OUR FIGUEIRA DA FOZ

Geographical aspects

The municipality of Figueira da Foz, in the district of Coimbra, is located in the Centro Region (NUT II), in Baixo Mondego (NUT III). It is bordered to the north by Cantanhede, to the south by Pombal, to the east by Montemor-o-Velho, to the southeast by Soure and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The Mondego River runs through the municipality and its mouth is located on the coast of Buarcos Bay. This river has an abundant hydrographic network with several streams and lagoons, five of which stand out: Salgueiros, Vela, Braças, Corvos and Leirosas. To the north is the Serra da Boa Viagem, about 7 km long and 253 meters high, in Alto da Bandeira. This mountain is covered in vegetation of various kinds and there are plenty of fossils. The municipality is also known for its long beaches: the beach between the Santa Catarina Fort and the Buarcos Fortress is about 1800 meters long and is one of the longest in the country.
It covers an area of around 379.1 km2.
People who live in Figueira da Foz are called figueirense.


History and Monuments

The area covered by Figueira da Foz was documented as early as 1096, when Abbot Pedro donated it to the Cathedral of Coimbra. The Buarcos area is mentioned in a donation made in 1143 to the Monastery of Sta. Cruz de Coimbra, in 1342 it received a charter and was the seat of the municipality until around 1836.

The development of shipbuilding and the increase in traffic in the port, as well as bathers and holidaymakers, led to a rapid growth in the number of residents and thus to progress, so much so that in 1771 it was elevated to a town and in September 1882 it acquired the status of a city.

The architectural heritage of the 16th century includes the Buarcos Fortress, the Sta. Catarina Fort and the Palheiros Fort. There is also the Casa do Paço, an architectural space with a 17th century Dutch tiled interior; the Stone Cross erected in 1912, which evokes an epidemic that killed around 5,000 people in 1811; the Dólmen das Carniçosas, in the Serra das Alhadas, which is a mass grave from the Neolithic period; the Castro de Sta. Olaia, which corresponds to a Phoenician settlement from the 7th century BC. There are also some religious monuments such as: the Church of Maiorca (16th century), the Mother Church of S. Julião (17th century), the Convent of Sto. António (16th century) and Seiça (17th century), the Chapels of Nossa Sra. da Encarnação (16th century) and Nossa Sra. de Seiça (17th century).


Traditions, Legends and Curiosities

As far as fairs are concerned, this municipalityhas a wealth of them, including: the monthly fair in Marinha das Ondas on the 2nd of each month and the Ferreira-a-Nova fair on the 3rd of each month; a bi-monthly fair is held in Maiorca on the 17th and 28th.

Especially in the summer months, festivals abound, such as S. João and the Arraial de Sto. António, in the square of the same name, held in June in S. Julião da Figueira da Foz; in July, the last week in Marinha das Ondas is the Festa da Nossa Sra. da Boa Viagem; in August, on the penultimate Sunday of the month, in Alhadas, there are the festivals of Nossa Sra. da Saúde and Nossa Sra. das Alhadas; in the same month, in Buarcos, there is Sta. Bárbara and the Procession of the Sea, where decorated boats parade in the sea; finally, on the last two Sundays of November, there is the festival of Nossa Sra. da Paciência.
In terms of handicrafts, there are well-known exhibitions featuring miniature boats, works in wood, stone and clay made by the boys from Praia de Buarcos. There are also embroidered aprons, lace and painted porcelain.


Economy

Throughout the ages, the development of this municipality has been driven by the intense maritime activity resulting from the commercial port. Today, the city's economy is still based on port activity, fishing and the following industries: glass, cellulose production, salt and shipbuilding. Agriculture has been declining in importance, losing agricultural population at a rate of 2.2% per year.
This is the municipality with the largest hotel capacity in the Centro region, due essentially to summer tourism, linked to the beaches. Although still developing, there is also tourism linked to other places that can be visited in other seasons, such as the Serra, the Casino, the Salinas da Morraceira, the Bateiras de Gala and Lavos, dedicated to river fish and eel fishing, and the rich historical heritage itself. These dynamics are reflected in a tendency for the tertiary sector to grow in the municipality.



Source: infopedia