Algueirão – Mem Martins () is a Portuguese civil parish, in the municipality (concelho) of Sintra, and part of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
It was elevated from the status of village to town on 1 February 1988.Lei n.º 21/88, de 1 de Fevereiro
History
Toponymy The toponym 'Algueirão' dates back to the Muslim presence in the region between the 8th and 12th centuries. It evolved from the Arab term al-gueirān, meaning the caves.
'Mem Martins' is a proper name of uncertain origin, consisting of the medieval given name Mem and the patronymic Martins, likely after one of the first property owners in the region following the Portuguese conquest of Lisbon and Sintra.Qual o nome de um natural de Mem Martins? E do Algueirão?
Geography It covers 16.00 km².As Freguesias do Município de Sintra segundo os dados provisórios dos CENSOS 2011
Demographics The population in 2011 was 66,250.Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Census 2011 results according to the 2013 administrative division of Portugal The population density is 4,100 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Notable structures Fountain of Sacotes () Church of Nossa Senhora das Mercês (), a 17th-century church and churchyard; Hermitage of São Romão (), a Manueline-era rural hermitage, comprising one nave with a vaulted ceiling.
Notable people André Ventura, jurist, professor, former sports pundit and politician, founder and president of the Chega party
References