Name | Caldas da Rainha |
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Settlement type | Municipality |
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Motto | |
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Flag size | 101px |
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Image shield | CLD.png |
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Map caption | Location of the municipality of Caldas da Rainha within Portugal |
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Dot x | |dot_y |
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Pushpin map | |
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Pushpin label position | |
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Pushpin mapsize | |
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Subdivision type | Country |
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Subdivision name | Portugal |
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Subdivision type1 | Region |
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Subdivision name1 | Centro |
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Subdivision type2 | Subregion |
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Subdivision name2 | Oeste |
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Subdivision type3 | District |
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Subdivision name3 | Leiria |
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Subdivision type4 | Historic province |
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Subdivision name4 | Estremadura
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Parts type | Civil Parishes |
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Parts style | list |
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Parts | (''Freguesias'') |
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P1 | A dos Francos |
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P2 | Alvorninha |
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P3 | Carvalhal Benfeito |
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P4 | Coto |
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P5 | Foz do Arelho |
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P6 | Landal |
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P7 | Nadadouro |
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P8 | Nossa Senhora do Pópulo |
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P9 | Salir de Matos |
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P10 | Salir do Porto |
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P11 | Santa Catarina |
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P12 | Santo Onofre |
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P13 | São Gregório |
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P14 | Serra do Bouro |
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P15 | Tornada |
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P16 | Vidais
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Government type | ''Município/concelho'' (Municipality) |
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Leader party | ''Partido Social Democrata'' |
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Leader title | ''Presidente da Câmara Municipal'' (Mayor) |
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Leader name | Fernando José da Costa |
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Leader title1 | ''Presidente da Assembleia Municipal'' |
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Leader name1 | Luís Manuel Pereira Monteiro Ribeiro |
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Established title | Founded |
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Established date | 1484 |
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Established title1 | Elevated (town) |
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Established date1 | 1511 |
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Established title2 | Elevated (city) |
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Established date2 | 1927 |
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Founder | Queen Leonor |
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Named for | |
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Area magnitude | |
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Unit pref | |
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Area total km2 | 255.7 |
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Area land km2 | |
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Area urban km2 | |
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Elevation footnotes | |
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Elevation min m | |
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Population as of | 2011 |
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Population total | 51645 |
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Population density km2 | 201.0 |
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Population blank1 title | City proper |
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Population blank1 | 27429 |
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Population demonym | Caldense
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Timezone | Western European Time |
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Utc offset | +0 |
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Timezone dst | Western European Summer Time |
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Utc offset dst | +1 |
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Coordinates type | type:city_region:PT_scale:10000 |
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Coordinates display | inline,title |
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Postal code type | Postal code |
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Postal code | 2500 |
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Area code | 262 |
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Blank name | Municipal holiday |
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Blank info | May 15 |
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Blank1 name | Demonym |
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Blank1 info | ''Caldense'' |
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Website | http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/
}} |
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Caldas da Rainha () is a city (''cidade'') in western central Portugal. The city serves as the seat of the larger municipality (''município'' or ''concelho'') of the same name and is the seat of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste (West Intermunicipal Community). 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 at the site of some therapeutic hot springs. The Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the world, with five centuries of history. The city's name means "Queen's Hot Springs" or "Queen's Spa".
Caldas da Rainha is home to many arts-related institutions. There are numerous museums in the city, mostly related to ceramics and sculpture. The city is home to a major arts and design school, as well as a school of ceramics. In 2008, the municipal government inaugurated a new cultural center.
As of the 2011 census, the municipality has a population of 51,645, and the city (the civil parishes of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo and Santo Onofre) has 27,429 residents.
History
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 them 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.
On March 21, 1511, King Manuel conferred the status of town (Portuguese: ''vila'') upon Caldas da Rainha. The town was elevated to the status of city (''cidade'') in September 1927.
In the early 20th century, it had a significant artistic and intellectual life. During World War II, in which Portugal was a neutral country, hundreds of Jewish refugees came to Caldas da Rainha to escape Nazism. During the war, Caldas also served as home to British and American airmen who landed or crashed in Portugal or off its coast.
