Alvalade () is a (civil parish) and typical quarter of Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. Located in central Lisbon, Alvalade is south of Lumiar and Olivais, west of Marvila, east of São Domingos de Benfica, and north of Avenidas Novas and Areeiro. The population in 2021 was 33,309.Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE) , Census 2011 results according to the 2013 administrative division of Portugal
History The designation of Alvalade appears to have its origins in the Arabic name Al Balade, meaning "inhabited and walled place." In 1323, the Battle of Alvalade was fought between King Dinis I of Portugal and his son King Afonso IV of Portugal, but famously the battle was stopped after the intervention of Saint Queen Isabel of Portugal, wife of Dinis I and mother of Afonso IV. There is a monument erected in memory of the Saint Queen in Alvalade.
The neighborhood is based on the "Urbanization Plan of the Southern Zone of Avenida Alferes Malheiro," currently referred to as Avenida do Brasil, authored by architect Faria da Costa. The plan proposed an urban design centered around closed-block typologies, bounded by continuous streets, within a relatively non-hierarchical system. It also envisioned two major avenues originating from a single point, the intersection of Avenida de Roma with the railway, extending from Avenida de Roma to Avenida Alferes Malheiro (now Avenida do Brasil) near the Júlio de Matos Hospital. This plan emerged due to the city's housing shortage resulting from population growth, particularly in economically affordable housing.Costa, J. P. (2010). Bairro de Alvalade - Um Paradigma no Urbanismo Português. Lisboa: Livros Horizonte., p 10
The implementation of this plan involved several architects, each responsible for a segment, resulting in a diverse range of architectural styles. Embracing this variety turned Alvalade into an experimental site for architecture, showcasing diverse housing proposals while maintaining harmonious control over the overall ensemble. This method, wherein an urban plan evolves during implementation, remains underexplored today. Minor adjustments were made to the overall plan during the detailed planning phase, but the main ideas remained intact.
In 1944, the introduction of the "neighborhood unit" determined the structure present in Alvalade today. Eight cells were established, spanning three different parishes in Lisbon: Campo Grande (cells 1 and 2), São João de Brito (cells 3, 4, 5, and 6), and Alvalade (cells 7 and 8). The boundaries encompass significant city thoroughfares: Avenida do Brasil (north), Avenida Gago Coutinho (east), the railway line (south), Rua de Entre-campos, and Campo Grande (west).Costa, J. P. (2010). Bairro de Alvalade - Um Paradigma no Urbanismo Português. Lisboa: Livros Horizonte., p 11
There are eight standard projects in this neighborhood, designated from A to H. Type A features ground-level open space supported by pilotis, while type B designates ground-level space for commercial use, primarily in the central zone. Types E, F, and G are considered variants for corner situations. Lastly, type H refers to small commercial constructions within the courtyards. In 1951, the Lot Division Plan began, with construction starting in 1952.Costa, J. P. (2010). Bairro de Alvalade - Um Paradigma no Urbanismo Português. Lisboa: Livros Horizonte., p 12
This area was characterized by rural occupation on Lisbon's periphery, dominated by cultivation areas, estates, and small clusters of houses connected by minor roads. Urbanization transformed these clusters, incorporating existing elements into the new urban fabric. They were categorized into three levels of incorporated pre-existing structures: first, the main roads into Lisbon, second, the small clusters near these roads, and finally, isolated structures with significant architectural value. This culturalist approach integrated existing elements from the past, even those lacking significant architectural character, recognizing their importance to the new construction.
It was one of the 12 parishes created by the administrative reorganization of the municipality of Lisbon on February 7, 1959, which separated these territories from the former parish of Campo Grande. In the same year the parish of São João de Brito, named after the church dedicated to the Jesuit martyr of the same name, was created; it would have later been absorbed into Alvalade after 53 years.
By the 1960s, the final developments in the Alvalade neighborhood focused on detailed studies, aiming to accentuate organic construction and move away from more rationalist options. An example is the Lagares d'El Rei Urbanization in cell 8.Costa, J. P. (2010). Bairro de Alvalade - Um Paradigma no Urbanismo Português. Lisboa: Livros Horizonte., p. 11 - 12
As a consequence of the administrative reorganization of 2012, which came into effect after the local elections of 2013, the parish brought together the former parishes of Alvalade, Campo Grande, and São João de Brito, as well as small territories that previously belonged to the parishes of Marvila, São Domingos de Benfica, and São João de Deus (the latter dissolved). These territories merged with the Alvalade parish and the new and larger one kept the latter's name.
The homonymous parish of Alvalade is dedicated to Saint Joana Princess, but following the expansion of 2012, the parish also includes within its territory the parishes of São João de Brito (patron saint of the former parish of the same name) and Santos Reis (patron saint of Campo Grande).
