Marvila, Lisbon

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Marvila
Civil parish
Clockwise: Fábrica José Domingos Barreiro; Street art in Marvila; Armazéns Pereira Fonseca
Coat of arms of Marvila
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 38°44′42″N 9°06′14″W / 38.745°N 9.104°W / 38.745; -9.104
Country Portugal
RegionLisbon
Metropolitan areaLisbon
DistrictLisbon
MunicipalityLisbon
Area
 • Total7.12 km2 (2.75 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total35,479
 • Density5,000/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Websitehttp://www.jf-marvila.pt/

Marvila (Portuguese pronunciation: [mɐɾˈvilɐ]) is a freguesia (civil parish) and typical quarter of Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. Located in eastern Lisbon, Marvila is to the southwest of Parque das Nações north of Beato, and east of Alvalade. The population in 2021 was 35,479.[1]

History[edit]

The place occupied by Marvila is as old as the founding of the country. It is one of the most typical neighborhoods in the eastern part of the city of Lisbon. Until the  19th century, there were numerous country houses in this area, surrounded by orchards due to the fertility of the banks of the Tagus.

Until recently, Marvila was an essentially rural parish, where farms and orchards proliferated. Even today, they are easy to spot: Quinta dos Ourives, Quinta da Rosa, Quinta das Flores, Quinta das Amendoeiras, Quinta do Leal, Quinta do Marquês de Abrantes etc. These properties generally belonged to families from northern Portugal, and supplied the street markets spread throughout the neighborhood and, later, throughout the capital.

RTP headquarters in Marvila

At the old Praça da Ribeira market, merchandise arrived transported by carts. This population originally from the north brought many of their habits and customs, namely, the Feira da Espiga, which may have its origins in a custom from northern market gardeners. But from a rural area, Marvila transformed, over the years, into an urban area with a neighborhood and factory look. However, traces of great horticultural activity can still be seen today. The Marquês de Abrantes Palace, on Marvila Street, or Mitra Palace, on Açúcar Street, are true examples of the various manor houses that were built there. There were also plenty of religious monuments, such as the old Marvila Monastery. In the 20th century, the installation of manufacturing units continued from Rua do Açúcar to Braço de Prata. The cooperages on Rua Capitão Leitão and the wine warehouses of Abel Pereira da Fonseca (who, shortly before he died, told his descendants "as long as the Tagus has water, Lisbon should never lack wine") date back to this period. Today, these warehouses have been transformed into cultural centers.

Parish Church of Saint Augustine in Marvila

Due to the high presence of factories, the Eastern zone of Lisbon was a working-class region in which figures of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), disguised, used to supervise and organise resistance movements, namely in the neighborhoods of Xabregas or Marvila. One notable PCP official active in the area was Fernanda de Paiva Tomás.

The current Marvila is a parish created by the decree-law 42,142 of February 7, 1959. It is a very significant part of the peripheral area of a large, rapidly growing European city.

The central area of Marvila, in Chelas, saw the emergence of the first shanty towns in the 1950s and 1960s, inhabited primarily by people from the Beira region who predominantly worked at the Fábrica Nacional de Sabões, Fábrica de Borracha, Fábrica dos Fósforos, and the wine warehouses of Abel Pereira da Fonseca.

Many of these shantytowns eventually merged and became one of the largest shanty settlements in eastern Lisbon and came to be known as the "Bairro Chinês" (Chinese Neighborhood). The name stemmed from imagery seen in films of the time, depicting junks and floating villages at the mouths of Chinese rivers. These films also portrayed vast concentrations of wooden houses scattered along narrow and labyrinthine alleyways, densely populated with people. There was a second version for the name of the same neighborhood, which originated from the possibility that the owner or tenant of some of the land had Oriental features. By 1965, the shanty town hosted 10,000 people divided in 2,000 shacks. It is important to remind that, at the same time, in the Lisbon area around 500,000 people (or a third of the total population, of which 44% were illiterate) lived in 115,000 shacks.[2][3]