In a prelude to the Carnation Revolution, on the night of March 15–16, 1974, the Fifth Infantry Regiment, based in Caldas da Rainha in what is now the Escola de Sargentos do Exército, attempted to stage a coup d'état against the country's authoritarian Estado Novo.
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. The two smaller shields surrounding the main shield are also not in keeping with Portuguese heraldic rules.
Geography
Location
Caldas da Rainha is located at 39° 24' N
latitude and 9° 08' W
longitude. The municipality comprises an area of (2004 statistics). The city is located approximately north of the Portuguese capital,
Lisbon. Although the municipality borders the
Atlantic Ocean, the city proper is about from the ocean.
Caldas da Rainha is located in the NUTS III subregion named Oeste, which forms part of the NUTS II region known as Centro, which is part of the NUTS I subdivision called Portugal Continental (Continental/Mainland Portugal).
Caldas da Rainha is the seat of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste (West Intermunicipal Community). The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste is legislatively coterminous with the Oeste NUTS III subregion. Before becoming an Intermunicipal Community, Oetse was a Comunidade Urbana (urban community), a designation abolished in August 2008.
Caldas da Rainha is in Estremadura, a historical province with no current legal status. The municipality is in the district of Leiria. Districts are being phased out, but 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.
Civil Parishes (''Freguesias'')
The municipality of Caldas da Rainha comprises sixteen
civil parishes (Portuguese: ''
freguesias''). They are:
Demographics
A resident of Caldas da Rainha is a ''Caldense'' (plural: ''Caldenses'').
Between the 2001 and 2011 censuses, the population of the municipality of Caldas da Rainha increased 5.7% from 48,846 residents to 51,645. The city of Caldas da Rainha (comprising the civil parishes of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo and Santo Onofre) saw an increase of 8.7% from 25,228 residents to 27,429.
Government
Câmara Municipal
The
executive body of the municipal government is the
Câmara Municipal (municipal chamber). Dr. Fernando José da Costa (
PSD) is the
president of the ''câmara'', effectively the
mayor of Caldas da Rainha. The other members are Maria da Coneição Feliciano Antunes Bretts Jardim Pereira (PSD), Fernando Manuel Tinta Ferreira (PSD), Dr. Hugo Patrício Martinho de Oliveira (PSD), Eng. Delfim Marques de Azevedo (
PS), Dr. Rui José Antunes da Cunha Simões Correia (PS), Manuel Fialho Isaque
(
CDS/PP).
Assembleia Municipal
The
legislative body of municipal government is the 37-member
Assembleia Municipal (municipal assembly). Luís Manuel Pereira Monteiro Ribeiro is
president of the assembly. José Fernando D’almeida Silva Pereira serves as the first secretary. Virgílio Leal dos Santos (Alvorninha), who is president of the civil parish executive body (''
junta de freguesia'') of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, serves as the second secretary.
The presidents of the each of the sixteen ''juntas de freguesia'' serve on the assembly:
Justino Sobreiro (A dos Francos)
Virgílio Leal Santos (Alvorninha)
Vasco Da Cruz Antunes de Oliveira (Nossa Senhora do Pópulo)
Abílio Maria Camacho (Santo Onofre)
Maria João dos Santos Ribeiro Querido (Carvalhal Benfeito)
Carlos Alberto Garcia Cravide Bernardo (Coto)
Fernando Alberto Reis Horta (Foz do Arelho)
António José Carvalho de Almeida (Landal)
César Conceição Dimas Pereira (Nadadouro)
João Fialho Coutinho Rosa (Salir de Matos)
Abílio Jacinto Luís (Salir Do Porto)
Rui Miguel Norte Rocha (Santa Catarina)
Filipe Ernesto de Sousa (São Gregório)
Álvaro Baltazar da Silva Jerónimo (Serra do Bouro)
Henrique José Teresa (Tornada)
Virgílio Caetano Filipe (Vidais)
The other members of the assembly are:
José Luís de Carvalho Lalanda Ribeiro
Jorge Manuel dos Santos Sobral
Luís Manuel Pereira Monteiro Ribeiro
Maria Fernanda Fernandes Machado
Luisa Arroz Correia Albuquerque
Luís Miguel da Rosa Goulão Freire
Duarte Nuno Batista Ferreira
José Fernando d'Almeida Silva Pereira
Mário António Duarte Pacheco
Filomena Maria Marques Seabra Rodrigues
Paulo Ribeiro
António José Lopes Ferreira
Fernando António da Costa Rocha
Alberto Manuel de Oliveira Reis Pereira
Carlos Alberto Elias de Jesus
Maria Susana Morais da Costa
Catarina Leite de Castro Catalino Paramos
Daniel Miguel Rebelo
Vitor Manuel Marques Fernandes
Pedro Miguel de Oliveira Marques
Carlos Manuel Branco Tomás
Economy
Statistics
thumb|Bordallo Pinheiro ceramics factory 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).
