Aldeia do Mato

Aldeia do Mato
Civil Parish (Freguesia)
Official name: Freguesia da Aldeia do Mato
Name origin: aldeia do mato Portuguese compound word for hamlet of the hinterland
Country	Portugal
Region	Centro
Sub-region	Médio Tejo
District	Santarém
Municipality	Abrantes
Localities	Carreira do Mato, Cabeça Gorda, Bairros Cimeiro, Fundeiro, Medroa, Pucariça, Vale de Chões, Vale Manso
Center	Aldeia do Mato
- coordinates	39°32′32″N 8°16′18″W
Area	31.4 km2 (12 sq mi)
Population	560 (2001)
Density	18 / km2 (47 / sq mi)
LAU	Freguesia/Junta Freguesia
- location	Largo Rossio, Vale Vinha, Aldeia do Mato, Abrantes
President Junta	João Carlos Gomes (PPD-PSD)
Timezone	WET (UTC0)
- summer (DST)	WEST (UTC+1)
ISO 3166-2 code	PT-
Postal Zone	2200-601 Abrantes
Area Code & Prefix	(+351) 241 XXX-XXXX
Patron Saint	Santa Maria Madalena
Parish Address	Largo Rossio, Vale Vinha 2200-601 Abrantes
Wikimedia Commons: Aldeia do Mato (Abrantes)
Statistics from INE (2001); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010)

Aldeia do Mato is a Portuguese civil parish, located in the municipality of Abrantes, in Santarém District. In 2001, the parish had about 560 inhabitants and an area of 31.4 km² (a density of less than 18 inhabitants per  km²; it is the eighth largest parish in area and least populous (while 17th in population density).

History

The parish had its beginning in the 13th century, when the area was then referred to as Aldeia da Mata, and recognized for the quantity of wood gathered in the district (aldeia da mata is Portuguese for hamlet of the hinterland). It was also recognized for the land rents obtained from cultivation and harvesting of olive and pine trees.

The parochial church, dedicated to Santa Maria Madalena had its origin in the 18th century.

A marble cross was located near the two fountains of São João and São José, and later restored in 1850.

The construction of the Castelo do Bode Dam (Portuguese: Barregem do Castelo do Bode) in 1951, caused the disappearance of the fields of olive trees which were lost to make way for the new reservoir.

Geography

Castelo do Bodo Dam, providing electrical power and leisure activities in the parish of Aldeia do Mato since the 1950s

Part of the reservoir system at Castelo do Bode in Aldeia do Mato

The parish is located in the northeastern part of the municipality, neighbouring the parishes of Souto (to the northeast and east), Martinchel (to the west), São Vicente (in the east) and Rio de Moinhos (along the west) and with the municipalities of Tomar (to the north) and Constância (to the east).

Ecoregions/Protected areas

• Parque Náutico de Recreio e Lazer da Aldeia do Mato (English: Recreational and Leisure Nautical Park of Aldeia do Mato) - Open from 1 May to 31 October, the Castelo do Bode Reservoir (Portuguese: Albufeira do Castelo de Bode) is one of the larger watersheds in the country (60km extension), and its dam (fed by the Zêzere River), in addition to producing electrical power, has been the centre of the community since it was constructed, primarily as a leisure playground. The Parque Náutico de Recreio e Lazer da Aldeia do Mato (English: Recreational and Leisure Nautical Park of Aldeia do Mato) has attracted tourists from with the country for its biodiversity (that includes wild pine, eucalyptus, strawberry tree, heather, olive trees), water sports (swimming, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing), and recent developments that have attracted new tourists, including hiking trails, motocrossing, repelling and other trips orientated towards the more adventurous;
  • Beach of Cabeça Gorda;
  • Beach of Bairro Fundeiro
  • Beach of Aldeia do Mato

Economy

Between 50-60 percent of the lands in the parish remain dedicated to cultivation of trees for harvesting, primarily pine but gradually eucalyptus, for its rapid growth.

Architecture

Civic

• Fonte de São João
• Fonte de São José

Religious

• Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria Madalena (English: Matriz Church of Santa Maria Madalena) - constructed in the 18th century and dedicated to Mary Magdalene;
• Igreja do Sagrado Coração de Maria (English: Church of the Sacred Heart of Mary) - located in Carreira do Mato;
• Igreja da Pucariça

Culture

The region is known for its culinary, and in addition to several restaurants, the local peoples of the region are known for their broas de santos and bolo de fugas.

Locally, the annual festival season is marked by the festival of Aldeia do Mato (on the last weekend of July), Cabeça Gorda (the second weekend of August), and the festival of Carreira do Mato (fourth weekend in August).