Águas Santas

History

The first references to Águas Santas are found in a document dating from the year 1120, where Pope Callixtus II mentions the monastery of Aquis Sanctis. The origin of the parish of Águas Santas predates the formation of the nationality, and there are even traces of its existence as far back as the 6th century. However, the oldest known document dates back to 1405, and the records of 1120 include a reference to Sancta Marya Aquis Sanctis in a charter donated by the city of Porto to Bishop Hugo. Legend has it that the mother superior of a convent, hearing of the approach of the Romans, hid the image of the Virgin Mary near a fountain; when she unveiled it, she saw the image of Our Lady weeping. When the people heard the news, they called it the Fountain of Holy Water. Later, the church of the Convent of Águas Santas was built near the fountain. This would be the history of the name of the parish. It was an important award from the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta, or simply the Order of Malta, as it is better known today. For this reason, the cross of the Order of Malta[3] is included in the municipal coat of arms. The seat of the parish, the village of Águas Santas, was promoted to town in 1986.

Most-observed species

• Yellow-legged Gull

  Larus michahellis J.F.Naumann, 1840 · Aves
  18,485
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  15,782
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  15,550
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  13,215
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,513
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  11,082
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  9,735
• White Wagtail

  Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  9,206

Most recent

• M 3.3 — 2015-05-02
  1 km WSW of Arcos, Portugal
• M 2.6 — 2007-04-17
  1 km WNW of Aves, Portugal
• M 2.5 — 2006-10-05
  5 km SSW of Vieira do Minho, Portugal
• M 2.5 — 2005-09-06
  6 km W of Sande, Portugal
• M 2.8 — 2005-06-19
  4 km W of Ponte de Lima, Portugal
• M 2.7 — 2005-06-19
  3 km NW of Ponte de Lima, Portugal