There are 31 banking institutions, with deposits totaling €518,021,400.
As of 2001, 49% of the population is employed, while 6.5% are unemployed. (The remainder are too young, are retired or do not otherwise participate in the workforce.)
Commerce
Caldas da Rainha has a vibrant
downtown shopping area, with a variety of shops specializing in clothing, jewelry, beauty supplies, home decoration, housewares, and other goods. Among the main shopping areas are Rua do Heróis da Grande Guerra, Rua das Montras (officially, Rua Almirante Cândido dos Reis), Rua da Liberdade, and surrounding streets.
Several international chains have locations in Caldas da Rainha, including
AKI,
Mango,
McDonald's, and
Staples.
There are numerous supermarkets and hypermarkets in Caldas da Rainha, including
Aldi,
Casaleiro,
E.Leclerc,
Intermarché,
Lidl,
Minipreço (2),
Modelo,
Pão de Açúcar,
Pingo Doce (three locations), and
Ponto Fresco.
Several small indoor shopping centers, most with only a handful of stores, exist throughout the city.
The Associação Comercial dos Concelhos das Caldas da Rainha e Óbidos (ACCCRO, founded in 1902 as the Associação Comercial e Industrial de Caldas da Rainha) aims to promote traditional commerce in Caldas da Rainha and neighboring Óbidos. The association aims to publicize smaller businesses located in the municipalitys' centers, which feel threatened by the increasing popularity of larger businesses, such as malls and hypermarkets usually found on the outskirts.
Vivaci Caldas da Rainha
Vivaci Caldas da Rainha, an indoor
shopping center operated by FDO Imobiliária, was inaugurated on November 25, 2008, and opened to the public the following day. The center is located adjacent to the site of the Hotel Lisbonense, which is being rebuilt. Vivaci's four floors contain sixty
stores, including fourteen
restaurants, a five-screen
movie theater (Cinemas Vivacine in partnership with
Zon Lusomundo), a supermarket (
Pão de Açúcar), and
ATMs (
Millenium bcp).
CaldasShopping
CaldasShopping, originally scheduled for conclusion in 2006, was opened in late December 2008. The complex, located at the intersection of Rua Dr. Miguel Bombarda and Rua Raul Proença, is operated by Erguigest. In addition to space for about forty shops and indoor and outdoor esplanades seating 200 to 250, the CaldasShopping edifice contains offices and thirteen apartments.
Centro Bordalo
Centro Bordalo, a shopping center to be developed by
Sonae Sierra, was scheduled to open in 2010 with ninety-five stores and 1,100 parking spaces. Sonae Sierra planned to invest 56 million
euros in the center. The
late-2000s financial crisis caused Sonae Sierra to postpone the project. The center will be located across from the existing
Continente Modelo hypermarket and will be connected to it by a pedestrian bridge over the street.
Culture
Centro Cultural e de Congressos
On May 15, 2008, the municipal holiday,
President Aníbal Cavaco Silva and
Mayor Fernando José da Costa inaugurated the Centro Cultural e de Congressos (CCC), 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 stage. The smaller auditorium can seat up to 150. A multi-use space of can be subdivided into four rooms. A concert café seats 60. The rehearsal space is as large as the main stage.
Expoeste
Expoeste - Centro de Exposições do Oeste, is an indoor event space. The center hosts various events, including bridal expos, seasonal festivals, fruit expos, and car shows. One of the most popular events is the annual Expotur - Festa de Verão, popularly called "tasquinhas". At this event, which takes place over the span of about week and a half at the beginning of August, food from each of the ''freguesias'' is available for purchase and on-site consumption.
