Parretas is a neighborhood in Braga. It was created in the late 1970s when the city started expanding to the peripheral zones.
Etymology The name Parretas is thought to be derived from porretas, a common name given to green stalks found in onions and leeks.
History In 1978, an architect cooperative from Porto released a proposal to the municipal government of Braga to create an urbanization plan for a 20-hectare agricultural area. At the time, Azevedo Campos Irmãos Limitada (ACIL) acquired it in plots in order to build the houses of its founding partners, all of which part of the Azevedo Campos family. José Pedro Campos, the oldest of the founders of the company, was the only one to reach the area in the 1960s; this household is still used as ICNF's regional headquarters.Parretas, AcustiCidade, 2021, retrieved 30 July 2026
The school went active in 1992.EB das Parretas, Associação de Escolas de Real, retrieved 30 July 2026 In January 1998, the municipal pool was finished, built by Sá Machado.Piscinas Municipais de Braga, Sá Machado, retrieved 30 July 2026 A beach volleyball field was added to it in the 2017 season.Campo de voleibol de praia das Parretas beneficia toda a população, Braga Municipal Council, 22 June 2017, retrieved 30 July 2026
Contiguous to the school is Campo Polidesportivo das Parretas, refurbished in 2017.Ricardo Rio inaugurou polidesportivo das Parretas, Braga Municipal Council, 11 March 2017, retrieved 30 July 2026
The neighborhod also has its own association (Associação de Moradores das Parretas). A new directive took over in 2015, its first project being the creation of Parretas Team, a multi-sports facility for residents,Marta Amaral Caldeira, “Queremos fazer das Parretas um bairro onde dê gosto viver”, Correio do Minho, 19 August 2015, retrieved 30 July 2026 used as means to combat social exclusion.Boxe contra a exclusão social no Bairro das Parretas em Braga, SIC Notícias, 12 October 2019, retrieved 30 July 2026 Two years after its creation, it had already created boxing champions.Da Rua para o ringue, Revista Rua, 2 June 2017, retrieved 30 July 2026
Dispute A dispute arose regarding what parish Parretas is located. In 1926, when it was still a rural area, it was part of Real, however, the subsequent urbanization was always managed by Sé. A 2005 agreement favored Real, but, as of 2007, was never applied, to an extent where both parishes announced a gentleman's agreement in February of that year. António Sousa was against the proposal; this was hotly contested by locals.Magalhães Costa and Alfredo Cunha, Parretas fica em Real mas vai continuar a ser da Sé, Jornal de Notícias, 18 February 2007, retrieved 30 July 2026
Incidents On the evening of 7 January 2026, a transforming substation exploded, causing a power outage in the Parretas area.Nuno Cerqueira, Explosão de PT deixa Parretas às escuras, Expresso 24, 7 January 2026, retrieved 30 July 2026
On the early hours of 27 January 2026, two PSP agents were assaulted by a drunk man, and were treated at the Braga Hospital.Nuno Cerqueira, Braga: Dois agentes da PSP agredidos por indivíduo nas Parretas, Expresso 24, 27 January 2026, retrieved 30 July 2026
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