Aldeia de Paio Pires


Aldeia de Paio Pires is a former civil parish in the municipality of Seixal, Lisbon metropolitan area, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Seixal, Arrentela e Aldeia de Paio Pires. The population in 2011 was 13,258, in an area of 15.96 km².

History

The origin of the name comes from a great Portuguese medieval conqueror of the Reconquista, Paio Peres Correia, whose statue was erected in the centre of the parish.
Located on the left margin of the Ribeira de Coina, Aldeia de Paio Pires was once part of Almada, and location of several farms and estates, including Quinta do Cocena, Quinta do Fernão Ferro, Quinta da Atalaia and Quinta da Palmeira.
One of the first references to the location is associated with the hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Anunciação, in the 14th century, during a visit members of the Order of Santiago to Almada.
In 1758, the administrator of the hermitage was José Felix da Cunha, likely due to his close association of the Master of Paio Pires. On 4 July 1756 conceded perpetual indulgences to the faithful who visited the hermitage during the feast days associated with Annunciation of Mary and the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. A few years later, José II de-annexed the ecclesiastical parish from that of Nossa Senhora da Arrentela on 25 February 1797.
The locality of Fernão Ferro separated to create its own parish on 11 June 1993.

Architecture