Marvila is characterised by the large proportion of the population living in public housing, divided amongst 10 main neighborhouds originating in shanty towns. Around 22,000 people live in these neighbourhoods, the total ascending to 24,500 when taking into account also PRODAC neighbourhood. All in all, it is estimatedthat up to 70% of the parish population might be living in public housing neighbourhoods.[4][5][6] They were built between 1970 (PRODAC) although the majority of the relocations from shacks to apartments occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, with the last buildings dating from 2001 to 2002 and major relocations ending by 2003. The neighbourhoods, all characterised by a rich and diverse history, are, in order of construction:

Demographics[edit]

Demographic statistics[edit]

Marvila before and after the 2012 Portuguese administrative reform

Historical resident population (before the 2012 Administrative Reform)[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
196020,001—    
197027,584+37.9%
198140,689+47.5%
199147,827+17.5%
200138,767−18.9%
201137,793−2.5%
202135,479−6.1%
Source: INE

The resident population recorded according to Censuses carried over the years is shown in the following table for Marvila. It is noteworthy that Marvila lost 12,348 people from 1991 to 2021 or 25.82% of its 1991 population in just 30 years, not having recorded a single population gain since 1991.

Demographic statistics[edit]

  • Age

The last censuses show that the parish's population is ageing at a fast pace: in 2021 23.81% of the population was below 25 and, at the same time, almost a quarter (24.07%) of the residents was 65 or older.

Distribution of Population by Age Groups[7]
Year 0-14 Years 0-14 Years % 15-24 Years 15-24 Years % 25-64 Years 25-64 Years % > 65 Years > 65 Years %
2021 4,698 13.24% 3,751 10.57% 18,489 52.12% 8,541 24.07%
  • Religion

Religion in Marvila (Census 2021)[8]

  Catholicism (71.93%)
  Protestantism (2.94%)
  Jehovah's Witnesses and Other Christian (2.24%)
  Orthodoxy (0.39%)
  Islam (0.77%)
  Hinduism (1.78%)
  Buddhism (0.64%)
  Judaism (0.03%)
  Other religions (0.33%)
  No religion (18.96%)

The parish is predominantly catholic and 77.50% of the population aged 15 or above are followers of a Christian or Jeovah's Witness denomination as of 2021.

Interestingly, around 18.96% of the population doesn't practice a religion and is thus non religious.[9]

The presence of minor religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism (3.54% 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, 5.42% of the population of the parish was constituted by foreigners. In particular, amongst women foreigners were 5.48% of the total. This means that in Marvila there are 1,924 resident foreigners, a sharp increase from 2011, when there were 1,311 resident foreigners (3.47%). Since the foreign population increased by 613 people from 2011 to 2021 and given that the total population of the parish decreased by 2,314 units in the same timespan, it is noteworthy that the total population would have decreased even more weren't it for the increase in immigration.[10] The largest group of foreigners is constituted by nationals of PALOP countries (552 people or -2.47% since 2011) Brazilians (495 people or +95.65% since 2011), Chinese (375 people or +74.41%) and people from the Indian Subcontinent, most notably Nepalis and Indians, totaling 129 people, or recording an increase of +258.33% since 2011.[11] Moreover, the presence of foreigners is even more noticeable amongst the pupils attending government-fund schools in the parish.

Dealing with the foreign-born population, 11.45% of the parish's population was born abroad as of 2021. The most common countries of birth were PALOP countries (2,061 people), Brazil (707 people), China (309 people), Spain (137 people) and the Indian Subcontinent (289 people).[12] Of the Portuguese nationals born abroad, the most common countries of birth were PALOP countries (1,581 people) and Brazil (219 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.[13]

Moreover, as of 2021 in the parish there were 2,206 people who have entered Portugal after 2010, constituting 6.22% of the population. Of those with recent migrant background, 18.90% were Portuguese nationals returning from a period of emigration abroad.[14]

Elders in the parish of Marvila. According to the 2021 Census, immigrants are younger than local residents.