Ceramics
thumb|Examples of typical pottery from Caldas da Rainha 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.
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.
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. ''Beijinhos das Caldas'' (English: "kisses") are similar, but are smaller and round.
Tourism and sites of interest
Beaches and water
Foz do Arelho has a beach on Atlantic Ocean, from the center of town. The
Lagoa de Óbidos, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean, is a lagoon located on the border with
Óbidos near Foz do Arelho.
Salir do Porto has a beach on the Atlantic Ocean.
Churches
The Igreja Nossa Senhora do Pópulo is a
gothic church near the thermal hospital. It was built around the year 1500 by order of Queen Leonor. The church has two associated chapels: Capela de São Sebastião and Capela do Espírito Santo. The Ermida da São Sebastião is a 16th century
chapel, adjacent to Praça da República. Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is a 20th century church located on Praça 25 de Abril.
Museums
Several
museums are located in Caldas da Rainha. The Centro de Artes (arts center) hosts three museums of
sculpture: the Museu-Atelier António Duarte, the Museu-Atelier João Fragoso, and the Museu Barata Feyo. The
Museu de Cerâmica exhibits ceramic works of art, as does the Casa-Museu de São Rafael. The Museu do Hospital e das Caldas features exhibits related to the thermal hospital and the city. The
Museu José Malhoa is an art museum located in Parque D. Carlos I.
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 Portugal's only daily farmers' market. The plaza is surrounded by buildings, most containing shops, banks, and cafés on the ground floor.
Praça 5 de Outubro (October 5 Plaza) formerly hosted the city's open-air fish market, which has since moved to an indoor location (''Mercado do Peixe''). The plaza is now used for outdoor café seating and free cultural events. A parking garage sits underground below the plaza.
A statue of Queen Queen Leonor stands in the middle of the roundabout at Largo Conde de Fontalva, typically called Largo da Rainha. The iconic monument serves as a landmark and marks the entrance to the historic city center when approaching from the south on N8/N115/N360 or from the west on the N360.
Transportation
Rail
thumb|right|Caldas da Rainha [[train station|railway station]] Caldas da Rainha has a
train station served by the
Linha do Oeste (western line) of
Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses. Interregional trains, which make select stops, run south to
Lisbon and north to
Coimbra. Regional trains, which make all local stops, run south to suburbs of Lisbon, where passengers can transfer to a
commuter train to reach the capital, and north to
Figueira da Foz. All trains serving Caldas da Rainha begin or end their trips there. No through service stops at Caldas da Rainha. Other train stops in the municipality are Campo-Serra and
Salir do Porto; the Bouro stop was discontinued in 2006.
Long distance and suburban buses
Caldas da Rainha has a
bus station (''terminal rodoviário'') located in the city center.
Rede Nacional de Expressos provides express bus service to various destinations in the country.
Rodoviária do Tejo provides rapid ("express" by another name) and interurban services to destinations in its service area (cities and towns surrounding Caldas da Rainha, Leiria, Santarém, and Torres Novas), as well as to Lisbon.
Rocaldas-Empresa de transportes Auto-Penafiel, Lda. services outlying, suburban, and rural areas near the city. Their buses do not use the bus station.
Local buses
TOMA
On May 15, 2007, the municipal holiday, the municipal council inaugurated local bus service. The service is called TOMA, which means "take this" in
Portuguese, and commemorates everyman figure
Zé Povinho, whose image appears on the buses.
The first phase of TOMA consists of two routes, ''Linha Verde'' (Green Line) and ''Linha Laranja'' (Orange Line). Each route operates using a single twenty-nine-seat minibus on a continuous loop with thirty-minute intervals. Stops serviced by both lines are served at fifteen-minute intervals. On January 9, 2008, the city council announced that persons in wheelchairs would ride free of charge.
TOMA service runs from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 8:00 a.m to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, with no service on Sundays.
