- Alcácer do Sal
Infobox_Municipality_pt
official_name = Alcácer do Sal
image_coat_of_arms = ASL1.png
Region =Alentejo
Subregion =Alentejo Litoral
District = Setúbal
Mayor_name =Pedro Paredes
Mayor_party = PS
area_total = 1465.0
population_total = 13,624 (2004 )
population_density = 9
Parishes = 6
coor = 38°21'N 08°29'W
params = 38_21_N_08_29_W
occasion = Saint John
day =June 24
website = http://www.m-alcacerdosal.ptAlcácer do Sal - pron. IPA2|aɫ'kasɛɾ du saɫ) is a municipality in
Portugal , located in the district of Setúbal. It has a total area of 1465.0km² and a total population of 13,624 inhabitants.The city proper has a population of 6,602 and is the seat of a municipality composed of 6 parishes. [ [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)]
The present Mayor is Pedro Manuel Igrejas da Cunha Paredes (Socialist), who was elected after a long period of rule by the
Portuguese Communist Party .The municipal holiday is
June 24 , the day of SaintJohn the Baptist .History
The history of human occupation in this region roots back to the
Paleolithic . ThePhoenicians called this place Keition, and there are evidences that its inland port already had a strategic importance, extended to theLusitanian age. But it was with theRomans that the city achieved its golden era. Its unique geo-strategic location made it of major importance in the Iberiansalt trade and salt trade routes, which rendered its classical name (Salatia) and at a given time, this was the onlyImperial City in the region, properly known has Salatia Urbs Imperatoria, and it had a regional chief role which extended through theVisigothic domain.A very interesting museum, documenting the occupation of the city since the Iron Age, exists under the castle, now a Pousada hotel.
Modern name
During the
Ummayad occupation of theIberian Peninsula and following an internal victory overMuladi rebels in the IX century, the city was donated to the Abu Denis family and renamed "Qaşr Abī Dānis" (قصر أبي دانس ) = "Castle Abu Denis" [ [http://www.pcp.pt/ar/legis-7/projlei/pjl228.html Elevação da Vila de Alcácer do Sal à categoria de Cidade] Projecto de Lei nº 228/VII] , commonly known just as "Al Qaşr" = "The Castle". Upon theReconquista , theArabic name Al Qaşr name was not removed but simply respelled according to the Latin phonetics and the Sal (from Salatia) was retrieved and appended to it.Parishes
* Alcácer do Sal (Santa Maria do Castelo)
*Alcácer do Sal (Santiago)
* Comporta
* Santa Susana
* São Martinho
* TorrãoReferences
ee also
*
Pedro Nunes
*João Branco Núncio External links
* [http://www.m-alcacerdosal.pt/ Town Hall official website]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/72057594052267086/ Photos from ALCÁCER DO SAL]
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