Caldas da Rainha

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Caldas da Rainha Image:Pt-cld1.png Municipal flag Image:CLD.png Municipal coat of arms
Image:LocalCaldasDaRainha.svg
Location
- Country	Image:Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal
- Region	Centro
- Subregion	Oeste
- District or A.R.	Leiria
Mayor	Fernando José da Costa
- Party	PSD
Area	255.7 km²
Population
- Total	48,846
- Density	201.0/km²
No. of parishes	16
Coordinates	39º40' N 9º13'W
Municipal holiday	Festas da Cidade May 15
Website: www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt

Caldas da Rainha (pron. IPA: ['kaɫdɐʃ dɐ ʁɐ'iɲɐ]) is a city (Portuguese: cidade) in Portugal. The name means "Queen's Hot Springs" or "Queen's Spa". The city of Caldas da Rainha is the seat of the larger municipality (Portuguese: município or concelho) of the same name. The city itself has a population of 25,316.^[1] Caldas da Rainha is the capital of the Comunidade Urbana do Oeste (West Urban Community; part of the nation's latest local government plan). The city is best known for its hot springs and pottery.

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Civil Parishes (Freguesias) 2 History 2.1 The Founding 2.2 Evolution 2.3 The 20th century 2.4 Coat of arms 3 Government 3.1 Câmara Municipal 3.2 Assembleia Municipal 4 Demographics 5 Economy 6 Culture 6.1 Ceramics 6.1.1 Main pottery genres 6.2 Gastronomy 7 Tourism / sites of interest 7.1 Beaches and water 7.2 Churches 7.3 Museums 7.4 Parks and plazas 8 Transportation 8.1 Bus 8.2 Rail 8.3 Roads 9 Education 9.1 Nursery and Elementary schools 9.2 Secondary schools 9.3 Professional Education 9.4 Higher Education 10 Twin towns (Sister cities) 11 Sports 12 Notable Natives 13 Miscellaneous Information 14 External links 14.1 Official Web Site 14.2 Maps 14.3 Newspapers 14.4 Other links 15 References and notes

[edit] Geography

Caldas da Rainha is located at 39.40°N latitude 9.13°W longitde. The municipality comprises an area of 255.7 km² (2004 statistics).^[2] The city is located approximately 82 km north of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Although the municipality borders the Atlantic Ocean, the city proper is about 10 km from the ocean.

Caldas da Rainha is part of the following administrative divisions of Portugal, all of which overlap, but are not coterminous:

• Estremadura, a historical province with no current legal status.
• District of Leiria. Although districts are supposed to be phased out, they still serve as a primary administrative division.
• Comunidade Urbana do Oeste (West Urban Community), of which it is the capital. "Urban communities" are part of the plan to replace districts.
• Oeste, a NUTS III subregion within the NUTS II region of Centro. NUTS subdivisions are mandated by the European Union. The Oeste urban community is coincidentally coterminous with the Oeste NUTS III subregion.

The municipality is bordered to the north by Alcobaça, to the east by Rio Maior and to the south by Bombarral, Cadaval and Óbidos.

[edit] Civil Parishes (Freguesias)

The municipality of Caldas da Rainha comprises sixteen civil parishes (Portuguese: freguesias). They are ^[3][4] :

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)

Freguesia	Population (Resident) (2001 census)	Area (Total) (km²)
A-dos-Francos	1,797	19.78
Alvorninha	3,123	37.62
Carvalhal Benfeito	1,339	14.08
Coto	1,135	5.50
Foz do Arelho	1,223	9.95
Landal	1,144	9.94
Nadadouro	1,422	9.22
Nossa Senhora do Pópulo (part of the city of Caldas da Rainha)	14,453	12.30
Salir de Matos	2,428	24.29
Salir do Porto	770	9.91
Santa Catarina	3,282	19.94
Santo Onofre (part of the city of Caldas da Rainha)	10,775	9.11
São Gregório	907	14.42
Serra do Bouro	720	17.98
Tornada	3,150	19.82
Vidais	1,178	22.21

[edit] History

[edit] The Founding

Caldas da Rainha was founded by Queen Leonor, wife of King João II. One day in 1484, while traveling from Óbidos to Batalha, she found a group of peasants bathing in foul-smelling waters by the roadside. She stopped to inquire about this oddity and was told that the waters possessed curative powers. She decided to try it for herself. She was pleased to find that she was quickly relieved of some affliction she had been suffering (exactly what is not known). On that site, the queen ordered a thermal hospital built so that others may enjoy the relief that she felt. Construction began the following year, 1485. Although the first patients were admitted in 1488, construction was not completed until about 1496 or 1497. The name of the settlement that grew up around the site (Caldas da Rainha), reminds us of both its founder and the reason for its existence. Caldas da Rainha is referenced as the oldest thermal hospital in the world.