''Linha Verde'' (Green Line)
The
''Linha Verde'' (Green Line) was inaugurated on May 15, 2007, as part of the first phase of TOMA service. This loop route stops at:
Rainha (roundabout with statue of Queen Leonor)
Parque (park)
Centro D'Artes (arts center)
Avenal Escola
Avenal
ESAD - Escola Superior de Arte e Design (art and design college)
Quinta da Oliveira
Escola Basica Integrada (EBI) de Santo Onofre (primary school)
Bairro das Morenas (residential neighborhood)
ETEO - Escola Técnica Empresarial do Oeste (professional school)
Ponte (bridge)
Bairro da Ponte (residential neighborhood)
Fonte Luminosa (fountain)
Centro de Saúde (health center)
Estação CP (railway station)
Câmara Municipal (city hall)
Terminal Rodoviário (bus station)
Cinco Bicas (fountain)/CCC - Centro Cultural e de Congressos (cultural and conference center)
Hospital
Chafariz (fountain; formerly at nearby Bordalo Pinheiro secondary school)
Montepio (social service organization)
Rua Heróis da Grande Guerra (pedestrianized shopping street)
''Linha Laranja'' (Orange Line)
The
''Linha Laranja'' (Orange Line) was inaugurated on May 15, 2007, as part of the first phase of TOMA service. This loop route stops at:
Terminal Rodoviário (bus station)
Cinco Bicas (fountain)/CCC - Centro Cultural e de Congressos (cultural and conference center)
Hospital
Universidade Católica (university)
Encosta do Sol (residential neighborhood),
Chafariz (fountain; formerly at nearby Bordalo Pinheiro secondary school)
Montepio (social service organization)
Rua Heróis da Grande Guerra (pedestrianized shopping street)
Rainha (roundabout with statue of Queen Leonor)
Biblioteca (library)
Cencal (ceramics school)
Rugby (sports center)/Colégio (private school)
Piscinas (pools)
Bairro dos Arneiros (residential neighborhood)
Fonte Luminosa (fountain)
Centro de Saúde (health center)
Estação CP (railway station)
Câmara Municipal (city hall)
''Linha Azul'' (Blue Line)
In May 2008, the municipality announced a new route,
''Linha Azul'' (Blue Line), which will serve the northern areas of the city not included in the two first-phase routes. The new route will be operated using two buses, rather than the single bus used by each of the two existing routes. Introduction of the new line has been delayed, because the company which won the bid to operate the line decided not to undertake the project after all. The new route will be inaugurated on September 19, 2009, Public Transport Day. The blue line will stop at:
Rugby (sports center)/Colégio (private school)
Piscinas (pools)
Bairro dos Arneiros (eastbound)
Raúl Proença (secondary school, westbound)
Expoeste (special events center)
Cidade Nova (residential neighborhood)
Quinta dos Canários (residential neighborhood)
Hortas (factory)
Quinta da Cutileira (residential neighborhood)
Centro de Saúde (health center)
PSP (police station)
Tribunal (courthouse, westbound)
Câmara Municipal (city hall, eastbound)
Montepio (social service organization, westbound)
Chafariz (fountain, westbound)
Cinco Bicas (fountain)/CCC - Centro Cultural e de Congressos (cultural and conference center)
Hospital
Universidade Católica (university, eastbound)
Colina do Sol (residential neighborhood)
Santa Rita (residential neighborhood)
Gago Coutinho (crossroads in residential neighborhood)
Mercado (weekly market/fairground)
Belver (residential neighborhood)
Projecto Tornada
Tornada is a significant population and employment center in the municipality, just north of the city on the N8 (aka EN8) roadway. Many residents complain of poor public transportation options. In reality, many buses operated by Rodoviário do Tejo or Rocaldas (aka Empresa de Transportes Auto Penafiel) pass through and stop in Tornada, though all are designed for further destinations. The municipal government in cooperation with the two bus operators, has undertaken "Projecto Tornada" to produce and disseminate a combined schedule of services, to coordinate and improve bus stops on N8, and to improve pedestrian access along N8. Conclusion of the project is set for the beginning of 2010.
Roads
Caldas da Rainha is served by an extensive network of
roads. Two
motorways (''
auto-estradas''), both operated by
Auto-Estradas do Atlântico, serve the municipality. The
A8 (also known as Auto-estrada do Oeste and as IC1) goes south to
Lisbon,
Loures,
Torres Vedras, and
Bombarral and north to
Leiria,
Marinha Grande,
Alcobaça, and
Nazaré. The
A15 goes west to
Santarém via
Rio Maior.
