Estômbar
Encyclopedia
Estômbar is a Portuguese
civil parish/freguesia
in the municipality/concelho
of Lagoa
, just west of the city of Lagoa itself. It is 23.83 km² in area, with 4,658 inhabitants (2001 census); the population density
is 195.5 inhabitants per km². Its civil status was raised to that of a town on August 16, 1991.
Estômbar serves mainly as a bedroom community for Portimão
, and many of its residents travel daily across the Rio Arade
to work in the neighboring municipality.
Location adjective: Estombarense
. Sanabus (or "Shombos"), its name at the time of the Arab occupation, constituted an important inland center with a castle called Abenabace, captured by the troops of King Sancho I
in 1191. A number of important figures have called Estômbar their home over time, such as the poet Ibn Ammar
, and the notorious bandit hero, Remexido
, as well as members of the nobility and the clergy.
Because of its favorable position (up to the late 20th century it included the present freguesia
s of Ferragudo
and Parchal
along the Rio Arade
), Estômbar was formerly a very prosperous economic center. Although based mainly on an agricultural economy, it also gained importance and wealth with the development of the salt industry and of trade on the Rio Arade
. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries it also was a center of fish canning which led to urban growth especially near the bank. Today its economic life is mostly tied to the support of the tourist industry (e.g., civil construction and public works).
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...
civil parish/freguesia
Freguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
in the municipality/concelho
Concelho
Concelho , in the Portuguese language, is the word municipality, when referring to the territory. The word município is used when municipality means the organ of State...
of Lagoa
Lagoa (Algarve)
Lagoa Municipality is a Portuguese municipality in Faro District, in the region known as the Algarve, with about 6,100 inhabitants.Its seat is the city of Lagoa....
, just west of the city of Lagoa itself. It is 23.83 km² in area, with 4,658 inhabitants (2001 census); the population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 195.5 inhabitants per km². Its civil status was raised to that of a town on August 16, 1991.
Estômbar serves mainly as a bedroom community for Portimão
Portimão
Portimão is a Portuguese town located in the District of Faro in the Region of Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão . In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão...
, and many of its residents travel daily across the Rio Arade
Arade
The Arade is a river located in the region of the Algarve, southern Portugal. the river's course takes it through the municipalities of Silves, Lagoa and Portimão. The source of the river lies to the southwest of the Serra do Caldeirão mountain ridge, in a valley called Barranco do Pé do Coelho....
to work in the neighboring municipality.
Other Data
Map Coordinates: 37°08′43"N 08°29′00"WLocation adjective: Estombarense
History
Estômbar is one of the oldest parishes in the Algarve. The whiteness of its buildings makes it the most “Moorish”-looking settlements in the concelhoConcelho
Concelho , in the Portuguese language, is the word municipality, when referring to the territory. The word município is used when municipality means the organ of State...
. Sanabus (or "Shombos"), its name at the time of the Arab occupation, constituted an important inland center with a castle called Abenabace, captured by the troops of King Sancho I
Sancho I of Portugal
Sancho I , nicknamed the Populator , second monarch of Portugal, was born on 11 November 1154 in Coimbra and died on 26 March 1212 in the same city. He was the second but only surviving legitimate son and fourth child of Afonso I of Portugal by his wife, Maud of Savoy. Sancho succeeded his father...
in 1191. A number of important figures have called Estômbar their home over time, such as the poet Ibn Ammar
Ibn Ammar
Ibn Ammar 1031–1086) was a Muwallad poet from Silves.Ibn Ammar, descended from a Portuguese Muslim family, became Grand Vizier of the taifa of Seville. Though he was poor and unknown, his skill in poetry brought him the friendship of the young Abbad III al-Mu'tamid, who named him prime...
, and the notorious bandit hero, Remexido
Remexido
Remexido or Remechido, the nickname of José Joaquim de Sousa Reis , was a notorious guerrilla leader of the Algarve in Portugal, defending the rights of King Miguel to the Portuguese throne.He was accused of several crimes, which made him famous by then, although recent studies suggest Remechido...
, as well as members of the nobility and the clergy.
Because of its favorable position (up to the late 20th century it included the present freguesia
Freguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
s of Ferragudo
Ferragudo
Ferragudo is a Portuguese civil parish at the western border of the municipality of Lagoa Municipality, covering an area of 5.41 km² and encompassing a small population of 1867 inhabitants...
and Parchal
Parchal
Parchal is a Portuguese civil parish/freguesia in the northwest sector Lagoa Municipality, 4.5 km² in area, with 3,378 inhabitants...
along the Rio Arade
Arade
The Arade is a river located in the region of the Algarve, southern Portugal. the river's course takes it through the municipalities of Silves, Lagoa and Portimão. The source of the river lies to the southwest of the Serra do Caldeirão mountain ridge, in a valley called Barranco do Pé do Coelho....
), Estômbar was formerly a very prosperous economic center. Although based mainly on an agricultural economy, it also gained importance and wealth with the development of the salt industry and of trade on the Rio Arade
Arade
The Arade is a river located in the region of the Algarve, southern Portugal. the river's course takes it through the municipalities of Silves, Lagoa and Portimão. The source of the river lies to the southwest of the Serra do Caldeirão mountain ridge, in a valley called Barranco do Pé do Coelho....
. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries it also was a center of fish canning which led to urban growth especially near the bank. Today its economic life is mostly tied to the support of the tourist industry (e.g., civil construction and public works).
Historic Sites
- Convento do São Francisco, also known as the “Convento do Praxel”
- Igreja Matriz (Estômbar)Igreja Matriz (Estômbar)The Igreja Matriz of Estômbar in the municipality/concelho of Lagoa is situated in the heart of the town. The church is dedicated to Santiago/São Tiago .-History:...
, also known as the “Igreja de Santiago" (or "São Tiago”)