São Félix Hill
Encyclopedia
São Félix Hill or Mount São Félix, Monte de São Félix in Portuguese, is the highest hill in Póvoa de Varzim
, Portugal
, as measured by the height above sea level of its summit, 202 metres (662.7 ft).
São Félix is the north of the two hills east of the city, the other being Cividade Hill
. São Félix is located in the civil parish of Laundos
, and is a sequence of Serra de Rates mountain range. In the Middle Ages the hill was known as Lanudos, hence the name of the civil parish.
Despite its low height, São Félix is easily distinguished in the landscape because it is a significant rise in front of a coastal plain. Alto River's source is located in São Félix Hill and ends at Rio Alto Beach
in Estela
.
used to live in this hill, thus its current name. In a local myth, that became important for Christianity in the Iberian Peninsula, Félix is thought to have found the body of the first bishop of the Iberian Peninsula, Saint Peter of Rates, in the hilltop while seeing a light every evening. This myth was used by Braga clergy in order to justify that city's religious leading role in Christian Iberian Peninsula.
There's chapels of São Félix, in the hilltop, Senhora da Saúde in the hill foot and Senhora da Saúde Shrine. The hill is of ancient cult, and it is linked with the major procession of Póvoa de Varzim, specially important for the fisher community, that goes a 7km long way from the Matriz Church of Póvoa de Varzim
to Senhora da Saúde Shrine. In the latest pilgrim measures. in 2009 gathered 30,000 pilgrins and over 40,000 in 2010.
. A vase with jewels inside, used in a Castro culture death ritual, was found in 1904 this is one of the most important jewelry artifacts found in Northwest Iberian Peninsula.
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...
, Portugal
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...
, as measured by the height above sea level of its summit, 202 metres (662.7 ft).
São Félix is the north of the two hills east of the city, the other being Cividade Hill
Cividade Hill
thumb|200px|The hilltop. Entrance of [[Cividade de Terroso]].Cividade Hill is one of the two hills next to the city of Póvoa de Varzim in Portugal...
. São Félix is located in the civil parish of Laundos
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....
, and is a sequence of Serra de Rates mountain range. In the Middle Ages the hill was known as Lanudos, hence the name of the civil parish.
Despite its low height, São Félix is easily distinguished in the landscape because it is a significant rise in front of a coastal plain. Alto River's source is located in São Félix Hill and ends at Rio Alto Beach
Rio Alto Beach
Rio Alto Beach is a beach situated near the city Póvoa de Varzim in the northern parish of Estela, in northern Portugal, 35 km north of Oporto...
in Estela
Estela
Estela is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 2,596 inhabitants and a total area of 11.73 km²....
.
Myths and religion
It is believe that Saint FélixSaint Félix
Saint Felix the Hermit was a 9th century fisherman and hermit, who is venerated as a saint in Portugal.-Legend:Felix was from Villa Mendo, an ancient Roman villa that was rediscovered in the 20th century, having been buried under sand dunes in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. Felix could catch no fish,...
used to live in this hill, thus its current name. In a local myth, that became important for Christianity in the Iberian Peninsula, Félix is thought to have found the body of the first bishop of the Iberian Peninsula, Saint Peter of Rates, in the hilltop while seeing a light every evening. This myth was used by Braga clergy in order to justify that city's religious leading role in Christian Iberian Peninsula.
There's chapels of São Félix, in the hilltop, Senhora da Saúde in the hill foot and Senhora da Saúde Shrine. The hill is of ancient cult, and it is linked with the major procession of Póvoa de Varzim, specially important for the fisher community, that goes a 7km long way from the Matriz Church of Póvoa de Varzim
Matriz Church of Póvoa de Varzim
thumb|250px|Matriz Church is a baroque building located in the Old Square of Póvoa de Varzim.thumb|250px|The church's doors relief.Matriz Church of Póvoa de Varzim or Igreja Paroquial Nossa Senhora da Conceição is a baroque Church located in the Old Square of Póvoa de Varzim in Portugal...
to Senhora da Saúde Shrine. In the latest pilgrim measures. in 2009 gathered 30,000 pilgrins and over 40,000 in 2010.
Castro culture ruins
The hill has ruins of a small castro settlement of around the 2nd century B.C known as Castro de Laundos, that could have been an outpost of Cividade de TerrosoCividade de Terroso
Cividade de Terroso was an important city of the Castro culture in North-western Iberian Peninsula, located in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal.The city, known in the Middle Ages as Civitas Teroso, was built at the top of Cividade Hill, in the parish of Terroso, in Póvoa de Varzim, less than 5 km...
. A vase with jewels inside, used in a Castro culture death ritual, was found in 1904 this is one of the most important jewelry artifacts found in Northwest Iberian Peninsula.