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Almada

Coordinates:38°40′49″N9°9′30″W/ 38.68028°N 9.15833°W/38.68028; -9.15833
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For other uses, seeAlmada (disambiguation).
Almada
Municipality
Flag of Almada
Flag
Coat of arms of Almada
Coat of arms
Coordinates:38°40′49″N9°9′30″W/ 38.68028°N 9.15833°W/38.68028; -9.15833
CountryPortugal
RegionLisbon
Metropolitan areaLisbon
DistrictSetúbal
Parishes5
Government
•PresidentInês de Medeiros(PS)
Area
• Total70.21 km2(27.11 sq mi)
Elevation
33 m (108 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
(2011)
• Total174,030
• Density2,500/km2(6,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00(WET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+01:00(WEST)
Postal code
2805
Area code21
PatronSão João Baptista
Websitewww.m-almada.pt

Almada(European Portuguese pronunciation:[alˈmaðɐ]ⓘ) is a city and amunicipalityin Portugal, located on the southern margin of theTagus River,on the opposite side of the river fromLisbon.The two cities are connected by the25 de Abril Bridge.The population of the municipality in 2011 was 174,030,[1]in an area of 70.21 km2.[2]The urbanized core center, the city of Almada proper, had a population of 101,500 in 2001.[3]It makes part of theLisbon Metropolitan Area.

History

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Human presence in the area of Almada dates to the end of theNeolithicperiod 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 theTagus 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, includingPhoenicians,RomansandMoors.

As one of the principal Arab military bases along the southern margin of the Tagus, Almada was conquered by the Christian forces ofAfonso Iwith the aid ofEnglishCrusadersin 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,Palmelaand Alcácer).

Almada received aforalfromKing Sancho Iin 1190, although it came at a price: Miramolim Jacub-Abu-Jassuf, son of the Moorish leader who had laid siege toSantarémin 1171, was angered by the Christian victories and gathered a large army. He boldly attacked in the north, conqueringAlcácer do SalandSilves,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 theReconquistain driving the Muslims out, theOrder of Santiago,adonatorioof Almada after 28 October 1186, had an important role in the territory (especially between the Tagus andSado Rivers). In this role, it facilitated the repopulation of acquired territories and was the beneficiary of the various local economies.

Geography

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Panoramic view of Almada seen from theSanctuary of Christ the King.

Although small in area, the city of Almada has a large population. It is bounded to the southeast bySeixal,to the south bySesimbra,to the west by theAtlantic Oceanand to the north and northeast by the Tagus River. AtCacilhas,its main port, ferry boats transport visitors and local residents across to Lisbon daily, while the25 de Abril Bridge,which spans the Tagus, is traversed byrail,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 thedistrict of Setúbal,the municipality includes two cities, Almada and Costa da Caparica, and is divided into five civil parishes:[5]

International relations

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

Almada istwinnedwith:[6]

Transportation

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Almada, Lisbon

The25 de Abril Bridgelinks Lisbon and Almada, which are on opposite sides of the Tagus river. The municipality is served by a light-rail transit system, theMetro Transportes do Sul,linking it to the suburban rail system (Fertagus) servingGreater Lisbonand the municipality ofSeixal.

Sanctuary of Christ the King

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Main article:Christ the King (Almada)

Notable citizens

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Joana de Portugal

Public service

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Arts

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Anabela, 2009

Sport

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Luis Figo, 2017

See also

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References

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Notes
  1. ^Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ^"Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país".Archived fromthe originalon 2018-11-05.Retrieved2018-11-05.
  3. ^City parishes: Almada, Cova da Piedade, Pragal e Cacilhas and Laranjeiro e Feijó.UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004ArchivedOctober 6, 2014, at theWayback MachineNuno 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).Retrieved8 July2014.
  6. ^"Acordos de Geminação".m-almada.pt(in Portuguese). Almada.Retrieved2019-12-11.
  7. ^Anabela, IMDb Databaseretrieved 21 June 2021.
Sources
  • Pereira, John Felix (2009).Abridgement of the History of Portugal.Charleston, South Carolina: BiblioLife LLC.ISBN978-1-110-33521-3.
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide forAlmada.
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