Almada

For other uses, see Almada (disambiguation).
Almada
Municipality

Aereal view of Almada with the famous Sanctuary of Christ the King

Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 38°40′49″N 9°9′30″W / 38.68028°N 9.15833°W / 38.68028; -9.15833Coordinates: 38°40′49″N 9°9′30″W / 38.68028°N 9.15833°W / 38.68028; -9.15833
Country  Portugal
Region Lisbon
Subregion Península de Setúbal
Metropolitan area Lisbon
District Setúbal
Parishes 5
Government
 • President Joaquim Estêvão Miguel Judas (CDU)
Area
 • Total 70.21 km2 (27.11 sq mi)
Elevation 33 m (108 ft)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 174,030
 • Density 2,500/km2 (6,400/sq mi)
Time zone WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1)
Postal code 2805
Area code 21
Patron São João Baptista
Website http://www.m-almada.pt

Almada (Portuguese pronunciation: [aɫˈmaðɐ]) is a city and a municipality in Portugal, located on the southern margin of the Tagus River. The population in 2011 was 174,030,[1] in an area of 70.21 km².[2] The urbanized center had a population of 101,500 in 2001.[3]

History

Human presence in the area of Almada dates to the end of the Neolithic period about 5000 years ago; archeological excavations performed in the municipality suggest that non-sedentary nomadic tribes may have occupied this location sporadically. The gradual development of settlement here made its greatest advance with the coming of Islamic civilization, when Muslims constructed a fort at Almada to defend and monitor the entrance to the Tagus River. Lying across the river from Lisbon, the area of Almada was a crossroads for a succession of various peoples who traded along the Tagus, including Phoenicians, Romans and Moors.

As one of the principal Arab military bases along the southern margin of the Tagus, Almada was conquered by the Christian forces of Afonso I with the aid of English Crusaders in 1147. Alongside these Christians there lived many free Moors and Jews, under the royal protection guaranteed them by Afonso I in the charter of 1170 (which applied to all the former Moorish strongholds at Lisbon, Almada, Palmela and Alcácer).

Almada received a foral from King Sancho I in 1190, although it came at a price: Miramolim Jacub-Abu-Jassuf, son of the Moorish leader who had laid siege to Santarém in 1171, was angered by the Christian victories and gathered a large army. He boldly attacked in the north, conquering Alcácer do Sal and Silves, while forcing the residents of Almada, Palmela and other towns along the Tagus into hiding.[4] It would be some time after the death of Sancho before this region would be restored to Portuguese control.

When this event occurred with the success of the Reconquista in driving the Muslims out, the Order of Santiago, a donatorio of Almada after 28 October 1186, had an important role in the territory (especially between the Tagus and Sado Rivers). In this role, it facilitated the repopulation of acquired territories and was the beneficiary of the various local economies.

Geography

Almada seen from the Tagus

Although small in area, Almada has a high population density. It is bounded to the southeast by Seixal, to the south by Sesimbra, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and northeast by the Tagus River. At Cacilhas, its main port, ferry boats transport visitors and local residents across to Lisbon daily, while the 25 de Abril Bridge, which spans the Tagus, is traversed by rail, commercial and personal vehicles daily. Almada is considered a transportation hub and a fast-growing suburb; its coast has several sandy beaches and panoramic vistas.

Located in the district of Setúbal, the municipality includes two cities, Almada and Costa da Caparica, and is divided into five civil parishes:[5]

International relations

Almada is twinned with:

Transportation

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

Sanctuary of Christ the King

Notable citizens

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ↑ Direção-Geral do Território
  3. ↑ City parishes: Almada, Cova da Piedade, Pragal e Cacilhas and Laranjeiro e Feijó. UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004 Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)
  4. ↑ John Felix Pereira (2009), p.31
  5. ↑ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 10" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 8 July 2014.
Sources

External links

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