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Setúbal

Setúbal
City of Setúbal
Clockwise: View of Setúbal from Castelo de São Filipe; Bocage Gardens; Santa Maria da Arrábida Fort; Praça do Bocage; São Julião Church; view of Setúbal from the Sado Estuary.
Flag of Setúbal
Coat of arms of Setúbal
Map
Interactive map of Setúbal
Coordinates: 38°31′27.5″N 8°53′33.4″W / 38.524306°N 8.892611°W / 38.524306; -8.892611
Country Portugal
RegionLisbon
Metropolitan areaLisbon
DistrictSetúbal
SeatSetúbal Municipal Chamber
Parishes5
Government
 • PresidentMaria das Dores Meira (Independent)
Area
 • Total
230.33 km2 (88.93 sq mi)
Population
 (2014)
 • Total
118,166
 • Density513.03/km2 (1,328.7/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Local holiday15 September
Websitewww.mun-setubal.pt

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

[edit]
Setúbal bay area

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 early 20th century, Setúbal was Portugal's most important center for the fishing industry, particularly the processing and exporting of sardines. None of the factories built at that time are still operating today. The city's traditional and commercial ports, along with newer marinas, maintain its ties to the ocean. Tourism is a significant part of the city's economy, supported by its location on the Sado River and the Atlantic coast, as well as its proximity to the Arrábida hills natural park. A dolphin colony inhabits the Sado River. Across the river, on the south bank, lies the Tróia peninsula, which has several hotels and resorts and can be seen from the city. Albarquel, Figueirinha, Galápos, Galapinhos, Creiro, and Portinho da Arrábida are among the city's beaches, located on the north bank of the estuary at the start of the Arrábida hills.

Civil parishes

[edit]
The civil parishes of Setúbal after the 2013 administrative reorganization

Administratively, the municipality is divided into five civil parishes (freguesias):[8]

History

[edit]

Name

[edit]

There are currently many possible origins for the name Setúbal, the main ones being:

From the Neolithic to the Christian reconquest

[edit]

Setúbal was born of the river and the sea. Records of human occupation in the municipality date back to prehistory, with numerous remains dating from the Neolithic onwards having been found at various sites. It was visited by Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians, who came to Iberia in search of salt and tin, particularly to Alcácer do Sal, a settlement as far as which the river was then navigable.

During the Roman occupation, Setúbal underwent considerable development. The Romans established fish-salting factories and pottery kilns in the settlement, further developing these industries.

The fall of the Roman Empire, the barbarian invasions and constant coastal piracy caused the settlement to stagnate or even disappear altogether, between the 6th and 12th centuries there are no records of the settlement, wedged in as it would have been between Christian Palmela and Arab Alcácer do Sal.

Reconquest until late 16th century

[edit]

Alcácer do Sal was reconquered by the Christians in 1217. The settlement of Setúbal was incorporated into the territory of the Order of Santiago and came under its protection, after which it began to prosper again.

In March 1249, Setúbal received a municipal charter, granted by the Order of Santiago, which held lordship over this region, and signed by Dom Paio Peres Correia, Master of the Order of Santiago, and Gonçalo Peres, commander of Mértola.[13][14]

During the several centuries in which the settlement of Setúbal languished in obscurity, Palmela and Alcácer do Sal grew in population and in military, economic and geographical importance, making successive incursions into Setúbal's territory and occupying it.

In the first half of the 14th century, the settlement of Setúbal, whose territory was relatively small, had to assert itself through struggles with the neighbouring municipalities of Palmela and Alcácer do Sal, which had already been established. This dispute between neighbours ended with an agreement demarcating its own territory in 1343 (during the reign of Afonso IV). A wall was built, leaving the suburbs of Troino (to the west) and Palhais (to the east) outside it.

Imagined engraving of Setúbal in 1547

In the following century, the royalty and nobility of the time established seasonal residences in Setúbal. The age of discoveries and conquests in Africa brought considerable development to Setúbal; in 1458, Afonso V and his army departed from its port to conquer Ksar es-Seghir. Throughout the 15th century, the town developed various economic activities, chiefly connected with shipbuilding and maritime trade, earning substantial revenues from the duties charged on entry into the port.

The construction of the Convent of Jesus and its church dates from the late 15th and early 16th centuries, a period of substantial national development. Founded by Justa Rodrigues Pereira to house the female Franciscan order of Saint Clare, it was the architectural work of Master Diogo Boitaca, who also worked on the Jerónimos Monastery.

It was also during the reign of John II that work began on Praça do Sapal (now Praça de Bocage, a landmark of the city) and, in 1487, on an aqueduct bringing water to the town. These works were subsequently completed or enlarged by Manuel I, who revised the town's charter in 1514.[14]

Setúbal in 1669

The title of "notável villa" ("notable town") was granted in 1525 by John III. This title enabled the construction of the Town Hall between 1526 and 1533 and the creation, in 1553, by a letter from the Archbishop of Lisbon, Dom Fernando, of two new parishes, São Sebastião and Anunciada, which joined the existing parishes of São Julião and Santa Maria da Graça.