Amongst the Portuguese, 5,474 had already lived abroad as of 2021 (12.54% of the Portuguese population). The majority of those having lived in Angola and Mozambique (1,574 people) entered Portugal in the Seventies (1,058 people or 58.77%), 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 (804 people) have mostly entered Portugal after 1991 (74.50%), probably due to the development of the Portuguese economy since its accession to the EU. Interestingly, 59.56% 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).[15]

If the whole population (regardless of the nationality held) is taken into account, then 16.65% of the parish's population has already lived abroad for at least one year as of 2021, with PALOP countries, EU countries, Brazil the United Kingdom and China being the most commonly cited countries of previous residence.[16]

Education[edit]

The parish serves as seat of Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL)

Health[edit]

The establishment of the Health Center, which includes a family health unit, has brought benefits to Lóios, as has the Association "Tempo de Mudar para o Desenvolvimento do Bairro dos Lóios," which has contributed to social improvement in the neighborhood. Improving public space and quality of life in the neighborhood has also been a concern of the Marvila Parish Council.[17]

Economy[edit]

Public housing in Marvila

In the parish of Marvila there are 2,111 residents who, as of 2021, were unemployed. Of these, 42.49% received a state-fund subsidy or pension (41.34% in Lisbon).[18] In 2021 the unemployment rate in the parish is considerably higher than the one recorded for Lisbon and for Portugal as a whole, standing at 13.68%. In the same year, Portugal as a whole had an unemployment rate of 8.13% that has progressively decreased to 6.1% in 2023. As the statistics dealing with unemployment at the parish level are available only every 10 years, the current (2023) unemployment rate in Marvila is unknown.[19][20] Amongst youth aged 15–24 the unemployment rate in 2021 in the parish stood at 29.70%, 58.99% higher than in the rest of the country.[21]

On the other hand, in 2021 13,323 residents were employed, of which 79.94% were employees and 17.58% were independent workers.[22] Below is the table showing the employment rate per age group. The low share of people aged 20–24 employed is due to the fact that many are still in education (e.g. university) while the low proportion of those in employment aged 60–64 is due to many being early pensioners.[23]

2021 Census data Age group
20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64
Share of people in employment 40.59% 64.35% 71.27% 72.19% 71.48% 71.32% 68.70% 61.63% 43.38%

Dealing with commuting, the residents of Marvila spent 24.22 minutes of daily commuting, 2 minutes more than the average inhabitant of Lisbon.[24]

Landmarks[edit]

Aos Construtores da cidade monument
Armazéns Vinícolas Abel Pereira da Fonseca
Orthodox church of Chelas
Detail of a mural (2013) by Interesni Kazki, a duo consisting of two Ukrainian artists, commissioned by Underdogs Gallery
  • A Tabaqueira: Industrial archaeology building dating from 1928[25]
  • Aos Construtores da Cidade monument: Monument inaugurated in 1999[26]
  • Armazéns Vinícolas Abel Pereira da Fonseca: Ancient industrial building dating from 1910, now used as an event venue[27]
  • Chafariz na Rua do Vale Formoso de Cima: Ancient water fountain[28]
  • Fábrica Braço de Prata: The "Braço de Prata War Material Factory," built 1904–1908, evolved from artillery production to a cultural center. Notable for its 1953 explosion, it peaked during the Ultramar War, now housing diverse amenities[29]
  • Fábrica de Borracha Luso-Belga: Example of Industrial archaeology dating from 1895. This factory, the sole rubber transformation hub in Portugal, produced various rubber and ebonite products, including irrigation pipes, gaskets, footwear rubber sheets, belts, surgical items, hot water bags, soles, rubber heels, rubber balls, and toys. It closed in 1975 due to bankruptcy.[30]
  • Igreja e convento de Chelas (Convento de São Félix e Santo Adrião de Chelas): Its origins date back to a Visigothic occupation of ancient Roman structures, although the first surviving material evidence dates back to the 17th century. Of particular significance is the Manueline portal of the church. It is now an Orthodox church[31][32][33]
  • Igreja de Santa Clara de Assis: Catholic church built by the Franciscan order in the second half of the 20th century[34][35]
  • Igreja de São Maximiliano Kolbe: Catholic church built by the Franciscan order in 1983 in Bairro da Flamenga neighbourhood[36]
  • Igreja das Missionárias da Caridade (Mother Teresa)[37][38]
  • Igreja Paroquial de Santo Agostinho a Marvila [pt]: Including a convent (Convento de Nossa Senhora da Conceição) and chapels such as Capela da Mansão de Santa Maria de Marvila and Capela do Asilo dos Velhos, the building dates from 1660[39][40]
  • Palácio da Mitra: Palace dating from the 17th century[41]
  • Palácio dos Condes de Figueiró: Palace dating from the 17th century[42]
  • Parque da Belavista geomonument: natural formation dating from the Miocene. During the Lower Miocene, the Lisbon area experienced seasonal river flooding, providing habitats for ancestors of elephants and wild boars. Nearby seas formed limestone deposits containing marine fossils.[43]
  • Rua Capitão Leitão geomonument: natural formation dating from the Miocene[44]
  • Parque da Belavista geomonument: natural formation dating from the Miocene[45]
  • Underdogs Gallery: Cultural centre inaugurated in 2013[46]

