Caldas da Rainha

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Caldas da Rainha
—  Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Location of the municipality of Caldas da Rainha within Portugal
Country	Portugal
Region	Centro
Subregion	Oeste
District	Leiria
Historic province	Estremadura
Founded	1484
Elevated (town)	1511
Elevated (city)	1927
Civil Parishes	(Freguesias) A-dos-Francos Alvorninha Carvalhal Benfeito Coto Foz do Arelho Landal Nadadouro Nossa Senhora do Pópulo Salir de Matos Salir do Porto Santa Catarina Santo Onofre São Gregório Serra do Bouro Tornada Vidais
Government
- Type	Municipality
- Mayor	Fernando José da Costa
Area
- Total	255.7 km² (98.7 sq mi)
Population (2001)
- Total	48,846
- Density	201.0/km² (520.6/sq mi)
- City proper	25,316
Postal code	2500
Area code(s)	262
Municipal holiday	May 15
Website: http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/

Caldas da Rainha (pron. IPA: ['kaɫdɐʃ dɐ ʁɐ'iɲɐ]) is a city in Portugal. The city serves as the seat of the larger municipality of the same name and is the capital of the Comunidade Urbana do Oeste (Urban Community of the West). The city proper has a population of 25,316,^[1] and the municipality has 48,846 residents.^[2] The city is best known for its hot springs and pottery.

The city was founded in the 15th century by Queen Leonor, who established a hospital on the site. The city's name means "Queen's Hot Springs" or "Queen's Spa".

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Location 1.2 Civil Parishes (Freguesias) 2 Demographics 3 History 3.1 The Founding 3.2 Evolution 3.3 The 20th century 3.4 Coat of arms 4 Government 4.1 Câmara Municipal 4.2 Assembleia Municipal 5 Economy 6 Culture 6.1 Centro Cultural e de Congressos 6.2 Ceramics 6.2.1 Main pottery genres 6.3 Gastronomy 7 Tourism and 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 Kindergartens 9.2 First cycle basic schools 9.3 Second and third cycle basic schools 9.4 Secondary schools 9.5 Private education 9.6 Vocational education 9.7 Higher education 10 Twin towns (Sister cities) 11 Sports 12 Notable Natives 13 External links 13.1 Official World Wide Web sites 13.2 Maps 13.3 Newspapers 13.4 Other links 14 References and notes

[edit] Geography

[edit] Location

Caldas da Rainha is located at 39° 24' N latitude and 9° 08' W longitude. 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 located within the following administrative divisions of Portugal, all of which overlap, but are not coterminous:

• Portugal Continental (Continental/Mainland Portugal), a NUTS I subdivision.
• Centro, a NUTS II region.
• Oeste, a NUTS III subregion within Centro.
• Comunidade Urbana do Oeste (West Urban Community), of which it is the capital. "Urban communities" are part of the plan to replace districts. The Oeste urban community is coincidentally coterminous with the Oeste NUTS III subregion.
• 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.

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

The postal code for Caldas da Rainha is 2500. Its telephone area code is 262.

[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] 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.^[5] The population density is 201.0 inhabitants/km² (2004).^[2]

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

[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), refers to both its founder and the reason for its existence. Caldas da Rainha is referenced as the oldest thermal hospital in the world.

[edit] Evolution

On March 21, 1511, King Manuel conferred the status of town (Portuguese: vila) upon Caldas da Rainha.^[6] The town was elevated to the status of city in September 1927.^[6]

[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.^[7]

[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 executive Câmara Municipal (municipal chamber) are as follows:^[8]

• 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 legislative Assembleia Municipal (municipal assembly) are as follows:^[9][10]

[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] Centro Cultural e de Congressos

On May 15, 2008, President Aníbal Cavaco Silva and Mayor Fernando José da Costa inaugurated the Centro Cultural e de Congressos (CCC),^[11] a cultural and conference center. The center hosts music, theatre, dance, and cinema, as well as various expositions and conferences.

The center's grand auditorium contains 660 seats and a 600-square-metre (6,500 sq ft) stage. The smaller auditorium can seat up to 150. A multi-use space of 240 square metres (2,600 sq ft) can be subdivided into four rooms. A concert café seats 60. The rehearsal space is as large as the main stage.

[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.^[12] Beijinhos das Caldas (English: "kisses") are similar, but are smaller and round.

[edit] Tourism and sites of interest

[edit] Beaches and water

• Foz do Arelho has a beach on Atlantic Ocean, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the 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. Service to outlying, suburban, and rural areas near the city is provided by Rocaldas-Empresa de transportes Auto-Penafiel, Lda.