Climate
Demographics
Historical resident population (before the 2012 Administrative Reform) The resident population recorded according to censuses carried over the years is shown in the following tables for the three parishes that today constitute Alvalade. It is noteworthy that the ancient parish of Alvalade lost 7,750 people from 1960 to 2011 or 46.63% of its 1960 population, not having recorded a single population gain since 1960. Similarly, the ancient parish of Campo Grande lost 8,386 people or 44.37% of its population from 1960 to 2011, with major population losses recorded in the sixties (-22.3%). The former parish of São João de Brito, the last one to be urbanised, still experienced demographic growth in the sixties but managed to lose 11,579 people or 49.68% of its population from 1970 to 2011. Alvalade (ancient)Campo GrandeSão João de Brito
Current resident population (before the 2012 Administrative Reform) In the 2021 Portuguese census was recorded the first demographic growth of the parish since 1960. In particular, from 2011 to 2021 the parish gained 2,199 people, recording a growth of +7.07%. Former Parishes Current Parish Parish Population (2011) Area (km2) Parish Population in 2011Population in 2021 Area (km2)Alvalade (ancient)8,8690.66Alvalade31,11033,3095.34Campo Grande10,5142.45São João de Brito11,7272.23
Demographic statistics
Age
The last censuses show that the parish's population is ageing at a fast pace: in 2021 23.92% of the population was below 25 and, at the same time, almost a quarter (24.73%) of the residents was 65 or older. Distribution of Population by Age Groups Year 0-14 Years 0-14 Years % 15-24 Years 15-24 Years % 25-64 Years 25-64 Years % > 65 Years > 65 Years % 2021 4,639 13.93% 3,329 9.99% 17,104 51.35% 8,237 24.73%
Religion The parish is predominantly catholic and 70.44% of the population aged 15 or above are followers of a Christian or Jeovah's Witness denomination as of 2021.
Interestingly, around 27.93% of the population doesn't practice a religion and is thus non religious.
The presence of minor religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism (1.63% of the population amongst the three) is probably due to an increasing community of people coming from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Nepal.
Immigration
In 2021, 5.38% of the population of the parish was constituted by foreigners. In particular, amongst women foreigners were 5.46% of the total. This means that in Alvalade there are 1,793 resident foreigners, a sharp increase from 2011, when there were 1,195 resident foreigners (3.76%). Since the foreign population increased by 598 people from 2011 to 2021 and given that the total population of the parish increased by 2,199 units in the same timespan, it is noteworthy that the total population growth was due for more a quarter to the increase in the number of resident foreigners, thus not counting people who have acquired Portuguese nationality in the meantime. The largest group of foreigners is constituted by the Brazilians (665 people or +61.02% since 2011), PALOP countries (235 people or +29.12% since 2011), Chinese (129 people or +95.45% since 2011), Spaniards (104 people or -20% since 2011), Italians (96 people or +231.03% since 2011) and people from the Indian Subcontinent, most notably Nepalis and Bangladeshis, totaling 88 people, or recording an increase of +109.52% since 2011.
Dealing with the foreign-born population, 11.81% of the parish's population was born abroad as of 2021. The most common countries of birth were PALOP countries (1,420 people), Brazil (1,063 people), France (149 people), Spain (137 people) and the Indian Subcontinent (123 people). Of the Portuguese nationals born abroad, the most common countries of birth were PALOP countries (1,211 people) and Brazil (399 people), all countries having ancient historical ties with Portugal as well as a rooted migration history towards the country, and who are, thus, more likely to have acquired Portuguese citizenship along the years.
Moreover, as of 2021 in the parish there were 2,960 people who have entered Portugal after 2010, constituting 8.89% of the population. Of those with recent migrant background, 26.49% were Portuguese nationals returning from a period of emigration abroad.
Amongst the Portuguese, 5,474 had already lived abroad as of 2021 (17.37% of the Portuguese population). The majority of those having lived in Angola and Mozambique (1,733 people) entered Portugal in the Seventies (1,058 people or 61.05%), following the independence of the two former colonies (so called retornados). Those coming from countries hosting large Portuguese emigrant communities such as France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg or Belgium (1,114 people) have mostly entered Portugal after 1991 (72.71%), probably due to the development of the Portuguese economy since its accession to the EU. Interestingly, 35.32% of the Portuguese nationals having lived in the UK and residing in the parish, has left the UK after 2016, (date of the Brexit referendum).
If the whole population (regardless of the nationality held) is taken into account, then 21.35% of the parish's population has already lived abroad for at least one year as of 2021, with EU countries, PALOP countries, Brazil and the United Kingdom being the most commonly cited countries of previous residence.
Education In the parish of Alvalade are located some of the largest and most prestigious universities in the country, both public and private. Among the public institutions, notable ones include the Cidade universitária of the University of Lisbon, the largest university in the country, and the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE). Among the private universities, prominent ones are the Portuguese Catholic University and the Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies (Universidade Lusófona).
The rectorate and several faculties of the University of Lisbon, those which belonged to the former Classical University of Lisbon, one of the predecessors of the current university (Law, Humanities, Psychology, Sciences, Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Pharmacy), are situated in the parish of Alvalade, within the so-called University City. Besides the faculties, other university facilities such as the Lisbon University Stadium (Estádio Universitário de Lisboa), some cafeterias, and residences are also located in the same parish.