In 1580, the town supported Dom António, Prior of Crato, against the prospect of Philip II of Spain taking the Portuguese throne. It was then besieged by Spanish troops under the Duke of Alba. Philip II visited the town two years later and ordered the construction of the Fort of São Filipe (a work by Filippo Terzi).

17th Century to the present

[edit]

During the 17th century, Setúbal reached the height of its prosperity, when salt assumed a leading role as a medium of exchange and as payment for the military assistance provided to Portugal by European states during and after the wars of the Restoration of Independence. In response to this growth, new walls were built around Setúbal after 1640, encompassing new areas such as Troino and Palhais.

This prosperity was interrupted by the earthquake of 1755, which badly affected the parishes of São Julião and Anunciada.

Only in the 19th century did Setúbal regain its lost momentum. The railway arrived in 1860, and work also began on land reclamation along the river and the construction of a grand boulevard, the Avenida Luísa Todi. The first factories canning sardines in olive oil began operating in this century, while Setúbal's oranges and muscatel wine also became famous. On 19 April 1860, it was also elevated to city status by Pedro V.

Setúbal in 1860

Setúbal's flourishing during the 20th century was reflected in the creation of new urban spaces: the expansion of Avenida Luísa Todi and part of Avenida dos Combatentes, and the creation of the Salgado, Monarquina, São Nicolau, Conceição, Carmona, Liceu and Montalvão neighbourhoods. It was also reflected in the development of the canning, fertiliser, cement, pulp, shipbuilding and heavy metalworking industries.

Setúbal became the seat of a district on 22 December 1926 and the seat of a diocese on 16 July 1975.

Culture

[edit]
Castelo de São Filipe

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.[citation needed]

Teatro Animação de Setúbal is based in Setúbal.

Demography (municipality)

[edit]

Climate

[edit]

Setúbal has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) with mild, rainy winters and 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)[16] which, according to weather records expert Maximiliano Herrera, was the highest temperature ever recorded on the coast of the Iberian Peninsula.[17]

Climate data for Setúbal (Varzinha orchard station) 1991-2020, extremes (1949-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 24.2
(75.6)
25.2
(77.4)
30.2
(86.4)
34.4
(93.9)
37.0
(98.6)
43.0
(109.4)
44.3
(111.7)
45.5
(113.9)
42.6
(108.7)
35.9
(96.6)
28.8
(83.8)
23.6
(74.5)
45.5
(113.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 15.5
(59.9)
16.8
(62.2)
19.5
(67.1)
21.1
(70.0)
24.2
(75.6)
27.9
(82.2)
30.2
(86.4)
30.7
(87.3)
28.1
(82.6)
23.8
(74.8)
18.8
(65.8)
16.1
(61.0)
22.7
(72.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 10.3
(50.5)
11.2
(52.2)
13.6
(56.5)
15.2
(59.4)
18.0
(64.4)
21.1
(70.0)
23.2
(73.8)
23.6
(74.5)
21.4
(70.5)
18.1
(64.6)
13.8
(56.8)
11.2
(52.2)
16.7
(62.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 5.2
(41.4)
5.6
(42.1)
7.6
(45.7)
9.3
(48.7)
11.8
(53.2)
14.3
(57.7)
16.2
(61.2)
16.5
(61.7)
14.8
(58.6)
12.5
(54.5)
8.9
(48.0)
6.3
(43.3)
10.7
(51.3)
Record low °C (°F) −5.4
(22.3)
−5.8
(21.6)
−2.5
(27.5)
−0.7
(30.7)
3.0
(37.4)
5.4
(41.7)
7.2
(45.0)
8.5
(47.3)
6.8
(44.2)
0.8
(33.4)
−2.4
(27.7)
−4.1
(24.6)
−5.8
(21.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 90.6
(3.57)
66.6
(2.62)
67.6
(2.66)
64.2
(2.53)
53.8
(2.12)
15.2
(0.60)
2.1
(0.08)
3.2
(0.13)
31.2
(1.23)
99.2
(3.91)
107.2
(4.22)
102.5
(4.04)
703.4
(27.71)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 9.5 7.3 7.4 7.9 5.8 1.8 0.6 0.8 3.4 8.1 9.6 9.2 71.4
Source: Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera[18][19]
Climate data for Setúbal, Sado Estuary Natural Reserve (Lisnave), 1971–2000 normals and extremes
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.3
(70.3)
25.0
(77.0)
29.5
(85.1)
32.6
(90.7)
36.0
(96.8)
38.0
(100.4)
43.6
(110.5)
39.5
(103.1)
39.0
(102.2)
31.5
(88.7)
28.5
(83.3)
23.0
(73.4)
43.6
(110.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 15.4
(59.7)
16.5
(61.7)
19.2
(66.6)
19.9
(67.8)
22.3
(72.1)
26.1
(79.0)
28.8
(83.8)
28.9
(84.0)
26.5
(79.7)
22.7
(72.9)
18.9
(66.0)
16.2
(61.2)
21.8
(71.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 10.9
(51.6)
12.2
(54.0)
14.2
(57.6)
15.4
(59.7)
17.6
(63.7)
20.6
(69.1)
22.8
(73.0)
22.9
(73.2)
21.3
(70.3)
18.0
(64.4)
14.4
(57.9)
12.1
(53.8)
16.9
(62.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 6.5
(43.7)
7.9
(46.2)
9.2
(48.6)
10.9
(51.6)
12.9
(55.2)
15.2
(59.4)
16.8
(62.2)
16.9
(62.4)
16.1
(61.0)
13.2
(55.8)
9.9
(49.8)
8.0
(46.4)
12.0
(53.5)
Record low °C (°F) −2.0
(28.4)
−0.1
(31.8)
1.0
(33.8)
3.5
(38.3)
6.0
(42.8)
9.5
(49.1)
10.5
(50.9)
10.0
(50.0)
9.5
(49.1)
3.2
(37.8)
1.0
(33.8)
−1.0
(30.2)
−2.0
(28.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 74.0
(2.91)
65.3
(2.57)
33.7
(1.33)
53.6
(2.11)
35.1
(1.38)
11.4
(0.45)
4.1
(0.16)
3.2
(0.13)
24.4
(0.96)
73.8
(2.91)
85.7
(3.37)
95.5
(3.76)
559.8
(22.04)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 10.5 10.7 7.0 10.6 7.7 3.1 1.0 1.1 4.0 8.8 9.7 12.3 86.5
Source: Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera[20]