Sport[edit]

Marvila,due to the large number of sports facilities and sports events organised, has the nickname of freguesia do desporto (lit. sports' parish). Although not used in everyday life, the "motto" is often used to promote public initiatives.[47][48]

Amongst many institutions found in the parish, there is the Seat of Clube Oriental de Lisboa (football and swimming). The parish also hosts the Estádio Engenheiro Carlos Salema [pt], a football stadium built in 1949 with a capacity for 4,000 people.

Since 2012 the parish hosts the "Zumba colours" festival in June.[49]

In 2023, the multi-sports field at Marquês de Abrantes was inaugurated.[50]

Culture[edit]

The parish hosts two important orchestras, namely Sociedade Musical 3 de Agosto de 1885 , established in 1885, and Associação para o Desenvolvimento Cultural e Social de Marvila established in 1993. The parish also offers a free monthly newspaper for all Marvila inhabitants.

Numerous institutions, associations, and projects with cultural and artistic influences are present in the parish. Entities such as the theater company Cepa Torta, Casa Conveniente, the Guinean Association for Social Solidarity in Marvila, and Batoto Yetu play a crucial role in social integration and cultural development in the neighborhood.

Marvila is also known for thriving on the essence of urban art. It embodies a genuine urban context steeped in the history and characteristics of street art. In Portugal, this neighborhood can be considered a cradle of urban art, as it centralizes its essence and encompasses all expressions of urban art. The artist Sam the Kid, revered as the king of hip-hop in Portugal, represents Chelas and Zone J; this Marvila neighborhood is adorned with graffiti, another form of street art; and, almost organically, one can find groups of young people listening to hip-hop and making rap music on the streets. Additionally, there are schools with hip-hop dance groups.[51]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ INE. "Indicador". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  2. ^ Renascença (2016-03-01). "Das barracas de Marvila ao bairro social sem sair da pobreza - Renascença". Rádio Renascença (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  3. ^ "Bairro Chinês". Junta de Freguesia de Marvila (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  4. ^ "Bairros sociais de Lisboa são habitados por 87 mil pessoas". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  5. ^ "A Lisboa esquecida dos bairros sociais". www.cmjornal.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  6. ^ "Lisboa: 67 bairros sociais com 87 mil pessoas". TVI Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  7. ^ "População residente (N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo e Grupo etário (Por ciclos de vida)". Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  8. ^ "Census - Final results: Portugal - 2021". Statistics Portugal. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  9. ^ "População residente com 15 e mais anos de idade (N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013) e Religião". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  10. ^ "Proporção da população residente de nacionalidade estrangeira (%) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013) e Sexo". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  11. ^ "População residente (N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo, Grupo etário e Nacionalidade". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  12. ^ "População residente (N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo, Grupo etário e Naturalidade (País)". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  13. ^ "População residente (Portuguesa nascida no estrangeiro - N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo, Grupo etário e Naturalidade (País)". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  14. ^ "População residente que entrou em Portugal após 2010 (N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo, Grupo etário e Motivo de entrada em Portugal". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  15. ^ "População residente de nacionalidade portuguesa que já residiu no estrangeiro (N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo, Escalão de ano de chegada a Portugal e Proveniência (País)". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  16. ^ "População residente (Que residiu no estrangeiro por período contínuo de pelo menos 1 ano - N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo, Escalão de ano de chegada a Portugal e Proveniência (País)". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  17. ^ "Bairro dos Lóios". Junta de Freguesia de Marvila (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  18. ^ "População desempregada (N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo, Grupo etário e Fonte de rendimento".
