Póvoa de Varzim Parish

The Secondary School Eça de Queirós (Portuguese: Escola Secundária Eça de Queirós) is a secondary school located in the civil parish of Póvoa de Varzim, Beiriz e Argivai, in the Portuguese Norte region, founded on 14 June 1904.

Póvoa de Varzim, with an area of 82.06 square kilometres, lies between the Cávado and Ave Rivers, or, from a wider perspective, halfway between the Minho and Douro Rivers on the northern coast of Portugal (also known as Costa Verde - Green Coast). Although in administrative reforms of 1936, the city was integrated in Douro Litoral (with which it shares cultural and historical traditions), the case for such an administrative integration is arguable, because Póvoa de Varzim is found in a transition region (in this case, between Douro Litoral and the old province of the Minho). It has characteristic Minho traditions, historical and demographic bounds with several towns and villages in the region, religiously it is part of Braga archdiocese, and due to that it is perhaps preferable to recognize Póvoa as part of the old region, favouring more Entre-Douro-e-Minho, given its central geographic position in this region. The city is limited to the north by the municipality of Esposende, to the northeast by Barcelos, to the east by Vila Nova de Famalicão, and to the south by Vila do Conde. To the west, it has a shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean.

Póvoa de Varzim (European Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpɔvu.ɐ ðɨ vɐɾˈzĩ] ) is a Portuguese city in Northern Portugal and sub-region of Greater Porto, 30 km (18.6 mi) from its city centre. It sits in a sandy coastal plain, a cuspate foreland, halfway between the Minho and Douro rivers. In 2001, there were 63,470 inhabitants, with 42,396 living in the city proper. The city expanded southwards, to Vila do Conde, and there are about 100,000 inhabitants in the urban area alone. It is the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in Portugal and the third largest in Northern Portugal. Permanent settlement in Póvoa de Varzim dates back to around four to six thousand years ago. Around 900 BC, unrest in the region led to the establishment of Cividade de Terroso, a fortified city, which developed maritime trade routes with the civilizations of classical antiquity. Modern Póvoa de Varzim emerged after the conquest by the Roman Republic of the city by 138 BC; fishing and fish processing units soon developed, which became the foundations of the local economy. By the 11th century, the fishing industry and fertile farmlands were the economic base of a feudal lordship and Varzim was fiercely disputed between the local overlords and the early Portuguese kings, which resulted in the establishment of the present day's municipality in 1308 and being subjugated to monastic power some years later. Póvoa de Varzim's importance reemerged with the Age of Discovery due to its shipbuilders and merchants proficiency and wealth, who traded around the globe in complex trade routes. By the 17th century, the fish processing industry rebounded and, sometime later, Póvoa became the dominant fishing port in Northern Portugal. Póvoa de Varzim has been a well-known beach resort for over three centuries, the most popular in Northern Portugal, which unfolded an influential literary culture and historical-artistic patronage in music and theater. Casino da Póvoa is one of the few and prominent gambling venues in Portugal. Leisure and health benefits provided in large sandy beaches attracts national and international visitors. Póvoa de Varzim holds other landmarks, especially the traditional Junqueira shopping street, Garrett Theatre, the Ethnography and History Museum, Cividade de Terroso, the Medieval Rates Monastery, Baroque Matriz Church, city Hall and Portuguese vernacular architecture in Praça do Almada, and numerous Portuguese cuisine restaurants that make Póvoa de Varzim popular in all Northern Portugal, which started to attract an international following. Farol da Lapa, Farol de Regufe, the main breakwater of the Port of Póvoa de Varzim, Carvalhido and São Félix Hill are preferred for sightseeing. The city has significant textile and food industries. The town has retained a distinct cultural identity and ancient Norse customs such as the writing system of siglas poveiras, the masseira farming technique and festivals.

Rua da Junqueira, mostly known simply as Junqueira (European Portuguese: [ʒũˈkɐjɾɐ]), is a traditional shopping street in Póvoa de Varzim in Portugal. The street, located in Póvoa de Varzim City Center, it is the main and the oldest shopping street of the city, with several boutiques, some opened for over 100 years, and small shopping centers. Historic architecture was preserved and it is also the most popular tourist area outside the beach in Póvoa de Varzim, attracting millions of visitors. It is a landmark for the city and neighboring areas. Junqueira also refers to the area surrounding this street. In early times it was a fishermen's district.

