (e.g.
Ferbar - Fernando Barros Productos Alimentares, Lda., a major Portuguese wholesaler of food products).
Sonae SGPS, owner of one of the largest hypermarket chains and the largest private employer in Portugal, is also headquartered in Maia.
CEIIA - Centro para a Excelência e Inovação na Indústria Automóvel (auto industry innovation center), is located in TECMAIA (Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia da Maia complex), a
science park
A science park (also called a "university research park", "technology park", "technopark", "technopolis", "technopole", or a "science and technology park" TP is defined as being a property-based development that accommodates and fosters ...
situated in the Maia Industrial Zone.
Prozis, a Portuguese multinational sports nutrition company, has a major research and development center in Maia.
Demographics
Education
Maia has a comprehensive network of
pre-school
A preschool (sometimes spelled as pre school or pre-school), also known as nursery school, pre-primary school, play school, is an educational establishment or learning space
Learning space or learning setting refers to a physical s ...
,
primary
Primary or primaries may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels
* Primary (band), from Australia
* Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea
* Primary Music, Israeli record label
Work ...
, and
secondary education
Secondary education is the education level following primary education and preceding tertiary education.
Level 2 or ''lower secondary education'' (less commonly ''junior secondary education'') is considered the second and final phase of basic e ...
. In addition, Maia is home of
ISMAI - ''Instituto Superior da Maia'', a
private institution of
higher education
Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education.
The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools ...
awarding degrees in fields ranging from psychology to communication sciences to physical education & sports to accountancy to information systems & software. In addition, Maia's population is served by the major higher education institutions located in the neighbouring municipality of Porto, including the
University of Porto.
Transportation
The Porto International Airport,
Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (also known as ''Pedras Rubras Airport'') is located in the parish of Moreira, in Pedras Rubras. The municipality is also served by
Metro do Porto
The Porto Metro () is a light rail network in Porto, Portugal and a key part of the city's public transport system. Having a semi-metro alignment, it runs underground in central Porto and above ground into the city's suburbs while using low-flo ...
(Porto's Metro).
International relations
The following places are
sister cities
A sister city or a twin town relationship is International relations, a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties.
While there ar ...
to Maia:
*
Andrézieux, Loire,
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (; AURA) or ; or ; . is a Regions of France, region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into e ...
, France
*
Mantes-La-Jolie
Mantes-la-Jolie (, often informally called Mantes) is a Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region of north-central France. It is located to the west of Paris, f ...
, Yvelines,
Île-de-France
The Île-de-France (; ; ) is the most populous of the eighteen regions of France, with an official estimated population of 12,271,794 residents on 1 January 2023. Centered on the capital Paris, it is located in the north-central part of the cou ...
, France
*
Portimão
Portimão () is a city and a municipality in the district of Faro (district), Faro, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. The population in 2022 was 63,079 in an area of 182.06 km2. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão. In ...
, Portugal
*
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
*
Mbombela
Mbombela, formerly Nelspruit, is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River (Mpumalanga), Crocodile River, the city lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, east o ...
, South Africa
Sports
Maia is the hometown of two important sports organizations: the football club
FC Maia
Futebol Clube da Maia was a Portuguese football club based in Maia, Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto. Founded on 4 April 1954, it held its home matches at the Estádio Municipal Dr. José Vieira de Carvalho, which holds 12,000 spectators. It ...
, and the cycling team
União Ciclista da Maia.
Notable people

*
Gonçalo Mendes da Maia (ca.1079 — 1170), a Portuguese knight of the 12th century
*
David Moreira da Silva (1909-2002) a Portuguese architect of the
Porto School of Architecture
*
Fernando Teixeira dos Santos
Fernando Teixeira dos Santos (born September 13, 1951) GOIH is a Portuguese economist and professor. He was Minister of Finance in the XVII and XVIII Constitutional Government of Portugal, led by José Sócrates.
Career
Teixeira dos Santos ...
(born 1951) a Portuguese economist and professor, former Minister of Finance of
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
*
Sarah A. Hoyt (born 1962 in Águas Santas) an American science fiction, fantasy, mystery and historical fiction writer.
*
João Torres (born 1986) a politician and Government Minister
Sport
*
Pedro Albergaria (born 1980), a Portuguese retired football goalkeeper with 423 club caps
*
Ricardo Malafaia (born 1981), known as ''Malafaia'', a Portuguese retired footballer with 344 club caps
*
Hernâni Borges (born 1981), known as ''Hernâni'', a former footballer with 255 club caps and 9 for
Cape Verde
Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an island country and archipelagic state of West Africa in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about . These islands ...
*
Diogo Torres (born 1987), a Portuguese footballer with over 310 club caps
*
Wilson Eduardo (born 1990), a footballer with over 250 club caps and 6 for
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-Central Africa, central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking world, Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country in both total area and List of c ...
*
Bruno Fernandes (born 1994), a footballer who plays for
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. They compete in the Premier League, t ...
with over 270 club caps and 75 for
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
*
Nuno Santos (born 1995), a footballer who plays for
Sporting CP
Sporting Clube de Portugal (), otherwise referred to as Sporting CP or simply Sporting (particularly within Portugal), or as Sporting Lisbon in other countries, , with over 140 club caps and more than 400 caps on the
Portuguese League
*
Nuno Borges (born 1997), a Portuguese professional
tennis
Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...
player
Parishes
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 10 civil parishes (''
freguesias''):
*
Águas Santas
* Castêlo da Maia
*
Cidade da Maia
* Folgosa
* Milheirós
*
Moreira
* Nogueira e Silva Escura
*
Pedrouços
* São Pedro Fins
* Vila Nova da Telha
References
{{Authority control
Municipalities of Porto District