Estela is a Portuguese

Portugal

Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

 parish, located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim

Póvoa de Varzim

Póvoa de Varzim is a Portuguese city in the Norte Region and sub-region of Greater Porto, with a 2011 estimated population of 63,364. According to the 2001 census, there were 63,470 inhabitants with 42,396 living in the city proper. The urban area expanded, southwards, to Vila do Conde, and there...

. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 2,596 inhabitants and a total area of 11.73 km².

Estela is known by its masseira

Masseira

Masseira is a unique form of traditional farming technique practised in the parishes of Estela and Aguçadoura in the north of Póvoa de Varzim in Portugal, and in the neighbouring parish of Apúlia in Esposende...

 farm practice and its name derives from Latin Stella (star).

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 Portugal

Afonso I or Dom Afonso Henriques , more commonly known as Afonso Henriques , nicknamed "the Conqueror" , "the Founder" or "the Great" by the Portuguese, and El-Bortukali and Ibn-Arrik by the Moors whom he fought, was the first King of Portugal...

, 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 downtown Póvoa de Varzim. The north has border with the municipality of Esposende, at east by Laúndos

Laundos

Laundos or Laúndos is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 2,131 inhabitants and a total area of 9.69 km²....

, the south with the parishes of Aguçadoura

Aguçadoura

Aguçadoura is a Portuguese parish, located in municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 4,530 inhabitants and a total area of 3.47 km²....

, Navais

Navais

Navais is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 1,683 inhabitants and a total area of 4.23 km².-History:...

, and Terroso

Terroso

Terroso is a Portuguese parish located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 2,472 inhabitants and a total area of 4.63 km²....

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 18th century, the monks of Tibães planted pinewood, which today characterizes the civil parish of Estela.

Hamlets

Contriz, Teso, Urzes, Carrascos, Baldoia, Barros, Frinjo, Fontainha, Carregosa, Igreja, Outeiro, Estrada, and Pedrinha.