União das Freguesias da Póvoa de Varzim, Beiriz e Argivai is a major part of the Portuguese city of Póvoa de Varzim and the city's south side region. It is one of the seven civil parishes of Póvoa de Varzim. It is, by far, the most populated with 34,266 inhabitants (2011 census), more than half of the total population in the municipality. The administrative parish evolved from the amalgamation of the former parishes Póvoa de Varzim, Beiriz and Argivai. The population in 2011 was 34,266, in an area of 12.60 km2. The south side of the city of Póvoa de Varzim has varied topologies and demographic measures. It includes areas such as fishermen's Bairro Sul, Bairro Norte's beachfront highrises, Póvoa de Varzim's Ancient Roman and Medieval quarters around Bairro da Matriz, Largo das Dores, and Rua da Junqueira, the ancient parish of Argivai and Suburban Beiriz, with countryside estates and newer middle and upper-class residential areas. Póvoa de Varzim, Beiriz e Argivai boasts an array of cultural and social offerings. The south side is serviced by Metro do Porto light rail and bus services. It is serviced by the A28 and A7 motorways, national and municipal highways.

The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows (Portuguese: Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Dores, also referred to as Capela, chapel) is a Roman Catholic church in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. It is located in Largo das Dores square, in the old town of Póvoa de Varzim, and is part of the parish of Matriz. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, Nossa Senhora das Dores in Portuguese. The church was rebuilt in the 18th century. It has sculptures of six of the Seven Sorrows of Mary in six surrounding chapels, and of the seventh sorrow in the altar. It was listed by IGESPAR, the Portuguese national monuments bureau, as a building of public importance in 1974.

Póvoa de Varzim City Hall (Portuguese: Câmara Municipal da Póvoa de Varzim) is the seat of government of the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. It houses the office of the mayor of Povoa de Varzim, the city council chamber, as well as other city services. The current building was designed by Reinald Oudinot in late 18th-century Neoclassical style and is located at Praça do Almada square in Póvoa de Varzim City Center. Póvoa's original town hall is located at Praça Velha, the late medieval core of the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim.

The Castelo da Póvoa (English: Castle of Póvoa), also Fortress of Póvoa de Varzim, officially Fortaleza da Nossa Senhora da Conceição or Nossa Senhora da Conceição Fortress, is a Portuguese fortress in Póvoa de Varzim rebuilt during the reigns of Peter II and John V (between 1701 and 1740) to defend the town from privateers, in the site of an earlier fort known as "Forte de Torrão". It is considered a listed property of Public Interest in Portugal.

Ethnography and History Museum of Póvoa de Varzim (Portuguese: Museu Municipal de Etnografia e História da Póvoa de Varzim) is a museum with a maritime and ethnic theme located in the Portuguese city of Póvoa de Varzim. The museum is located in Solar dos Carneiros, former home of the Viscount of Azevedo. It is a 17th-century building, listed by IGESPAR as a property of public interest in Portugal. It became a museum in 1937 and is one of the oldest ethnographic museums in Portugal. The museum collection includes the permanent exhibition "Siglas Poveiras" that won the "European Museum of The Year Award" in 1980. It also includes Sacred art from the early main church, archaeological findings such as Roman inscriptions, Castro culture ceramics and other collections. The museum has two extensions near historical sites: São Pedro de Rates Museum - for the history, legend and art surrounding the Romanesque Church of Rates and Cividade de Terroso Museum - a presentation with archaeological findings at the entrance of Cividade de Terroso, a Castro culture city.

Casino da Póvoa (lit. 'Póvoa Casino') is a casino located in Póvoa de Varzim in Portugal. It is a gaming and entertainment venue since the early 1930s. Its building is designed in a Garnier-inspired modernist style and, since 1977, it is listed by IGESPAR, the Portuguese Institute of National Monuments. The table games most popular with gamblers are Banca Francesa, Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat. The casino has several bars, including a live performances bar, restaurants and a theater. Egoísta Restaurant in the Casino offers haute cuisine of local and Portuguese cuisine presented in a gourmet version, the restaurant is surrounded by an art gallery, exhibiting paintings from some of the finest Portuguese artists such as Graça Morais, Júlio Resende, Nikias Skapinakis or Rogério Ribeiro. It is also a patron of Arts with an art prize for Portuguese artists and a notable literature prize for the Portuguese and Spanish-speaking writers from the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America and Portuguese-speaking Africa.

A Filantrópica is an arts cooperative located in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. Its headquarters and arts and literature galleries are located in Rua da Lapa street, 1. Currently, the main entrance is located in Rua 31 de Janeiro, a parallel and more important street.

Grande Hotel da Póvoa, in earlier times Palace Hotel, is a historic hotel located in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. It has a modernist style of great impact and is located at Passeio Alegre square, in Póvoa de Varzim City Center waterfront. The façade and cover were designed by architect Rogério de Azevedo, a prominent New State architect, who also designed Casino da Póvoa.