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Bensafrim e Barão de São João

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Bensafrim e Barão de São João
Civil parish
Flag of Bensafrim e Barão de São João
Flag
Coat of arms of Bensafrim e Barão de São João
Coat of arms
Map
Country Portugal
RegionAlgarve
Intermunic. comm.Algarve
DistrictFaro
MunicipalityLagos
Area
 • Total
130.20 km2 (50.27 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
2,444
 • Density19/km2 (49/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Websitehttps://www.ufbensafrimbaraosjoao.pt/

Bensafrim e Barão de São João is a civil parish in the municipality of Lagos, Portugal. It was formed in 2013 by the merger of the former parishes Bensafrim and Barão de São João.[1] The population in 2011 was 2,425,[2] in an area of 130.20 km².[3]

Bensafrim

Bensafrim is the biggest town of the Parish, with an estimated population of around 953 in 2021.[4] Bensafrim is known for some of it's old roman sites, such as the Fonte Velha and Salmones da Mina, and the Bravura dam[5]

The Bravura Dam




History

Roman presence in the town can be traced back to the 1st centuary BC. This is due to some Menhirs and Necropolis, and other shards and nails archaeologists have discovered in the area.[6]

Economy and Authority

Around the 16th centuary, the town's industry was based on typical local productions, such as almonds, cattle, coal, and ceramics. Most of these have survived to this day, thanks to the fact that Bensafrim remained a mostly undeveloped and rural town until the late 20th centuary.[7] The authority at that time was mostly limited to the church and priest, that mostly presided over the community. If there were any problems in the community, they would usually revolve around or be solved by the town's church.

Etymology

While it's Roman name was unknown, the current name comes from Bensafrim's Arab occuption. The most common name for the town at the time was Benassaharim, which according to Frei João de Sousa, meant "Sorcerer". According to more recent studies, the word name breaks down to "Ben Sab´r In", which can be related to “Bem Saber Inscrever”, which refers to the existence of a lapidary workshop, where gemstones would be carved into “monumental funerary stars”.[8]

Barã0 de São João

The Igreja de São João Baptista

Barão de São João is the second biggest settlement in the Civil Parish, with an estimated popuation of around 380 in 2021.[9] While the village might not be as big or have as much history as Bensafrim, but certainly does hold more touristic and geographical value.

Famous Locations

• Igreja de São João Baptista

The park

This church was centred around Saint John the baptist, which was a temple from the 17th centuary, rebuilt in 1951. The church features an abstract statue of Jesus on a Cross outside the church.[10]

• Mata Nacional

The National Forest is an extravagant forest, made up of mostly pine, eucalyptus, acacia, and cork trees. There are multiple hiking paths avaliable to the public, as well as a park, picnic tables and benches, and grills. The forest is known for having exposed quartz rock, and multiple unpaved circuts going through the forest.[11]



References

  1. ^ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 59" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  2. ^ Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Census 2011 results according to the 2013 administrative division of Portugal
  3. ^ "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  4. ^ Based on the percentage of change of the Parish's Population in 2011 and 2021, (0.82508250825083%) The percentage increase was applied on the town's population in 2011, giving an estimated value of its population in 2021. Population Sources from: https://www.ufbensafrimbaraosjoao.pt/caracterizacao
  5. ^ https://www.ufbensafrimbaraosjoao.pt/turismo 1st and 3rd paragraph
  6. ^ https://www.ufbensafrimbaraosjoao.pt/resenha-historica Paragraph 1
  7. ^ https://www.ufbensafrimbaraosjoao.pt/resenha-historica Paragraph 3
  8. ^ https://www.ufbensafrimbaraosjoao.pt/turismo Paragraph 2
  9. ^ Based on the percentage of change of the Parish's Population in 2011 and 2021, (0.82508250825083%) The percentage increase was applied on the village's population in 2011, giving an estimated value of its population in 2021. The number was then rounded up to account for additional tourists and foreigners moving to the area. Population Sources from: https://www.ufbensafrimbaraosjoao.pt/caracterizacao
  10. ^ https://www.ufbensafrimbaraosjoao.pt/turismo Paragraph 4
  11. ^ https://www.ufbensafrimbaraosjoao.pt/turismo Paragraph 6
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Freguesias of Lagos

Flag of Lagos

Barão de São João
Barão de São João
São Gonçalo de Lagos (São Sebastião e Santa Maria)
São Gonçalo de Lagos (São Sebastião e Santa Maria)
Praia da Luz
Praia da Luz
Odiáxere
Odiáxere
Bensafrim e Barão de São João Lagos (São Sebastião e Santa Maria) Luz Odiáxere
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