Avintes

Avintesis aPortuguesecivil parishin themunicipalityofVila Nova de Gaia. The population in 2021 was 10,838,in an area of 8.82 km.It is known in Portugal as "Terra da Broa", meaning "Land of the Broa", referring to theBroa de Avintes, a typical farmhouse bread widely consumed in Northern Portugal, which originated in Avintes.
Some origins of the parish, date back to the early settlement during theMegalithiccultures of the Iberian peninsula; there are references to the area ofArcas, an ancient necropole, designated for itsdolmensthat might have been constructed in this region.ArcasandArcaínhaswere synonymous with CelticdolmenandCastro culturepopulations. Yet, other historians suggest this name was actually a corruption of the termAreiasreferring to "sand".Regardless, few direct links specify the association withNeolithiccultures and settlement, although most assume that region was settled by Castro builders.Roman occupation of the peninsula occurred from the 2nd century B.C., forcing-out many of the indigenous cultures and imposing a provincial system in which the region of Avintes was part of the much largerScallabitanus. There, too, is little to substantiate Roman occupation of this area. Even the celebrated "Roman bridge" over the Febros is likely medieval in construction.
After successive politico-administrative reorganizations (first by theSuebi, then theVisigoths), the region was taken by Arab forces from the south, following theBattle of Guadalete, in 714.TheReconquistathat retook the lands south of theDouro, brought the region under the domain of the Galician province of Coimbra temporarily, under the regency ofCount Vimara Peres, who organized the defense of the lands forKing Alfonso III.But the land returned to Arab control around the 10th century. It was during this time that the first concrete reference to the village ofAbientes, by celebrated writer D. Gundesindo, appeared (today in theTorre do Tombo), but whose reproduction is uncertain, even asAlexandre Herculanotranscribed it.
Avintes was later referenced during theInquirições(Inquiries) ofKing Afonso IIIin 1258, where it pertained to the judicial sector ofGondomar(south of the Douro River).In similar inquiries during the reign ofKing Denis, around 1284 (or 1288), the area was referenced as São Pedro de Avintes, where its religious limits were identified and its stewardship fixed to itsvicar, Martim Anes. Little more is mentioned of the area, which was part of the parish of Seixezelo.
In 1300, the religious administration was donated to the Monastery of Santo Tirso, through a donation made by D. Constança Gil, who transferred several lands in Avintes, along the Douro, Porto and Soalhães, in memory of her husband and son, D. Gomes Sobrado and Martim Anes, respectively.Yet, by 16 April 1346, these lands were under the stewardship of the clerics of the Monastery of Pedroso.By 1487, it, once again, changed hands, passing to the Brandão family, through the donation made by D. Francisco de Sonsa, Abbott of Pedroso to Fernão Brandão.Fernão Brandão and his son, Diogo Brandão, were masters of the Estates of Avintes, and their descendants, by matrimonial descent,Counts of AvintesandMarquesses of Lavradio.
It was the daughter of Diogo Brandão, D. Isabel Brandão, who married, in 1570, D. Francisco de Almeida (eldest son of D. João de Almeida, Governor General of Tangiers and Governor of Angola), thus transferring the Estates of Avintes to the Almeida clan.D. Luís de Almeida received the title ofCount of Avinteson 17 February 1664 from KingAfonso, and in 1689 from KingPeter IIfull rights ofdonatarioto thecomarca.The history of the Almeidas is ripe with grand deeds and illustrious personalities, who occupied their seat in Avintes until theFirst Portuguese Republic.On 17 January 1725, the fourth Count, D. António de Almeida Soares Portugal, was made Count of Lavradio by KingJohn V, in recognition of the service of his uncle, D. Tomaz de Almeida, first patriarch of Lisbon; by royal proclamation, signed 18 October 1753, the family was elevated to the status of Marquesses of Lavradio (António de Almeida Soares Portugal who was alsoGovernor of Angolaand Viceroy of Brasil).
During theFrench invasionof the peninsula, Avintes was likely a sideshow; the parish did not have part in the great battles, although theDuke of Wellingtonmay have chasedMarshall Soult's forces, crossing the Douro in the immediate location, since crossing at Porto would have been difficult. Osório Gondim, was clearer, when he pronounced that"...nothing occurred here of note, unless you count the sack of the church".General Junotordered all objects of value be carted to Porto, and from there they escaped to France.
During theLiberal Wars, Avintes hosted several pro- and anti-Miguelist/Absolutist disturbances: like an old woman who was injured by pro-Liberal supporters for having cheered passing Miguelist forces; or the time after the breaking of the siege of Porto, when there celebrating in Valbom, a Miguelist regiment attacked sympathizers traveling to the festival-like party, causing only one death in Avintes, while in Gramido the bodies covered the ground.
With these events, on 16 May 1832, Avintes became a municipality (formalized on 28 June 1834), and the first municipal council is installed in Tulha dos Dízimos on the 1 June, presided by António Francisco Aleixo (elected in September 1834).This small council had a working budget of 37,635réis, in addition to a tax of meat sales, and a fee on sales made in the market along the Largo da Gandra (which itself had been operating since the reign ofJohn IV).
It is a town (pt.Vila) on the left bank of riverDouro, east of the city of Gaia and south ofPorto.
Although best known for its Baroque-era church, the parish has a small number of classified architectural constructions dating back to the early period of Portuguese expansion. These include:
Founded in 23 July of 1923,Futebol Clube de Avintesis the local football club. As of the 2022/23 season, the senior team, coached by Bruno Cunha, competes in theDivisão de Eliteof the Porto Football Association, equivalent to the Portuguese 5th tier. The club's president is Rúben Rodrigues Pereira.