A Ver-o-Mar

Infobox_Parish_pt
official_name = A Ver-o-Mar
image_coat_of_arms = Brasao_PVZ_-_aver-o-mar.jpg
Municipality = Póvoa de Varzim
area_total = 5.21
population_total = 10,267 (2001)
population_density = 1,720
website = none
footnotes =

A Ver-o-Mar or Aver-o-Mar is a Portuguese parish, located in the city of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 10,267 inhabitants and a total area of 5.21 km².

A Ver-o-Mar naming is unknown, although the current form means "watching the sea" in Portuguese, the ancient people's "Abremar" pronunciation is still common.

History

A Ver-o-Mar was once a fishing-farmer village in the north of the city of Póvoa de Varzim, "Abonemar" is the oldest name of A Ver-o-Mar and dates from 1099. The settlement of the place started with the medieval knight Lourenço Fernandes da Cunha and its successors. Since the Middle Ages, it was part of the parish of Amorim, although in the 17th century it became attached to a place of the town of Póvoa de Varzim due to a growing community of fishing-farmers and the growing importance of Póvoa de Varzim. It became an independent parish from Amorim in 1922.

In late 20th century, the parish became urbanized as a consequence of north expansion of Bairro Norte of the city of Póvoa de Varzim. And although the official integration of parish in the city was planned by the city hall, the parish became officially a town in July 1 2003. In January 2006, the national government finally approved the expansion of the city of Póvoa de Varzim to this and other areas of the municipality, thus absorbing the then two and a half year-old town of A Ver-o-Mar.

Geography

Cape Santo André is located in the north of the parish. Esteiro River divides the parish in two parts: North and South. The south of Aver-o-mar is grouped with the north of Bairro Norte and is known as Agro-Velho and is an urban and beach resort district. In the other hand, Santo André (today considered the extreme north of the city) in the north shoreline of the parish has retained its old fishing character related with Bairro Sul (in the extreme south). The centre of Aver-o-Mar is located around Nossa Senhora das Neves Avenue.

Parish places

The parish has 18 places: Agro-Velho, Aldeia Nova, Boucinha, Caramuja, Fontes Novas, Fragosa, Mourincheira, Paço, Paranho, Paranho de Areia, Palmeiro, Perlinha, Finisterra, Paralheira, Refojos, Sencadas, Santo André, and Sesins.

City districts

The parish of Aver-o-mar contains three of the eleven city districts:
*A Ver-o-Mar
*Agro-Velho (north part)
*Parque da Cidade (west part)