Economy

[edit]

According 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.[21] Setúbal is notable for the industries of pulp, paper, cement, fertilizers, pesticides, other phytopharmaceutical products, thermal power, shipbuilding and ship repair. There has been an automobile assembling industry since the 1950s with several known manufacturers opening 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,[22] making it the 4th busiest port in Portugal, with 7.4% of the cargo throughput in the country.[23] 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.[24]

Education

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

Setúbal 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.

Sports

[edit]

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

Estádio do Bonfim

Notable residents and citizens

[edit]

Public Service

[edit]
Statue of Setúbal poet Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage in a city square.

Religion

[edit]

The Arts

[edit]
Luísa Todi, 1789

Sport

[edit]
José Mourinho, 2017

International relations

[edit]

Setúbal is twinned with:

Setúbal has international cooperation protocols with:

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Setúbal". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  2. ↑ "Setúbal". Oxford Dictionaries UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.[dead link]
  3. ↑ "Setúbal". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. OCLC 1032680871. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  4. ↑ "Statistics Portugal". www.ine.pt. Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  6. ↑ UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente – Cidades, 2004 Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)
  7. ↑ Wedgwood, Hensleigh (1855). "On False Etymologies". Transactions of the Philological Society (6): 67.
  8. ↑ Diário da República. "Law no. 11-A/2013, page 552 114" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Frei Bernardo de Brito (1597). Monarchia Lusitana Tomo I. p. 28.
  10. ↑ "Monarchia Lusitana Tomo I". Cervantes Virtual. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  11. ↑ Flávio Josefo. "História dos Hebreus, capítulo 6 número 30". Archived from the original on 2014-08-22. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  12. ↑ Montexano, Georgeos Diaz (2004). "Apuntes de Mitología Greco-Atlántica del Suroeste de Iberia". Academia.edu. Archived from the original on 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2014-12-01. Ketovion, Ketobriga o Cetobriga es la actual Setubal
  13. ↑ Cf. Portugaliae Monumenta Historica, Leges et Consuetudines, Lisbon, Lisbon Academy of Sciences, 1856, vol I, p. 634 (consult the text)
  14. 1 2 Cf. COSTA, João. Forais de Setúbal [dead link].
  15. ↑ "PORDATA - Base de Dados dos Municípios". www.pordata.pt. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "August 2018 bulletin" (PDF). IPMA. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  17. ↑ Jeff Masters. "Heat Wave Smashes All-Time Heat Records in Portugal and Spain". www.wunderground.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "Normal Climatológica – Setúbal / Estação de Fruticultura 1991-2020" (PDF). IPMA. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  19. ↑ "Data clima" (in Portuguese). IPMA. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  20. ↑ "Monthly Averages for Setúbal (Setenave) (1971–2000)" (PDF). IPMA.
  21. ↑ "Municípios - Emprego e Mercado de Trabalho" (in Portuguese). PORDATA Base de Dados Portugal Contemporâneo. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  22. ↑ "2012-Estatísticas" (in Portuguese). Porto de Setúbal - APSS, SA. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  23. ↑ "INE: Porto de Lisboa perdeu 30% do movimento de mercadorias" (in Portuguese). Diário Económico. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  24. ↑ "Classified Advertising". Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. 21 June 1831.
  25. ↑ Manuela Couto, IMDb Database retrieved 28 June 2021.
  26. ↑ André Marques, IMDb Database retrieved 28 June 2021.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
  • Municipality official website
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Setúbal at Wikimedia Commons