IP 6 is a main route (''
itinerário principal'') connecting to
Peniche,
Santarém,
Castelo Branco, and
Spain.
Several national roads (''estradas nacionais''), which are older and not as well-maintained as motorways and main routes, serve the municipality. EN 8 (N8) crosses the municipality from north to south, connecting to Alcobaça and Leiria to the north and Óbidos, Bombarral, Torres Vedras, and Loures to the south. EN 8 runs through the center of the city, although the part of its route along Rua dos Heróis da Grande Guerra is now a pedestrian zone. EN 8 was the municipality's main roadway before the A8 motorway was built.
EN 114 (N114), in the center and southeast of the municipality, goes to Peniche, Rio Maior and Santarém. EN 114-1 (N114-1), in the center and east of the municipality, connects to EN 114. EN 115 (N115), along the south and southwest border of the municipality, runs to Cadaval. EN 360 (N360) crosses the municipality southwest to northeast, connecting to Alcobaça. EN 361 (N361), in the southwest of the municipality, connects to Cadaval and Rio Maior.
Education
Caldas da Rainha is home to many
educational institutions.
Higher education
There are two institutions of
higher education in Caldas da Rainha.
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.
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.
Primary and secondary education
There are two secondary schools (''
escolas secundárias'', years ten through twelve) in Caldas da Rainha. Escola Secundária Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro is located in
Nossa Senhora do Pópulo ''freguesia'' and Escola Secundária Raúl Proença is located in the neighborhood of Bairro do Arneiros in
Santo Onofre ''freguesia''.
Caldas da Rainha has three basic schools (''escolas básicas'') for the second and third cycles (''segundo (2°) ciclo'', years five and six; and ''terceiro (3°) ciclo'', years seven through nine). E.B. 2,3 D. João II is located in Nossa Senhora do Pópulo ''freguesia'' and offers the second and third cycles only. EBI 1,2,3 Santo Onofre is located in the neighborhood of Bairro das Morenas in Santo Onofre ''freguesia'' and offers the first, second, and third cycles. EBI de Santa Catarina, located in Santa Catarina ''freguesia'', offers kindergarten, first, second, and third cycle classes.
Caldas da Rainha has 48 schools for the first cycle (''primeiro (1°) ciclo'', years one though four) located throughout the municipality. The schools, together with the kindergartens, are divided into five geographic groups for administrative purposes. They are located at A-dos-Francos, Alvorninha, Antas, Avenal, Bairradas, Bairro da Ponte, Bairro dos Arneiros, Cabreiros, Campo, Carreiros, Carvalhal Benfeito, Casais da Serra, Casal da Areia, Casal da Marinha, Casal das Freiras, Chão da Parada, Coto, Cumeira, Encosta do Sol, Espinheira, Fanadia, Foz do Arelho, Guisado, Lagoa Parceira, Mata, Mestras, Moita, Nadadouro, Parque, Peso, Rabaceira, Ramalhosa, Reguengo da Parada, Relvas, Ribeira dos Amiais, Rostos, Salir de Matos, Salir do Porto, Santa Catarina (E.B.I. 0,1,2,3), Santa Susana, Santo Onofre (E.B.I. 1,2,3), São Clemente, São Gregório, Tornada, Trabalhias, Vidais, Vila Verde, and Zambujal.
Caldas da Rainha has 27 kindergartens (''jardims de infância''). They are located at A-dos-Francos, Antas, Avenal, Bairro dos Arneiros, Carreiros, Carvalhal Benfeito, Casais da Serra, Casal Celão, Casal da Areia, Coto, Cruzes, Foz do Arelho, Lagoa Parceira, Moita, Morenas, Nadadouro, Rabaceira, Ramalhosa, Reguengo da Parada, Salir do Porto, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina (E.B.I.), Santa Susana, São Clemente, São Cristovão, São Gregório, and Tornada.
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.
Vocational education
Caldas da Rainha has several institutions offering
vocational education.
The Escola Técnica Empresarial do Oeste (ETEO) is a school of business and technology.
