Olhalvo

Olhalvo (Portuguese pronunciation: [oˈʎalvu]) is a parish of the municipality of Alenquer, in western Portugal. Its population in 2011 was 1,907.^[1] Olhalvo has an area of 8.30 km².^[2]

Olhalvo
Civil parish
Coat of arms
Olhalvo Location in Portugal
Coordinates: 39.099°N 9.065°W / 39.099; -9.065
Country	Portugal
Region	Oeste e Vale do Tejo
Intermunic. comm.	Oeste
District	Lisbon
Municipality	Alenquer
Area
• Total	8.30 km2 (3.20 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	1,907
• Density	230/km2 (600/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+00:00 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+01:00 (WEST)

Heritage

Significant buildings include:

• Church of "Nossa Senhora da Encarnação", XVII century.
• Convent of Carmelitas Descalços" construction began in 1646, and has been under private ownership since 1941.
• Chapel of "Senhor dos Aflitos", belonged to "Recolhimento de Nossa Senhora da Conceição", in 1663. It was sold to private owners in 1873.
• Cruzeiro
• Fontain

Olhalvo supports many cultural activities; the following groups are active:

• A Philharmonic Band, "Banda da Sociedade Filarmónica Olhalvense", SFO, started activity in 1918

• Folk dance group "O Rancho Folclorico", since 1978, also within SFO^{[clarification needed]}
• Folk dance group "A Associação Recreativa da Pocariça", also active in sports
• Samba School, "Escola de Samba de Penafirme da Mata"
• Folk music group "Noses com Vozes", within "Associação Alegres Olhares" related to traditional music.

Special events

• Pilgrimage from Olhalvo to Nazaré, "Círio de Olhalvo à Nossa Senhora da Nazaré"–started in the sixteenth century. It occurs each year in September, organized by the inhabitants of Olhalvand, Penafirme da Mata e Pocariça in rotation.
• Singing to the kings "Cantar dos Reis", on the night of 5 January a group of men sings in the streets a theme related to the kings visiting the newborn Jesus. Small paintings are made in the houses wishing a good year to the people.
• Annual festivities occur in September at Olhalvo's main square.

Localities within Olhalvo parish

Besides Olhalvo itself:

• Penafirme da Mata
• Casais da Lage
• Cruzeiro
• Pousoa
• Pocariça
• Casal Perdigoto
• Casal Das Surraipas

References

1. Instituto Nacional de Estatística
2. "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.