Alcácer do Sal

Infobox_Municipality_pt
official_name = Alcácer do Sal
image_coat_of_arms = ASL1.png

Alcácer do Sal - pron. IPA2|aɫ'kasɛɾ du saɫ) is a municipality in Portugal, located in the district of Setúbal. It has a total area of 1465.0 km² and a total population of 13,624 inhabitants.

The city proper has a population of 6,602 and is the seat of a municipality composed of 6 parishes. [ [http://62.48.187.117/atlas/Cap2/Cap2d_2.html UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004] Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)]

The present Mayor is Pedro Manuel Igrejas da Cunha Paredes (Socialist), who was elected after a long period of rule by the Portuguese Communist Party.

The municipal holiday is June 24, the day of Saint John the Baptist.

History

The history of human occupation in this region roots back to the Paleolithic. The Phoenicians called this place Keition, and there are evidences that its inland port already had a strategic importance, extended to the Lusitanian age. But it was with the Romans that the city achieved its golden era. Its unique geo-strategic location made it of major importance in the Iberian salt trade and salt trade routes, which rendered its classical name (Salatia) and at a given time, this was the only Imperial City in the region, properly known has Salatia Urbs Imperatoria, and it had a regional chief role which extended through the Visigothic domain.

A very interesting museum, documenting the occupation of the city since the Iron Age, exists under the castle, now a Pousada hotel.

Modern name

During the Ummayad occupation of the Iberian Peninsula and following an internal victory over Muladi rebels in the IX century, the city was donated to the Abu Denis family and renamed "Qaşr Abī Dānis" (قصر أبي دانس ) = "Castle Abu Denis" [ [http://www.pcp.pt/ar/legis-7/projlei/pjl228.html Elevação da Vila de Alcácer do Sal à categoria de Cidade] Projecto de Lei nº 228/VII] , commonly known just as "Al Qaşr" = "The Castle". Upon the Reconquista, the Arabic name Al Qaşr name was not removed but simply respelled according to the Latin phonetics and the Sal (from Salatia) was retrieved and appended to it.

Parishes

* Alcácer do Sal (Santa Maria do Castelo)
* Alcácer do Sal (Santiago)
* Comporta
* Santa Susana
* São Martinho
* Torrão

References

ee also

*Pedro Nunes
*João Branco Núncio

External links

* [http://www.m-alcacerdosal.pt/ Town Hall official website]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/72057594052267086/ Photos from ALCÁCER DO SAL]