# Balazar

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{{Infobox Portuguese subdivision 
|type = parish 
|official_name      = Balazar
|image_skyline      = 
|image_caption      = 
|image_flag         =
|image_shield       = 
|image_location     = FregPVZBalasar.png
|region             = [Norte](/source/Norte_Region%2C_Portugal)
|metro              = [Porto](/source/Metropolitan_Area_of_Porto)
|district           = [Porto](/source/Porto_District)
|municipality       = [Póvoa de Varzim](/source/P%C3%B3voa_de_Varzim)
|coordinates        = {{coord|41.408|-8.626|type:adm1st_region:PT_dim:50000|display=inline,title}}
|elevation          = 
|area_total         = 11.61
|population_as_of   = 2011
|population_total   = 2543
|patron             = [Saint Eulalia of Mérida](/source/Eulalia_of_M%C3%A9rida) and [Blessed Alexandrina](/source/Alexandrina_of_Balazar)
|area_code          = 
|postal_code        = 4570 Balazar PVZ
|website            ={{URL|jfbalasar.pt/|}} 
}}
'''Balazar''' (or '''Balasar''') is one of the seven parishes of the municipality of [Póvoa de Varzim](/source/P%C3%B3voa_de_Varzim). The population in 2011 was 2,543,<ref name=ine>[http://www.ine.pt/ngt_server/attachfileu.jsp?look_parentBoui=165404348&att_display=n&att_download=y Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)], Census 2011 results according to the 2013 administrative division of Portugal</ref> in an area of 11.61&nbsp;km².<ref name=dgt>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal_caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2017__em_vigor_/ |title=Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país |access-date=2018-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105172426/http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal_caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2017__em_vigor_/ |archive-date=2018-11-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Each year thousands of pilgrims and many other [tourists](/source/Religious_tourism) visit the [Sanctuary of Blessed Alexandrina of Balazar](/source/Alexandrina_of_Balazar).

==History==
It was an ecclesiastical parish in [Barcelos](/source/Barcelos%2C_Portugal) until 1836, when it became a civil unit and transferred to Póvoa de Varzim. In 1853 it was transferred to [Vila Nova de Famalicão](/source/Vila_Nova_de_Famalic%C3%A3o), but Póvoa de Varzim town hall requested its return and it was transferred back to Póvoa two years later.

thumb|left|Panoramic view of Balazar.
The parish became famous in 2004, after the [beatification](/source/beatification) of [Alexandrina Maria da Costa](/source/Alexandrina_Maria_da_Costa) by [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II), on April 25 of that year. Pilgrimages to the parish church where Alexandrina's body rests were already common, and became more popular. The church is contemplating whether to make a shrine to Alexandrina, depending on the number of pilgrims and if she is declared a saint.

==Geography==
Balazar is located 14&nbsp;km east of downtown Póvoa de Varzim; and borders [Rates](/source/Rates_(Portuguese_parish)) to the west and the municipalities of Barcelos, Vila Nova de Famalicão, and [Vila do Conde](/source/Vila_do_Conde).

=== Localities===
The parish has several localities (''lugares'' or ''localidades''): Agrelos, [Além](/source/Al%C3%A9m), Bouça Velha, Calvário, Caminho Largo, Casal, Covilhã, Cruz, Escariz, [Fontaínhas](/source/Fonta%C3%ADnhas), [Gandra](/source/Gandra%2C_P%C3%B3voa_de_Varzim), [Gestrins](/source/Gestrins), [Gresufes](/source/Gresufes), Guardinhos, Lousadelo, Matinho, Monte Tapado, Outeiro, Quinta, Telo, Terra Ruim, Vela, and Vila Pouca.

== Sport ==
Associação e Desportiva Cultural Balasar is a football club that plays its home matches at the Lino Araújo sports complex. The complex was opened in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-08 |title=Novo complexo desportivo de Balasar permite regresso do futebol à freguesia |trans-title=New sports complex in Balasar allows football to return to the parish |url=https://maissemanario.pt/novo-complexo-desportivo-de-balasar-permite-regresso-futebol-a-freguesia/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=MAIS/Semanário |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

==See also==
* [First Thursdays Devotion](/source/First_Thursdays_Devotion)
* [List of Christian pilgrimage sites](/source/List_of_Christian_pilgrimage_sites)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.cm-pvarzim.pt/municipio/juntas-de-freguesia/balasar/ Civil Parish of Balazar] {{in lang|pt}}
* [https://www.alexandrinadebalasar.pt/ Sanctuary of Balazar] {{in lang|pt}}

{{Póvoa de Varzim Civil Parishes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balazar (Povoa de Varzim)}}
Category:Parishes of Póvoa de Varzim

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Balazar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balazar) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balazar?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.