The municipality 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.^[13][14] On January 9, 2008, the city council announced that persons in wheelchairs would ride free of charge.^[15]

In May 2008, the municipality announced a new route, Linha Azul (Blue Line), which will serve the northern areas of the city. The new route will be operated using two buses, rather than the single bus used by each of the two existing routes.^[16][17]

[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 and Coimbra. Most lines serving Caldas da Rainha terminate there.

[edit] Roads

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

• A8 Auto-estrada do Oeste (aka IC1) — a motorway connecting to Leiria, Lisbon, and points in between.
• A15 — a motorway connecting to Santarém.
• IP 6 — a main route 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 Peniche, Rio Maior and Santarém.
• 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] Kindergartens

Caldas da Rainha has 27 kindergartens (jardims de infância).^[18]

[edit] First cycle basic schools

Caldas da Rainha has 48 basic schools (escolas básicas) for the first cycle (primeiro (1º) ciclo, years one though four) located throughout the municipality. The schools, together with the kindergartens, are divided into five geographic groups for administrative purposes.^[18]

[edit] Second and third cycle basic schools

There are three schools in Caldas da Rainha for the second and third cycles (segundo (2º) ciclo, years five and six; and terceiro (3º) ciclo, years seven through nine):^[19]

• E.B. 2,3 D.João II, located in Nossa Senhora do Pópulo freguesia (second and third cycles only)
• EBI 1,2,3 Sto. Onofre, located in the neighborhood of Bairro das Morenas in Santo Onofre freguesia (first, second, and third cycles)
• EBI de Sta. Catarina, located in Santa Catarina freguesia (kindergarten, first, second, and third cycles)

[edit] Secondary schools

There are two secondary schools (escolas secundárias, years ten through twelve) in Caldas da Rainha:^[19]

• Escola Secundária Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, located in Nossa Senhora do Pópulo freguesia
• Escola Secundária Raúl Proença, located in the neighborhood of Bairro do Arneiros in Santo Onofre freguesia

[edit] Private education

• Colégio Rainha D. Leonor, in Santo Onofre, is a private school offering basic and secondary education.
• Colégio Frei Cristóvão, in A-dos-Francos, is a private school, offering years five through nine.^[20]

[edit] Vocational education

Caldas da Rainha has several institutions offering vocational education. They include:^[21]

• ETEO - Escola Técnica Empresarial do Oeste (business)
• CENCAL - Centro de Formação Profissional Para a Indústria Cerâmica (ceramics)
• CENFIM - Centro Formação Profissional Indústria Metalúrgica e Metalomecânica (metallurgy)
• CENFORCAL - Centro de Formação Profissional (professional)
• Escola de Sargentos do Exército (Army Sergeant School)

[edit] Higher education

There are two institutions of higher education in Caldas da Rainha.^[22]

Escola Superior de Artes e Design de Caldas da Rainha (ESAD.CR), founded in 1990, is a school of the Instituto Politécnico de Leiria (IPL). ESAD offers courses in plastic arts, industrial design, ceramic design, graphic design, multimedia design, theatre, "cultural animation", and sound & image.^[23]

Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (ESB) da Universidade Católica Portuguesa offers courses in biotechnology. The Caldas da Rainha campus, founded in 1999, is an extension of ESB's Porto base.^[24][25]

[edit] Twin towns (Sister cities)

Caldas da Rainha is twinned with the following places:^[26]

• Cambo-les-Bains, France
• Coria and Badajoz, Spain
• Dinant, Belgium
• Huambo, Angola
• Le Raincy, France
• Lubango, Angola
• Perth Amboy, New Jersey, United States
• Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
• 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 2nd Division - Series C. 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.

The Portuguese Badminton Association (Federação Portuguesa de Badminton) is headquartered in Caldas da Rainha.^[27]

[edit] Notable Natives

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

[edit] External links

[edit] Official World Wide Web sites

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

[edit] Maps

• Aerial/satellite image of the center of town
• 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)

v • d • e Comunidade Urbana do Oeste (Urban Community of the West) Alcobaça · Alenquer · Arruda dos Vinhos · Bombarral · Cadaval · Caldas da Rainha  · Lourinhã  · Nazaré  · Óbidos · Peniche  · Sobral de Monte Agraço · Torres Vedras

For additional links related to the region, see Oeste#External_links.

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

[edit] References and notes