Algoz
Encyclopedia
Algoz is a freguesia (parish) in the municipality of Silves
(Algarve, Portugal
).
The name of the village has its origins in the Arabic word “Al-Gûzz” which derives from the name of a war-like Asian
tribe from the Middle East
, some of whom settled in the area in the 12th century. The patron saint of the village is Our Lady of mercy. To the south of the village on a hill is the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, from here there are fine views across the area. On the eastern slopes of this hill there is meadow called Amoreira. There have been many archaeological finds here revealing much about Algoz past. There are also two other chapel in the district. The one in the west is dedicated to Saint Sebastian and one in the west dedicated to Saint Joseph
.
and it is 258 kilometres (160.3 mi) south south east of Lisbon
. The settlement stretches along an open valley, bounded on the south by a mountain and on the west by further highlands. The parish is bordered to the north by São Bartolomeu de Messines
, to the east is Tunes
and Pêra on the south and west. A stream also called the Algoz runs to the north of the village from an easterly direction, and from the north west a tributary joins the stream which is called Barranco Longo. Further on the stream flows under the Alcantarilha bridge the name of the stream changes to the Enxurrada or the Alcantarilha stream. This watercourse finally flows in to the atlantic between Pêra and Armacão de Pêra.
, primary, preparatory and a secondary school
. There are recently new built offices for the parish authorities. There is also a sports club which is called Sport Lisboe e Benfica. There is a market held on the second Monday of every month and a fair is held twice a year on the 10th August ,the day of Sâo Miguel
, and on the day of São Luís
on the last Sunday in September. Not far from the village there is a railway station.
, almond
s, fig
s and olive oil
. There are also vineyards. There are also many hot houses for growing tomatoes, cauliflowers, strawberries and other early fruits which are the sent of to the big central markets. There are also flourmillls and olive
pressing plants in the parish.
s, tile
s and other ceramic
items. There are also a couple of plant that specialise in reinforced concrete
products.
Silves
Silves is a town and a municipality in the Algarve, southern Portugal. The city has a population of 10,800 inhabitants and the municipality reaches 33,830 . The municipality of Silves is part of the district of Faro...
(Algarve, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
).
The name of the village has its origins in the Arabic word “Al-Gûzz” which derives from the name of a war-like Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
tribe from the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, some of whom settled in the area in the 12th century. The patron saint of the village is Our Lady of mercy. To the south of the village on a hill is the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, from here there are fine views across the area. On the eastern slopes of this hill there is meadow called Amoreira. There have been many archaeological finds here revealing much about Algoz past. There are also two other chapel in the district. The one in the west is dedicated to Saint Sebastian and one in the west dedicated to Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
.
Location
The village of Algoz is in an area of the Algarve called the Barrocal or gulley region. It is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south east of SilvesSilves
Silves is a town and a municipality in the Algarve, southern Portugal. The city has a population of 10,800 inhabitants and the municipality reaches 33,830 . The municipality of Silves is part of the district of Faro...
and it is 258 kilometres (160.3 mi) south south east of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
. The settlement stretches along an open valley, bounded on the south by a mountain and on the west by further highlands. The parish is bordered to the north by São Bartolomeu de Messines
São Bartolomeu de Messines
São Bartolomeu de Messines is a Portuguese Parish in the Municipality of Silves. It has an area of 246.41 km² and a population of 8,491 with a population density of 34.5 hab/km²....
, to the east is Tunes
Tunes (Silves)
Tunes is a Portuguese Parish in the Municipality of Silves. The village is east of Silves and is south south east of Lisbon. It has an area of 12.13 km², has a population of ca...
and Pêra on the south and west. A stream also called the Algoz runs to the north of the village from an easterly direction, and from the north west a tributary joins the stream which is called Barranco Longo. Further on the stream flows under the Alcantarilha bridge the name of the stream changes to the Enxurrada or the Alcantarilha stream. This watercourse finally flows in to the atlantic between Pêra and Armacão de Pêra.
Amenities
The village has a kindergartenKindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
, primary, preparatory and a secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
. There are recently new built offices for the parish authorities. There is also a sports club which is called Sport Lisboe e Benfica. There is a market held on the second Monday of every month and a fair is held twice a year on the 10th August ,the day of Sâo Miguel
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
, and on the day of São Luís
Louis of Toulouse
Saint Louis of Toulouse was a cadet of the royal French house of Anjou who was made a Catholic bishop. The California mission, city and county of San Luis Obispo, California, are named after him....
on the last Sunday in September. Not far from the village there is a railway station.
Local production
The lands around the village of Algoz is used for agricultural production. The produce includes wheatWheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
s, fig
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
s and olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
. There are also vineyards. There are also many hot houses for growing tomatoes, cauliflowers, strawberries and other early fruits which are the sent of to the big central markets. There are also flourmillls and olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
pressing plants in the parish.
Other industries
The area also has manufacturing plants that produce brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
s, tile
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
s and other ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
items. There are also a couple of plant that specialise in reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
products.