[edit] Evolution

Caldas da Rainha was officially elevated to the status of town (Portuguese: vila) in 1511. It became a city in 1927.

[edit] The 20th century

In the early 20th century, it had a significant artistic and intellectual life. During World War II hundreds of Jewish refugees came to Caldas da Rainha to escape Nazism.^[5]

[edit] Coat of arms

Caldas da Rainha's coat of arms was granted by Queen Leonor, before municipal coats of arms were typically used in Portugal. Because of its early introduction, several elements of the arms violate Portuguese heraldic standards. For example, Portuguese coat of arms typically feature a mural crown, made up of brick towers. Caldas da Rainha's arms feature a gold crown. The arms lack the typical banner bearing the municipality's name. The shield is much longer than the normal 8:7 ratio.

[edit] Government

[edit] Câmara Municipal

The members of the Câmara Municipal (municipal chamber) are as follows:^[6]

• President: Fernando José da Costa (PSD)
• Members (Party):
  • Maria da Coneição Feliciano Antunes Bretts Jardim Pereira (PSD)
  • Fernando Manuel Tinta Ferreira (PSD)
  • João Manuel Rato Faria Aboim (PS)
  • Hugo Patrício Martinho de Oliveira (PSD)
  • António Bento da Silva Galamba (PS)
  • Nicolau João Gonçalves Borges (PS)

[edit] Assembleia Municipal

The members of the Assembleia Municipal (municipal assembly) are as follows:^[7][8]

• José Luís de Carvalho Lalanda Ribeiro
• Manuel Simões Pereira Nobre
• Luís Manuel Pereira Monteiro Ribeiro (President)
• David Ribeiro de Sousa Geraldes
• Maria Margarida Nave Nunes Maldonado Freitas
• Luís Miguel da Rosa Goulão Freire
• Rui Alves Gomes
• Jorge Manuel Santos Sobral
• Ana Maria Jean-Batiste Cruz Carneiro Pacheco
• Arnaldo Lino Monteiro da Rocha
• Rogério Miguel Rebelo
• Luisa Paula Guerreiro Rebelo Sedas Pascoal
• Mário António Duarte Pacheco
• José Fernando D’almeida Silva Pereira (First Secretary)
• Duarte Nuno Batista Ferreira
• Paulo Ribeiro
• Manuel Mendes Nunes
• Vítor Manuel Marques Fernandes
• Pedro Miguel de Oliveira Marques
• Alberto Manuel de Oliveira Reis Pereira
• Mário de Sousa Tavares
• Justino Sobreiro
• Virgílio Leal dos Santos
• Vasco da Cruz Antunes de Oliveira (Second Secretary)
• Abílio Maria Camacho
• Maria João dos Santos Ribeiro Querido
• Carlos de Oliveira Rodrigues
• Fernando Alberto Reis Horta
• António Augusto Marques Alexandre
• César Conceição Dimas Pereira
• João Fialho Coutinho Rosa
• Abílio Jacinto Luís
• Hélder Fernando Freire Nunes
• João Manuel Almeida Silva
• Álvaro Baltazar da Silva Jerónimo
• Henrique José Teresa
• César Paulo Tempero

[edit] Demographics

As of the 2001 census, there are 48,846 residents in the municipality.^[2] This represents a 13.1% increase over the 1991 population of 43,205. As of the 2001 census, 23,483 (48.1%) residents are male and 25,363 (51.9%) are female.^[2] Residents aged 14 and under number 7,666 (15.7%), those aged 15 to 24 number 6,509 (13.3%), those aged 25 to 64 number 25,867 (53.0%) and those aged 65 and over number 8,804 (18.0%). Estimates as of 2006, place the population at 51,403.^[9] The population density is 201.0 inhabitants/km² (2004).^[2]

See the "Parishes" section for a breakdown of population by civil parish (freguesia).

[edit] Economy

As of December 31 2004, there are 2,075 business firms in the municipality. 3.9% are in the primary sector (agriculture), 20.9% are in the secondary sector (manufacturing) and 75.3% are in the tertiary sector (services).^[2]

There are 31 banking institutions, with deposits totaling €518,021,400.^[2]

As of 2001, 49% of the population is employed, while 6.5% are unemployed.^[2] (The remainder are too young, are retired or do not otherwise participate in the workforce.)

