Setúbal
Setúbal (/səˈtuːbəl/ sə-TOO-bəl,[1][2] US also /-bɑːl/ -bahl,[3] European Portuguese: [sɨˈtuβal] ⓘ; Proto-Celtic: *Caetobrix), officially the City of Setúbal (Portuguese: Cidade de Setúbal), is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The population of the entire municipality in 2014 was 118,166,[4] occupying an area of 230.33 km2 (88.9 sq mi).[5] The city itself had 89,303 inhabitants in 2001.[6] It lies within the Lisbon metropolitan area, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Lisbon downtown by road. In the times of Al-Andalus, the city was known as Shaṭūbar (Andalusian Arabic: شَطُوبَر [ʃeˈtˤuːbɑr]), after the old pre-Roman name of Caetobriga. In the 17th century, the port was called Saint Ubes in English,[7] and Saint-Yves in French. The municipal holiday is 15 September, which marks the date in 1765 when Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage was born at three o'clock in the afternoon. However, by that time Setúbal was a village, since only in April 1860 King Pedro V of Portugal officially recognised Setúbal as a city. Geography![]() The city of Setúbal is located on the northern bank of the Sado River estuary, approximately 48 kilometres (30 miles) south of Portugal's capital, Lisbon. It is also the seat of the Setúbal District and formerly in the historic Estremadura Province. In the beginning of the 20th century, Setúbal was the most important center of Portugal's fishing industry, particularly specializing in processing and exporting sardines. None of the many factories then created are operating today. However, the existing maritime ports, either traditional, commercial and the new marines, keep the city's links to the ocean and water well alive and vibrant. Tourism, based on the beautiful natural conditions plus excellent hotels, resorts and infrastructures, is one of the city's most appreciated resources, due to its interconnection with the Sado River on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on another, having a coast line with both. The city is also connected with the nearby coast of the Arrábida hills natural park - which offers an unspoiled nature and beautiful beaches to the Atlantic Ocean. A dolphin colony inhabits the Sado River. Across the river on the south bank lies the peninsula of Tróia, a place with vast white/golden sand beaches where several luxury hotels and resorts were recently built. The Tróia peninsula can be sighted from the city, across the river. Albarquel, Figueirinha, Galápos, Galapinhos, Creiro and Portinho da Arrábida are some of the city's many beaches, located in the north bank of the estuary, at the very beginning of the Arrábida hills. Civil parishes![]() Administratively, the municipality is divided into five civil parishes (freguesias):[8]
HistoryIn antiquity the city was known as Cetobriga, a Turdetani settlement that came under Roman control in the province of Lusitania. Culture![]() The main historical monument of the city of Setúbal is the Monastery of Jesus, which is a 15th- and 16th-century church that represents one of the first buildings in the Portuguese late Gothic style known as Manueline. It was in this building where the first treaty that divided the world between two powers was signed by King John II, nicknamed the perfect prince. The Roman Catholic Church has a diocese, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Setúbal, headquartered in the city, with its see (seat of the bishop) at the Our Lady of Grace Cathedral, Setúbal, famous for its Mannerist façade. Also of interest are the São Julião Church, also with Manueline portals. The Castelo de São Filipe, is a 16th- and 17th-century fortress on the north bank of the Sado river, overseeing the city. The fortress was converted into a luxury hotel (pousada). The fortress ordered to be built by King Sebastian is wrongly attributed to King Philip I. Filippo Terzi had been hired in 1575 by Sebastian precisely to protect and reinforce the Portuguese coast against piracy that was ravaging the entire Mediterranean and Atlantic. Teatro Animação de Setúbal is based in Setúbal. Demography (municipality)
ClimateSetúbal has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) with mild, rainy winters and warm to hot, dry summers. Temperatures in the winter vary between 15 and 17 °C (59 and 63 °F) during the day and 5–8 °C (41–46 °F) at night, most of the precipitation (starting from November) falls in this season. Temperatures in the summer vary between 28 and 31 °C (82 and 88 °F) during the day and 15 and 17 °C (59 and 63 °F) at night, precipitation is scarce during this season. The average annual temperature varies between 16.5 and 17 °C (61.7 and 62.6 °F). On 4 August 2018, Setúbal registered a record high temperature of 45.5 °C (113.9 °F)[10] which, according to weather records expert Maximiliano Herrera, was the highest temperature ever recorded on the coast of the Iberian Peninsula.[11]
EconomyAccording to the census of 2011, the municipality of Setúbal had a labor force of 58,514 people, among whom 15.6% were unemployed. Among those who had a job, 1.6% were working in the Primary sector, 24.9% in the Secondary sector and 73.5% in the Tertiary sector.[14] Setúbal is notable for the industries of pulp, paper, cement, fertilizers, pesticides, other phytopharmaceutical products, thermal power, shipbuilding and ship repair there was a lot of automobile assembling industry since the 1950s with several known manufacturers had or have opened assembly halls for the Portuguese market. Today there are only 3 tradenames nearby currently in production. The Port of Setúbal had a cargo throughput of 6.058 million tons in 2012,[15] making it the 4th busiest port in Portugal, with 7.4% of the cargo throughput in the country.[16] In the 19th century, the area was notable for the production of sea salt. St. Ubes bay salt was exported as far as Australia in the 1830s.[17] Education
TransportationSetúbal has one train station, Setúbal station, with CP suburban trains every half an hour to Barreiro or Praias Sado - A, and Fertagus suburban service to Lisbon Roma-Areeiro. There are also two halts with CP service, Praça do Quebedo and Praias Sado - A, which exceptionally aren't served by the last trains of the night. There are also two stations used for the transport of goods, Setúbal-Mar and Praias do Sado, the latter having its passenger service suspended in 2009 In the past, in the municipality, there were also the halts of Cachofarra, Mouriscas-Sado and Algeruz, serving the villages with the same name. These halts were used by regional trains going to Faro or Beja Bus services have been secured since June 1, 2022 by Alsa Todi under Carris Metropolitana. Setúbal is part of the 4th area and the 4th sub-area, meaning its urban buses begin in 44. The main bus terminal is the ITS (Interface de Transportes de Setúbal), located next to the Setúbal railway station, substituting the old terminal at Av. Dr. Manuel de Arriaga. FlixBus, Rede Nacional de Expressos and BlaBlaCar Bus, the latter still stopping at the old terminal In terms of road infrastructure, Setúbal is served by highway A12, to Lisbon and national roads N10, N10-4 and N10-8 SportsThe city's main sports club is Vitória de Setúbal, the football club established on 20 November 1910. ![]() Notable residents and citizensPublic Service![]()
Religion
The Arts![]()
Sport![]()
International relationsSetúbal is twinned with:
Setúbal has international cooperation protocols with:
Gallery
References
BibliographyExternal linksWikivoyage has a travel guide for Setúbal.
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