Santo André (Santiago do Cacém)
It was promoted to city (Cidade) in 2003 Surrounding the first church of Santo André the first houses sprung, as is natural, and, as expected, it inhabitants were deeply connected to the religious cult.Some of them preserved the church (where an old cemetery use to lay), while others were related to the fishing activities in Santo André's lagoon and others, still, were economically linked to the region's annual fair (that still exists nowadays).According to the obtained information there was, in the Church, a "very thick book and very old with a cover of sheep wool", that certainly must have contained records of baptisms, deaths and marriages, as well as other important documents referring to the life of the locals.In the beginning of 1973, taking advantage of the oil exploration in that was taking place in Cabinda and providing huge amounts of oil, the Portuguese government decided to create and industrial complex destined to implant the petrochemical exploration in the country, and thus make a stand in the European context where industries of this type were already being developed and used to create wealth.Prior to this large expropriations took place, and an area (integrated between the municipality of Santiago and Sines) was delineated for the birth of Santo André.As there was a preoccupation with the environment as well as with the health of the industrial complex's workers, Santo André was kept at a minimum distance of 10 km and a pine forest that works as a protection from eventual catastrophe.Santo André's inhabitants enjoy a higher-than-average living quality, for which the beaches, as well as the proximity of the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina, help contribute.Before Santo André was built the locals made their livings from fishing (in the sea and in the lagoon), agriculture (mainly rice) and fairs.The nature reserve of the Lagoons of Santo André and Sancha is one of the most emblematic places of Santo André, one where we can enjoy the variety of fauna and flora of this region, and which is chosen for the protection of a very rich diversity of aquatic birds: ducks, geese, cranes, grebes, curlews, gannets and coots, that used to be hunted every year.Santo André, although small, contains a University Campus made up by Instituto Superior de Estudos Interculturais e Transdisciplinares, loosely translated as "Higher Education Institute for Intercultural and Transdisciplinary Studies" and has based its teaching policy in the region's characteristics: Sines' industries, the lacks of the Alentejo interior and its potential as a tourist region.
Civil parishPortugalRegionAlentejoIntermunic. comm.Alentejo LitoralDistrictSetúbalMunicipalitySantiago do CacémTime zoneAtlantic Oceanplanned cityMelidesSaint AndrewpatronSaint PeterfishermanChristfishing culturepreservedlagoonannual fairFatherD. João ID. Duarteexploration of the lagooncommercesheep woolbaptismsdeathsmarriagesparishincomerice culturerice cycleUrban Centerconcreteoil explorationCabindagovernmentpetrochemicalwealthexpropriationsSantiagooil refinerythermal electricalpower stationthe environmenthealthforestcatastropheCoat of armsShieldsilverbranchesorangeSt. AndrewtasselsVila Nova de Santo Andrétemperatepine treestechnicianshistoricalfishingagricultureLocal commercecensusRoman CatholicBaroqueManueline architecturebaptizedfountainVia SacrabeachesBlue CoastTróiaAlgarvewater qualitywatcherssurfingwindsurfingsanctuarieswalking trailsnaturalecologicalmarine speciesemblematiccranesgrebescurlewsgannetsmigratory birdspre-schoolJean Piagetcare centermedical centerSanta Mariacommunity centeryouth housesheltersports centerrecreation centerhunter AssociationCorpo Nacional de Escutas - Escutismo Católico PortuguêsLibrarycultural centerteachingeducational resourcespigeonkaratesurf schoolQuercusenvironmental protectionrecuperation centerpublic gardenkart circuithorse clubtennis clubheadquartersheliportnature reservewater analysisSocial ReinsertionNational Guardprimary schools