[edit] Culture

[edit] Ceramics

Caldas da Rainha is well known for its glazed ceramic pottery (louça das Caldas). At the end of the 19th century, the ceramic industry set up place here, making the city Portugal's ceramic and pottery capital. Ancient references to pottery manufacturing can be found in the area, with soils rich in clay. A nearby village's name, Bombarral, can be translated as "good-clay pit", revealing that the pottery tradition has been settled here since ancient times. The typical Caldas pottery has evolved since its great boom in early 20th century, but the main types are still the same.

[edit] Main pottery genres

Caldas da Rainha's pottery falls into two main categories: utilitarian housewares, such as plates, bowls, platters, mugs, and tureens; and purely decorative items, such as caricature figurines and ceramic phalluses of various sizes. Even useful articles usually serve a decorative purpose as well. One popular model, created by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, is a cabbage-shaped soup tureen, which can be displayed on a shelf or as a centerpiece when not in use.

One of the most popular decorative figures is Zé Povinho, a bearded peasant everyman character created by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro. A symbol of Portugal and the Portuguese people, Zé Povinho appears in many jocular, defiant poses.

The ceramics are available for purchase at stands in the daily market at Praça da República (Praça da Fruta) and shops in the vicinity. They are also available in stores outside Portugal, including a number of up-market housewares stores.

[edit] Gastronomy

Cavacas das Caldas are a small-bowl-sized, shell-shaped confection of flour and eggs, with a crunchy sugar covering. In June 2005, a 26 meter pyramid of cavacas was erected on Praça 25 de Abril in front of the city hall.^[10] Beijinhos das Caldas (English: "kisses") are similar, but are smaller and round.

[edit] Tourism / sites of interest

[edit] Beaches and water

• Foz do Arelho has a beach on Atlantic Ocean, 10 kilometers from center of town.
• Lagoa de Óbidos is a lagoon located on the border with Óbidos which empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
• Salir do Porto has a beach on the Atlantic Ocean.

[edit] Churches

• Ermida da São Sebastião is a 16th-century chapel, adjacent to Praça da República.
• Igreja Nossa Senhora do Pópulo is a gothic church near the thermal hospital. It was built ca. 1500 by order of Queen Leonor.
• Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is a 20th-century church located on Praça 25 de Abril.

[edit] Museums

• Casa Museu de S. Rafael — ceramics
• Museu Atelier António Duarte — sculpture
• Museu Atelier João Fragoso — sculpture
• Museu de Cerâmica — ceramics museum
• Museu do Hospital e das Caldas — art museum asscociated with the thermal hospital
• Museu José Malhoa — art museum located in Parque D. Carlos I

[edit] Parks and plazas

• Parque D. Carlos I is a large park in the center of town. The José Malhoa Museum sits in the middle of the park. The park contains a doughnut-shaped pond with a small island in the center. Visitors can rent rowboats on the pond.
• Praça da República (Republic Plaza) is a public square in the center of town. The plaza, also known as Praça da Fruta (Fruit Plaza), hosts a daily farmers' market. The plaza is surrounded by buildings, most containing shops and banks on the ground floor.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Bus

Caldas da Rainha has a bus station located in the city center. The city is served by express, rapid, and interurban buses of Rede Nacional de Expressos and Rodoviária do Tejo.

The city introduced local bus service on May 15 2007, the municipal holiday. The service is called TOMA, which means "take this" in Portuguese. There are two 29-seat buses operating on two routes, Linha Verde (Green Line) and Linha Laranja (Orange Line). Each route operates with thirty-minute intervals. Stops serviced by both lines are served at fifteen-minute intervals. There are twenty-four stops.^[11][12]

[edit] Rail

Caldas da Rainha has a train station served by the Linha do Oeste (western line) of Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses. Trains run south to Lisbon and north to Figueira da Foz.

[edit] Roads

Caldas da Rainha is served by an extensive network of roads.

• A8 Auto-estrada do Oeste — connecting to Leiria and Lisbon.
• A15 — connecting to Santarém.
• IP 6 — connecting to Peniche, Santarém, Castelo Branco, and Spain.
• EN 8 — crosses the municipality from north to south, connecting to Alcobaça and Leiria to the north and Óbidos, Bombarral and Torres Vedras to the south. EN 8 was the municipality's major roadway before the "A" roadways were built.
• EN 360 — crosses the municipality southwest to northeast, connecting to Alcobaça.
• EN 361 — in the southwest of the municipality, connecting to Cadaval and Rio Maior.
• EN 114 — in the center and southeast of the municipality, connecting to Rio Maior.
• EN 114-1 — in the center and east of the municipality, a connecting road to EN-114.
• EN 115 — along the south and southwest border of the municiplity, connecting to Cadaval.