The Centro de Formação Profissional Para a Indústria Cerâmica (CENCAL) offers training related to the ceramics industry.
The Centro Formação Profissional Indústria Metalúrgica e Metalomecânica (CENFIM) offers courses in metallurgy.
The Escola de Sargentos do Exército trains sergeants for the Portuguese Army.
The Conservatório de Caldas da Rainha is a conservatory of music.
The Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo do Oeste-Caldas da Rainha offers training in hospitality and tourism.
Other
The Centro de Educação Especial Rainha Dona Leonor offers
special education.
Health care
Caldas da Rainha is home to the Centro Hospitalar das Caldas da Rainha (Hospital Center of Caldas da Rainha), which consists of both medical and cultural institutions. Among these are the Hospital Distrital Caldas da Rainha (Caldas da Rainha District Hospital), which is a major regional hospital serving several municipalities in the area. The hospital serves all
emergency needs of all parts of
Bombarral, Caldas da Rainha, and
Óbidos. It also serves certain emergency needs for certain parts of
Alcobaça,
Nazaré,
Peniche, and
Rio Maior. The Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor (Queen Leonor Thermal Hospital), a spa offering medically prescribed treatment in sulfurous waters, is also part of the Centro Hospitalar. Among the non-medical institutions of the Centro Hospitlar are the Museu do Hospital e das Caldas (Museum of the Hospital and Spa) and the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, a church.
Caldas da Rainha is also served by a health center, Centro de Saúde Caldas da Rainha, which offers primary and non-urgent care. Additionally, there is a Unidade de Saúde Familiar (Family Health Unit) in Tornada and ten Extensões de Saúde (Health Extensions) in Alvorninha, Carreiros (A-dos-Francos), Carvalhal Benfeito, Foz do Arelho, Rostos (Landal), São Gregório, Santa Catarina, Vidais, A-dos-Francos, and Salir de Matos.
Public safety
Fire protection is provided by the Bombeiros Voluntários de Caldas da Rainha (BVCR,
Volunteer Firefighters of Caldas da Rainha).
Police protection in the urban areas of the municipality is provided by the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP, Public Security Police).
Rural areas of the municipality are patrolled by the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR, Republican National Guard). The GNR's base is located within the city proper.
Twin towns (sister cities)
Caldas da Rainha is
twinned with the following places:
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
Sports
Caldas Sport Clube (CSC) was founded May 15, 1916. The club sponsors an
association 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.
The western edge of the city is home to the Complexo Desportivo Municipal (municipal sports complex). The main feature is a rugby field surrounded by a running track. The field is home to Caldas Rugby Clube. The field can also be used for association football (soccer). The municipality recently added five tennis courts (two of which are covered) in an adjacent facility. Plans are underway to build facilities for badminton and beach soccer and rugby. The municipal pools are located nearby.
Caldas da Rainha has a bull ring (''praça de touros''), inaugurated in 1883, which is actively used during bullfighting season.
The Portuguese Badminton Federation (Federação Portuguesa de Badminton) is headquartered in Caldas da Rainha.
On October 4 and 5, 2008, Caldas da Rainha hosted the modern pentathlon World Cup final, an event sanctioned by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).
Notable natives
José Malhoa
Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
José da Cruz Cardinal Policarpo
Raul Proença
References and notes
External links
Official World Wide Web sites
Portal Caldas da Rainha, by the Câmara Municipal de Caldas da Rainha — the municipal government's Web site
Centro Cultural e de Congressos, Caldas da Rainha
Maps
Aerial/satellite image of the municipality
TOMA bus stops
Google Maps">Various maps posted by the municipal government on Google Maps
Newspapers
Gazeta das Caldas
Jornal das Caldas
Other links
Associação Regional Caldense
Portal do Comércio Tradicional dos Concelhos das Caldas da Rainha e Óbidos — Associação Comercial dos Concelhos das Caldas da Rainha e Óbidos (ACCCRO)
Caldas da Rainha — web site developed by
University of Beira Interior and
Caldas da Rainha photo gallery by Dias dos Reis
Caldas da Rainha - a photoset on flickr
Caldas Sport Clube
Caldas Rugby Clube
Category:Cities in Portugal
Category:Municipalities of Portugal
Category:Spa towns in Portugal
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