Argivai
Argivai is a Portuguese parish and former civil parish located in the city of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 2,187 inhabitants and a total area of 2.32 km². A 2012 law merged the parish with neighbouring Póvoa de Varzim (parish) and Beiriz, becoming the southern parish of the city of Póvoa de Varzim, with a population of 34,266 inhabitants and a total area of 11.88 km².
The name of the parish is of Germanic origin, from Argivadi, despite that, it is popularly known as Anjo (angel).
History
The parish of Argivai is, like many parishes of Póvoa de Varzim, very ancient and its founding date is not known, we just know it already existed in the 11th century. In its territory, a pre-Roman Castro settlement is known by the name of Castro de Argivai.
In the modern period it was a parish in Barcelos. Póvoa de Varzim itself, then Varazim, was a place in this ecclesiastical parish. In administrative and military terms, Varzim was a fief with a large territory extending from the coast to the hills and the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim was established in 1308. With the urban enlargement of Póvoa de Varzim and the town's growth in territory (disputing it with Barcelos), Argivai was reduced in size. its remaining territory was finally incorporated in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim in 1836.
Geography
The parish of Argivai is today very small and enclosed between the parish of Póvoa de Varzim and the one of Vila do Conde. It is crossed by the Santa Clara Aqueduct, giving it a very pleasing outlook. The urban and transportation development destroyed much of its beautiful natural areas, including the traditional picnic areas that the Poveiros loved to go on Easter Monday, which lead the population to choose other locations on Anjo festival. A festival that even holds the name of the place.
City districts
The parish of Argivai contains two of the eleven city districts:
- Argivai
- Gândara (eastern part)
The parish was traditionally divided into twelve hamlets: Aguieira, Bom Sucesso, Calves, Casal do Monte, Cassapos, Gandra, Igreja, Fiéis de Deus, Oliveira, Padrão, Pedreira, and Quintela.
