Almada Municipality

Almada
Municipality (Concelho)
Aereal view of Almada city with the famous Sanctuary of Christ the King
Flag Coat of arms
Official name: Concelho de Almada
Country	Portugal
Region	Lisboa
Sub-region	Península de Setúbal
District	Setúbal
Municipality	Almada
Civil Parishes	Almada, Cacilhas, Caparica, Charneca da Caparica, Costa da Caparica, Cova da Piedade, Feijó, Laranjeiro, Pragal, Sobreda, Trafaria
Center	Almada
- elevation	50 m (164 ft)
- coordinates	38°40′49″N 9°9′30″W
Lowest point	Sea level
- location	Atlantic Ocean
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Area	70.2 km2 (27 sq mi)
Population	164,844 (2001)
Density	2,355 / km2 (6,099 / sq mi)
LAU	Concelho/Câmara Municipal
- location	Largo Luís de Camões, Almada, Setúbal
President	Maria Emília Guerreiro Neto de Sousa (CDU)
Municipal Chair	José Manuel Maia Nunes de Almeida (CDU)
Timezone	WET (UTC0)
- summer (DST)	WEST (UTC0)
ISO 3166-2 code	PT-
Postal Zone	2805-101 Almada
Area Code & Prefix	(+351) 21 XXX-XXXX
Demonym	Almadense
Patron Saint	São João Baptista
Municipal Address	Lgo. Luís de Camões 2800-158 Almada
Municipal Holidays	24 June
Location of the municipality of Almada in Portugal
Wikimedia Commons: Almada
Website: http://www.m-almada.pt

Almada (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐɫˈmaðɐ]) is a municipality in Portugal, covering an area of 70.2 km² located on the southern margin of the Tagus River. Its municipal population in 2008 was 164,844 inhabitants; the urbanized center had a population of 102,357.

The seat is the city of Almada.

History

Human presence in the area of Almada dates back to the end of the Neolithic, approximately 5000 years ago; archeological interventions performed in the municipality suggest that nomadic tribes may have existed, they were sporadic and non-sedentary.

The initial structure of primitive human settlement, had its greatest advance with the Islamic civilization, when Muslims selected Almada to construct a fort in order to defend and monitor the entrance to the Tagus River. Across from Lisbon, the area of Almada was a crossroads of many peoples (Phoenicians, Roman and Muslim) who traded and mixed along the Tagus.

As one of the principal Arab military bases along the southern margin of the Tagus (Arabic: حصن المعدن), it was conquered by the Christian forces of D. Afonso Henriques, with the aid of English Crusaders in 1147. Alongside these Christians there lived many free Moors and Jews, under Royal protection guaranteed them by D. Afonso Henriques in a Charter 1170 (and which was attributed to all the former-Moorish strongholds around Lisbon, Almada, Palmela and Alcácer alone).

Almada received a foral from King Sancho I in 1190. But, this came at a price: Miramolim Jacub-Abu-Jassuf, son of the Moorish leader that had laid siege on Santarém in 1171, and angered by the Christian victories, gathered a large army and boldly attacked into the north conquering Alcácer do Sal and Silves, while forcing the residents of Almada, Palmela and other towns along the River into hiding. It would be some time after the death of Sancho, before the area across the Tagus would be restored to Portuguese control.

When it did, the Order of Santiago, donatorio of Almada afte 28 October 1186, had an important role in the territory (and especially between the Tagus and Sado Rivers). In their role, it facilitated the re-population of acquired territories, and economically, were the beneficiaries of various local economies.

Geography

Although small, Almada is densely populated, and limited to the east by Seixal, south by Sesimbra, and bordered on the remaining cardinal directions by the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus river. At Cacilhas, the main port, ferry boats transport visitors and local residents across to Lisbon daily, while the 25 de Abril Bridge which spans the Tagus is routinely traversed by rail, commercial and personal vehicles daily; Almada is considered a transportation hub and a fast-growing suburb. Almada's coasts are punctuated by several sandy beaches and panoramic vistas.

Located in the old district of Setúbal, the municipality includes two cities (Almada and Costa da Caparica), and is divided into eleven civil parishes:

• Almada
• Cacilhas
• Caparica
• Charneca da Caparica
• Costa da Caparica
• Cova da Piedade
• Feijó
• Laranjeiro
• Pragal
• Sobreda
• Trafaria

The city of Almada is the municipal seat, that includes six parishes within the city limits: Almada, Cacilhas, Cova da Piedade, Feijo, Laranjeiro, Pragal.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal

Twin towns - Sister cities

Almada is twinned with:

• Porto Amboim, Angola
• Sal, Cape Verde
• Regla, Cuba

Transportation

The 25 de Abril Bridge links Lisbon and Almada, which are on opposite sides of the Tagus river. The municipality is being served by a light-rail transit system, the Metro Transportes do Sul, that continues to be expanded, linking it to the suburban rail system serving Greater Lisbon and the municipality of Seixal.

Sanctuary of Christ the King

Main article: Cristo-Rei

Notable citizens

• Anabela Braz Pires, better known as Anabela, (born 22 September 1976) is a singer and musical theatre actress;
• Da Weasel, formed in 1993, is a hip-hop band;
• Ava Inferi, is a Doom Metal Band;
• Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo, OIH, better known as Figo, (born 4 November 1972), is a former football player;
• Telma Monteiro (born 27 December 1985) is a world champion judoka;
• Xutos e Pontapes, formed in 1978, is a Rock band;

References

Notes

Sources

• Pereira, John Felix (2009). Abridgement of the History of Portugal. Charleston, South Carolina: BiblioLife LLC. ISBN 978-1-110-33521-3. 

External links

• Portal de Almada - Eventos, Classificados, Notícias, Empresas
• Photos from Almada
• Almada Atlético Clube