[edit] Education

Caldas da Rainha is home to many educational institutions.

[edit] Nursery and Elementary schools

Caldas da Rainha has numerous nursery schools and elementary schools located throughout the municipality. They are divided into five geographic groups for administrative purposes.^[13]

[edit] Secondary schools

There are five secondary schools in Caldas da Rainha, four of which are located within the city proper and one in Santa Catarina. They are:^[14]

• E.B. 2,3 D.João II
• Sec. Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
• Sec. Raúl Proença
• EBI 1,2,3 Sto. Onofre
• EBI de Sta. Catarina

[edit] Professional Education

Caldas da Rainha has four institutions offering professional education. They are:^[15]

• Escola Técnica Empresarial do Oeste
• CENCAL -Centro de Formação Profissional Para a Indústria Cerâmica
• CENFIM - Centro Formação Profissional Indústria Metalúrgica e Metalomecânica
• CENFORCAL - Centro de Formação Profissional

[edit] Higher Education

There are two institutions of higher education in Caldas da Rainha. They are:^[16]

• ESAD – Escola Superior de Arte e Design (public)
• Universidade Católica Portuguesa: Escola Superior de Biotecnologia Rua Mestre Mateus Fernandes (private)

[edit] Twin towns (Sister cities)

Caldas da Rainha is twinned with the following places:^[17]

• Image:Flag of France.svg Cambo-les-Bains, France
• Image:Flag of Spain.svg Coria and Badajoz, Spain
• Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dinant, Belgium
• Image:Flag of Angola.svg Huambo, Angola
• Image:Flag of France.svg Le Raincy, France
• Image:Flag of Angola.svg Lubango, Angola
• Image:Flag of the United States.svg Perth Amboy, New Jersey, United States
• Image:Flag of Brazil.svg Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
• Image:Flag of Cape Verde.svg Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde

[edit] Sports

Caldas Sport Clube (CSC) was founded May 15 1916. The club sponsors a football (soccer) team which competes in the Portuguese Football Federation's 3rd Division - Series D. The team plays at Campo da Mata, a 13,000-seat field located in a forest adjacent to Parque D. Carlos I. CSC also sponsors several youth (junior) football teams for various age groups.

Caldas da Rainha has a bull ring (praça de touros), which is actively used during bullfighting season.

[edit] Notable Natives

• Mestre António Duarte
• José Malhoa
• Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
• José da Cruz Cardinal Policarpo
• Raul Proença

[edit] Miscellaneous Information

• Municipal Holiday: May 15
• Postal Code: 2500
• Telephone Dialing Code: 262

[edit] External links

[edit] Official Web Site

• Portal Caldas da Rainha, by the Câmara Municipal de Caldas da Rainha — the municipal government's Web site (Portuguese)

[edit] Maps

• The city (viajar.clix.pt)
• The city center (viajar.clix.pt)
• Borders of the freguesias (Câmara Municipal)
• Caldas da Rainha in context of District of Leiria (supertravelnet.com)
• TOMA bus routes and stops at Google Maps

[edit] Newspapers

• Gazeta das Caldas (Portuguese)
• Jornal das Caldas (Portuguese)

[edit] Other links

• Associação Regional Caldense — Portuguese / American Social Organization (Portuguese) and (English)
• Caldas da Rainha photo gallery by Dias dos Reis
• Caldas da Rainha - a photoset on flickr
• Caldas Sport Clube (Portuguese)

[edit] References and notes

v • d • e Municipalities of the District of Leiria
Alcobaça · Alvaiázere · Ansião · Batalha · Bombarral · Caldas da Rainha  · Castanheira de Pera  · Figueiró dos Vinhos  · Leiria · Marinha Grande  · Nazaré · Óbidos · Pedrógão Grande  · Peniche · Pombal	Image:Flag of Portugal.svg

de:Caldas da Rainha

el:Κάλντας ντα Ραΐνια es:Caldas da Rainha fa:کالداس داراینیا fr:Caldas da Rainha it:Caldas da Rainha lmo:Caldas da Rainha nl:Caldas da Rainha pl:Caldas da Rainha pt:Caldas da Rainha ro:Caldas da Rainha tr:Caldas da Rainha vo:Caldas da Rainha