Almada

Almada (Portuguese pronunciation: [alˈmaðɐ] (listen)) is a city and a municipality in Portugal, located on the southern margin of the Tagus River, on the opposite side of the river from Lisbon. The two cities are connected by the 25 de Abril Bridge. 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]

For other uses, see Almada (disambiguation).
Almada
Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 38°40′49″N 9°9′30″W
Country Portugal
RegionLisboa
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
Websitehttp://www.m-almada.pt

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

Although small in area, the city of Almada has a large population. 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
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal

Almada is twinned with:[6]

Transportation
Almada, Lisbon

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

Sanctuary of Christ the King
Main article: Christ the King (Almada)

Notable citizens

See also

References
Notes
  1. Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  3. City parishes: Almada, Cova da Piedade, Pragal e Cacilhas and Laranjeiro e Feijó. UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004 Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine 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.
  6. "Acordos de Geminação". m-almada.pt (in Portuguese). Almada. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
Sources
  • Pereira, John Felix (2009). Abridgement of the History of Portugal. Charleston, South Carolina: BiblioLife LLC. ISBN 978-1-110-33521-3.
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