Colares (Sintra)

Colares (Sintra)
Colares is a civil parish along the coast of the municipality of Sintra. The population in 2011 was 7,628, in an area of .
History
Even before there was a "Portugal", the region of Colares was a place of human movement and settlement. By the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, the architecture of Colares was carved by Latin inscriptions, such as one found near the mouth of the Maçãs River: SOLI ET LUNAE CESTIVIUS ACIDIVIS PERENNIS LEG. AVG. PR. PR. PROVINCIAE LUSITANAE.
It was conquered and held by Sigurd I of Norway for a few months in 1108, during the Norwegian Crusade.
After a period of Moorish occupation, armies loyal to Afonso Henriques conquered the region, as a sequence of their victory in Sintra, around 1147. The region remained in the hands of the Crown until 1385, when it was donated by John I to the constable Nuno Álvares Pereira to compensate the mercenary for his support against Castile.
These lands returned to the crown following the death of Infanta Beatrice, mother of Manuel I.
The historical village of Colares, which was important in the nation's pre-history, obtained a foral early after its creation. The parish of Nossa Senhora da Assunção was a bishopric rectory in the old comarca of Torres Vedras, and Colares was the seat of its own municipality, attributed to King Afonso III, in May 1255. A new foral was issued on 10 November 1516 by Manuel I.
In 1801, the municipality of Colares included 1930 inhabitants, and by 1849, it already had 3341 inhabitants.
During the administrative reforms of 24 October 1855, the municipality of Colares was extinguished and the territory integrated into the municipality of Sintra, as a civil parish.
Grapevines are grown directly upon the sand in the Colares DOC, which covers 50 acres of remaining vineyards. In the 1940s, vineyards covered 2,500 acres. Between 1934 and 1994, only the local co-op could use the Colares appellation.
Red wines, which make up 75% of platings, are grown from ramisco grape and are aged over ten years before being marketed. White wines, grown from a local variant of malvasia, are not aged as long. Because phylloxera aphids cannot live on sand, Colares vineyards are some of the only European vines that are not grafted upon American rootstocks.
Geography
The civil parish is located on the western coast of Portugal, and marked by Europe's extreme western extent: Cabo da Roca. Its contains the settlements Almoçageme, Atalaia, Azenhas do Mar, Azóia, Colares, Eugaria, Gigarós, Mucifal, Penedo, Praia das Maçãs and Ulgueira.
Climate
Architecture
Prehistoric
Dolmen of Adrenunes
Praia das Maçãs Prehistoric Monument
Archaeological
Archaeological Site of Alto da Vigia
Roman villa of Santo André de Almoçageme
Tholos tomb of Bela Vista
Tholos tomb of Monge
Civic
Building of Correios, Telégrafos e Telefones (CTT) de Colares
Vila Vitorino
Cinema/Theatre Gomes da Silva
Cellar of the Viscount Salreu
Estate of Quinta do Casas Novas
Estate of Quinta da Fonte
Estate of Quinta da Fonte Velha
Estate of Quinta de Vale Marinha
Estate of Quinta do Pé da Serra
Estate of Quinta do Rio Milho
Estate of Quinta dos Freixes
Estate of Quinta Mazziotti/Quinta do França
Estate of Quinta Milides
Estate of Nossa Senhora de Melides
Fountain of Espoujeiro
Lighthouse of Cabo da Roca
Pillory of Colares
Primary School of Azenhas do Mar
Residence of Quinta da Bela Vista
Residence of Quinta do Cosme
Residence of Quinta do Vinagre
Residence (Pombaline) on Largo do Pelourinho
Residence (17th century) on Largo do Pelourinho
Residence on Avenida do Atlântico, 180
Residence on Rua da Abreja
Residence on Rua da República
Residence Saloia
Summer cottage of Praia das Maçãs
Villa Guida
(Old) Casino of Praia das Maçãs
Military
Castle of Colares
Religious
Chapel of the Misericórdia of Colares
Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Mercês
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Praia
Chapel of São Lourenço
Church of Almoçageme
Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção
Convent of Santa Ana
Convent of Santa Cruz
Convent of São Saturino
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Ulgueira
Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Peninha
See also
Colares DOC
References
Parishes of Sintra
Former municipalities of Portugal