Setúbal

Infobox_Municipality_pt
official_name = Setúbal
image_coat_of_arms = STB.png

---

Region = Lisboa
Subregion = Península de Setúbal
District = Setúbal
Mayor_name = Maria das Dores Meira
Mayor_party = CDU
area_total = 171.9
population_total = 120,117
population_density = 699
Parishes = 8
coor = 38º31'N 8º54'W
params = 38_31_N_8_54_W
occasion =
day = September 15
website = http://www.mun-setubal.pt/default.asp
footnotes =

Setúbal (pronounced|sɨˈtubaɫ or IPA| [sɨˈtubɐɫ] ) is a city and a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.0 km² and a total population of 118,696 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper has 89,303 [ [http://62.48.187.117/atlas/Cap2/Cap2d_2.html UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004] Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)] inhabitants.

The municipality of Setúbal is composed of 8 parishes, and is the seat of the district of Setúbal on the subregion of Península de Setúbal. It is located on the northern bank of the Sado river estuary, approximately 40 km south of Portugal's capital, Lisbon.

The municipal holiday is September 15, which marks the date in the year 1860 on which King Pedro V of Portugal officially recognised Setúbal as a city.

The present Mayor is Maria das Dores Meira, appointed by the Unitarian Democratic Coalition.

City info

The seat of the municipality is the city of Setúbal, located on the northern bank of the Sado river estuary, approximately 40 km south of Portugal's capital, Lisbon. It is also the seat of the district of Setúbal.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Setúbal was an important center of Portugal's fishing industry, sardines in particular. None of the many factories then created are operating today. Although its industrial life is in decline, tourism is perceived as a big opportunity for the future since the nearby coast of the Arrábida natural park offers beautiful beaches and unspoilt nature. A colony of dolphins lives in the Sado River, and across the river from Setúbal lies the peninsula of Tróia, where several high-rise luxury resorts were built and abandoned after the realization they were being constructed on sinking, unstable land. As of 2005, a new luxury resort is planned to replace today's Tróia. One can view Tróia at Albarquel, a beach located in the very beginning of Arrábida.

The main historical monument of the city of Setúbal is the Monastery of Jesus, with a 15th-16th century church that represents one of the first buildings in the Portuguese late Gothic style known as Manueline.

Also of interest are the São Julião Church, also with Manueline portals, and a 16th-17th century fortress ("Castelo de São Felipe"), now turned into a luxury hotel ("pousada").

ports

The city's main sports club is Vitória de Setúbal, established on November 20, 1910.

Famous residents

*Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage (1765-1805) : satirical poet
*Luisa Todi (1753-1833) : classical singer
*José Mourinho : world famous football coach
*José Travassos Valdez, 1st Count of Bonfim (1787-1862) : soldier, politician, Prime Minister of Portugal
*Sabrina : represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
*Sofia : represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004
*Luís Buchinho : fashion designer

Freguesias (Civil parishes)

* Gâmbia - Pontes - Alto da Guerra
* Sado
* São Lourenço
* São Simão
* Nossa Senhora da Anunciada
* Santa Maria da Graça
* São Julião
* São Sebastião

Twin towns

Setúbal is twinned with:
*flagicon|Portugal Leiria, Portugal, since May 1982
*flagicon|France Beauvais, France, since June 1982
*flagicon|France Pau, France, since September 1991
*flagicon|Spain Tordesillas, Spain, since September 1994
*flagicon|Brazil Porto Seguro, Brazil, since March 2000
*flagicon|Mozambique Quelimane, Mozambique, since July 2000
*flagicon|Hungary Debrecen, Hungary, since November 2000
*flagicon|Morocco Safi, Morocco, since April 2001

Setúbal has international cooperation protocols with:
*flagicon|Cape Verde Tarrafal, Cape Verde, since July 2002
*flagicon|France Bobigny, France, since October 2003

External links

* [http://www.mun-setubal.pt/ Town Hall official website]
* [http://portugal-info.net/lisboncoast/setubal.htm Portugal Travel: Setúbal]
* [http://www.travel-images.com/portugal-setubal.html Travel-Images.com] contains images of the city and district of Setúbal
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/72057594052980160/ Photos from Setúbal]

Gallery

References