What is "giesteira"

Giesteira or Bairro de Belém is a neighourhood of the Portuguese city of Póvoa de Varzim. It is one of the six traditional neighbourhoods of the city, and one of the eleven city districts. Giesteira is located northeast of the Póvoa de Varzim City Center and subdivided by the parishes of Póvoa de Varzim Parish and Beiriz, most of its land area belongs to Beiriz civil parish.

Giesteira was originally the ancient village of Giesteira in which some of its population moved to populate the new urban center of the Town of Varzim in the 14th century. One of the features of Giesteira are its granite walls that divided the farm fields. In Giesteira it is located the new cemetery of Póvoa de Varzim, while the old one, in Moninhas, is also part of its traditional territory. Archaeological data suggest the existence of a necropolis dating to the Roman period, including a funerary stele in tribute to the god Mars and a pedestal dedicated to Cornelius.