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Maia, Portugal

Coordinates:41°14′N8°37′W/ 41.233°N 8.617°W/41.233; -8.617
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Maia
Flag of Maia
Coat of arms of Maia
Coordinates:41°14′N8°37′W/ 41.233°N 8.617°W/41.233; -8.617
CountryPortugal
RegionNorte
Metropolitan areaPorto
DistrictPorto
Parishes10
Government
PresidentAntónio Silva Tiago (PSD)
Area
• Total82.99 km2(32.04 sq mi)
Population
(2015)
• Total135,678
• Density1,600/km2(4,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00(WET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+01:00(WEST)
Websitehttp:// cm-maia.pt

Maia(Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈmajɐ]) is amunicipalityin thePorto Metropolitan Area,Grande Portosubregion, inNorte Region, Portugal.It is located 11 km north of centralPorto.The population in 2011 was 135,306,[1]in an area of 82.99 km2(32.04 sq mi).[2]There is one city (Cidade da Maia) and three towns (Moreira, Castêlo da Maia and Águas Santas) in the municipality.

History[edit]

The area of the current municipality (concelho) has been inhabited for millennia, with human occupation dating back to thePaleolithicperiod. In the many hills of the region, remains of villages from theIron Agehave been found. Attracted by the rich soil and abundance of resources, theRomansalso left visible marks of their occupation in the area. In the middle of the thirteenth century, the Lands of Maia (Terras da Maia) extended from the city of Porto to the Ave river and from the sea to the mountains. In 1304 the Lands of Maia were incorporated into those ofPorto,losing its political and administrative autonomy. In 1360, KingPedro I of Portugalgave the land of Azurara (currentVila do Conde), with land in Maia, to the then infantDenis, Lord of Cifuentes,his son. The history of this municipality is also closely linked to the founding of the Portuguese nation. Some authors argue that even the PrinceAfonso Henriqueshad been educated here, next to the family of Mendes da Maia, who belonged to the Arcebishop of Braga D. Paio Mendes and the famous warriorGonçalo Mendes da Maia,the "Lidador" (today the hero of the city), named so for having entered into fearless struggle against theSaracens.In theAge of Discovery,the region of Maia produced sails and fabrics for use in thePortuguese caravels.At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the KingManuel I of Portugalgranted the charter, which provided the rent to be paid to the donee Reguengos of Maia, and regulated how to carry out punishments and courts. Between 1700 and 1836, the county was composed of 44 parishes and encompassed the entire range between the sea and the Leça and Ave rivers. With administrative reforms initiated in 1836, Maia became a separate municipality, but reduced both in area and number of parishes. In 1857, the municipality of Maia was no more, it was then restored in 1868. Maia municipality was crossed in 1809 by theNapoleonicarmy of the Duke of Dalmatia, theMarshal Soult,which was going fromBragatoPorto.Between 1832 and 1834, in the turbulent years of struggles and civil war opposingMiguel of PortugaltoPedro IV of Portugal,it was the scene of bloody battles between the absolutist and the liberal factions.

Economy[edit]

Visconde de Barreiros Avenue, Maia

The Maia municipality is one of the most industrialized in theNorte Region.Among its industries areSonae Indústria,a leading wood-based products company; market leader for paint & coating productsCIN;fruit processing companyFrulact;and cereal processing companyCerealis,which are headquartered in there. Other industries include textiles, chemicals, mechanical equipment and food products (e.g.Ferbar - Fernando Barros Productos Alimentares, Lda.,[3]a major Portuguese wholesaler of food products).Sonae SGPS,owner of one of the largest hypermarket chains and the largest private employer in Portugal, is also headquartered in Maia.CEIIA- Centro para a Excelência e Inovação na Indústria Automóvel (auto industry innovation center), is located in TECMAIA (Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia da Maia complex), ascience parksituated in the Maia Industrial Zone.[4]Prozis,a Portuguese multinational sports nutrition company, has a major research and development center in Maia.[5]

Nossa Senhora do Ó Church

Education[edit]

Monument to the People of Maia

Maia has a comprehensive network ofpre-school,primary,andsecondary education.In addition, Maia is home ofISMAI-Instituto Superior da Maia,aprivate institutionofhigher educationawarding degrees in fields ranging from psychology to communication sciences to physical education & sports to accountancy to information systems & software. In addition, Maia's population is served by the major higher education institutions located in the neighbouring municipality of Porto, including theUniversity of Porto.

Transportation[edit]

The Porto International Airport,Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport(also known asPedras Rubras Airport) is located in the parish of Moreira, in Pedras Rubras. The municipality is also served byMetro do Porto(Porto's Metro).

Porto Metronext to Maia's Forum.
Maia's City Hall Lidador Tower

International relations[edit]

The following places aresister citiesto Maia:

Sports[edit]

Maia is the hometown of two important sports organizations: the football clubFC Maia,and the cycling teamUnião Ciclista da Maia.

Notable people[edit]

Teixeira dos Santos, 2009

Sport[edit]

Bruno Fernandes, 2018

Parishes[edit]

Maia Municipality and its parishes.

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 10 civil parishes (freguesias):[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ^"Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país".Archived fromthe originalon 2018-11-05.Retrieved2018-11-05.
  3. ^Ferbar
  4. ^CEIIA
  5. ^Redação (2018-09-20)."Prozis:" Estamos a recrutar 30 pessoas por mês "".O Minho(in European Portuguese).Retrieved2023-02-04.
  6. ^Diário da República."Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 66"(pdf)(in Portuguese).Retrieved24 July2014.