  19. ^ "Taxa de desemprego (%) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013) e Sexo".
  20. ^ "Statistics Portugal - Web Portal". www.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  21. ^ INE. "Indicador". tabulador.ine.pt. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  22. ^ "População empregada (N.º) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo, Profissão e Situação na profissão".
  23. ^ "Taxa de emprego (%) por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013), Sexo e Grupo etário".
  24. ^ "Duração média dos movimentos pendulares (min) da população residente empregada ou estudante por Local de residência à data dos Censos [2021] (NUTS - 2013)".
  25. ^ "A tabaqueira". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  26. ^ "Lisboa - Aos Construtores da Cidade". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  27. ^ "Armazéns Vinícolas Abel Pereira da Fonseca (Edifício Abel Pereira da Fonseca)". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  28. ^ "Chafariz na Rua do Vale Formoso de Cima". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  29. ^ "Fábrica Braço de Prata".
  30. ^ "Fábrica de Borracha Luso-Belga". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  31. ^ "Diretório da Cidade". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  32. ^ "Paróquias". Igreja Ortodoxa na Europa Ocidental - Patriarcado de Moscovo (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  33. ^ "Portal e Galilé da Igreja de Chelas". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  34. ^ "Santa Clara". Quo Vadis Lisboa (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  35. ^ Ideias, Terra das. "Delegação de Portugal". www.franciscanosconventuais.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  36. ^ "São Maximiliano Kolbe". Quo Vadis Lisboa (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  37. ^ "Madre Teresa de Calcutá".
  38. ^ "Diocese de Lisboa acolhe Missionárias da Caridade há 25 anos". www.patriarcado-lisboa.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  39. ^ "Capela do Asilo dos Velhos (Igreja Paroquial de Sto Agostinho de Marvila)". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  40. ^ "Antigo Convento de N. S. da Conceição de Marvila e Igreja Paroquial de Sto Agostinho de Marvila". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  41. ^ "Palácio da Mitra". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  42. ^ "Palácio dos Condes de Figueiró". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  43. ^ "Geomonumento do Parque da Belavista". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  44. ^ "Geomonumento da Rua Capitão Leitão". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  45. ^ "Geomonumento do Parque da Belavista".
  46. ^ "Underdogs Gallery". informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  47. ^ Ferreira, Rui (2023-09-14). "Junta de Freguesia de Marvila na Semana Europeia do Desporto!". BeActive (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  48. ^ "Marvila, Freguesia do Desporto". Jornal Expresso do Oriente (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  49. ^ "Marvila vai ter uma aula de Zumba com pó colorido". NiT (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  50. ^ "Polidesportivo Marquês de Abrantes | Coisas para fazer | Grande Lisboa, Lisboa". Time Out Lisboa (in European Portuguese). 2023-12-21. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  51. ^ "Zona J-Condado" (PDF).
  52. ^ "Centenas de pessoas no funeral de MC Snake". www.cmjornal.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  53. ^ "Matay | Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos". ffms.pt. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  54. ^ Matay - O Que Tu Dás (Official Video), retrieved 2024-02-24
  55. ^ admin (2017-03-20). "Morreu o rapper de Chelas Beto di Ghetto". Jornal SOL (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  56. ^ Team, ReB (2017-03-19). "Morreu o rapper Beto di Ghetto". Rimas e Batidas. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  57. ^ "Beto Diguetto - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
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