Santa Maria da Feira

Infobox_Municipality_pt
official_name = Santa Maria da Feira


image_coat_of_arms = VFR1.png

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Region = Norte
Subregion = Entre Douro e Vouga
District = Aveiro
Old region = Douro Litoral
Mayor_name = Alfredo Henriques
Mayor_party = PSD
area_total = 215.1
population_total = 140,494
population_density = 661
Parishes = 31
coor = 40º56'N 8º32'W
params = 40_56_N_8_32_W
occasion = Saint Sebastian
day = January 20
website = http://www.cm-feira.pt
footnotes =

Santa Maria da Feira (pron. IPA2|'sɐ̃tɐ mɐ'ɾiɐ dɐ 'fɐjɾɐ) is a city and a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 215.1 km² and a total population of 140,494 inhabitants, and 107,458 electors.

The municipality is composed of 31 parishes, and is located in the District of Aveiro. The municipality includes several towns and 3 cities:Santa Maria da Feira,Fiães and Lourosa.

The present Mayor is Alfredo de Oliveira Henriques, elected by the Social Democratic Party.

The municipal holiday is January 20. It's the day when the whole municipality celebrates the "Fogaceiras". The "Fogaceiras" is a special local holiday. During the Middle Ages, the lands of "Santa Maria" (as it was known back then) were infested by the dark plague. To get rid of this calamity, the locals offered a sugared bread, called fogaça, to the patron saint Saint Sebastien. The "Fogaceiras" have been celebrated for five hundred years, since the eradication of the dark plague.

The municipality has a science museum, the Visionarium.

Parishes

* Argoncilhe
* Arrifana
* Caldas de São Jorge
* Canedo
* Escapães
* Espargo
* Feira
* Fiães
* Fornos
* Gião
* Guisande
* Lobão
* Louredo
* Lourosa
* Milheirós de Poiares
* Mosteiró
* Mozelos
* Nogueira da Regedoura
* Paços de Brandão
* Pigeiros
* Rio Meão
* Romariz
* Sanfins
* Sanguedo
* Santa Maria de Lamas
* São João de Ver
* São Paio de Oleiros
* Souto
* Travanca
* Vale
* Vila Maior

Economy

Santa Maria da Feira is a heavily industrialized municipality and is famous for its several cork transforming and shoes factories. The seat of the municipality is Feira, famous for its medieval castle which was the residence of Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, for a short period of time. The castle, located in the top of a hill, was of a considerate strategic importance during its time.

Every year, in summer, a medieval festival takes place in Santa Maria da Feira - "Feira Medieval" - during which the city goes back to the Middle Ages.

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.cm-feira.pt/ Town Hall official website]
* [http://www.feirenseweb.com/ Feirense web]
* [http://www.anmp.pt/munp/mun/mun101w3.php?cod=M4520 Info at the Portuguese Association of Municipalities website]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/1419586/ Photos from Santa Maria da Feira]
* [http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=santa+maria+da+feira More pictures of Santa Maria da Feira]