Loures

Infobox_Municipality_pt
official_name = Loures
image_coat_of_arms = LRS.png

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Region = Lisboa
Subregion = Greater Lisbon
District = Lisbon
Mayor_name = Carlos Teixeira
Mayor_party = PS
area_total = 169.3
population_total = 199,231
population_density = 1,177
Parishes = 18
coor = 38º50'N 9º10'W
params = 38_50_N_9_10_W
occasion =
day = July 26
website = http://www.cm-loures.pt
footnotes =

Loures (pron. IPA2|'lo(ow)ɾɨʃ) is a city and a municipality to the north of Lisbon. Created on 26 July 1886 by a royal decree, the municipality currently occupies an area of 169 km² and has about 200,000 inhabitants (2001). The city itself has a population of 15,967. [ [http://62.48.187.117/atlas/Cap2/Cap2d_2.html UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004] Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)] It borders the municipalities of Odivelas, Sintra, Mafra, Arruda dos Vinhos, Vila Franca de Xira and Lisbon.

The municipality is basically divided in three areas: the rustic one, to the north (the parishes of Lousa, Fanhões, Bucelas, Santo Antão do Tojal and São Julião do Tojal), the urban one, to the south (Frielas, Loures and Santo António dos Cavaleiros) and the urban-industrial, to the east (Apelação, Bobadela, Camarate, Moscavide, Portela de Sacavém, Prior Velho, Sacavém, Santa Iria de Azóia, São João da Talha and Unhos).

In this eastern area, the ten local parishes claim to be independent from Loures, and form its own municipality set in the town of Sacavém. This struggle dates from the beginnings of the Portuguese Republic, and has a very strong support among the local population.

Parishes

The municipality comprises actually (after the secession of Odivelas and six other parishes – Caneças, Famões, Olival Basto, Póvoa de Santo Adrião and Ramada – in 1997, to form itself another municipality), 18 parishes:

* Apelação
* Bobadela
* Bucelas
* Camarate
* Fanhões
* Frielas
* Loures
* Lousa
* Moscavide
* Portela
* Prior Velho
* Sacavém
* Santa Iria de Azóia
* Santo Antão do Tojal
* Santo António dos Cavaleiros
* São João da Talha
* São Julião do Tojal
* Unhos

From these, both Loures and Sacavém are cities, being towns Bobadela, Bucelas, Camarate, Moscavide, Santa Iria de Azóia, Santo António dos Cavaleiros and São João da Talha.

ister Cities

* Armamar, Portugal (1993)
* Maio, Cape Verde (1993)
* Matola, Mozambique (1996)
* Diu, India (1998)

References

External links

* [http://www.cm-loures.pt Municipality official website]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/1705381/ Photos from Loures]