Amadora is both a city and a municipality in Portugal. It is located in the northwest of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The Lisbon Metropolitan Area is composed of 18 municipalities in Portugal.Read more about Amadora
Amadora has a population of 175,872 and it has 11 parishes or freguesias. The municipality has a total land area of 23.77 square kilometers and it is the most populated municipality in Portugal. Amadora is a satellite city of Lisbon, the largest city and capital of Portugal. A satellite city or town is a small or medium-sized city that is in close proximity to a metropolis. A satellite city is considered as partially-independent from the larger city regarding its economic transactions.
This municipality ceased being a part of the Oeiras municipality on September 11, 1979. It was formally declared a city since that date and became the Amadora that it is now.
A big community of African immigrants from Angola and Cape Verde now live in Amadora. They live in residential suburbs and large apartment blocks all over the city.
Social Issues in Amadora
Amadora has its history of crime and social unrest. To date, the Portugal government has put in place rehabilitation plans to address these social issues. But despite the ongoing anti-crime movements, Amadora is still considered as a city with relatively high crime rate.
Drug dealing, gang wars, homicide, assault, robbery, and other petty crimes are the problems that Amadora is currently facing. Most of the reported cases took place in Cova da Moura, a tough and predominantly male neighborhood in Amadora.
Theft is considered a petty crime in Amadora. These illegal activities are usually apparent at densely populated areas, crowded tourist destinations, restaurants, or public transportation stations or vehicles. Tourists and local residents are the victims of pickpockets and bag snatchers.
When traveling, tourists and foreign nationals are warned to be aware of their surroundings and the people around them when visiting crowded places. They are easy targets of such petty crimes.
There were a number of violent cases that put Amadora in the international media spotlight in 2001 to 2002. Two of the most notorious cases were:
- December 2001 – a boy was shot dead at the back by the Police. The boy was 17 years old; and
- February 2002 – a young black policeman was shot and killed by drug dealers.
Amadora Culture
Drug dealing, gang wars, unemployment, and poverty may be a reality in the neighborhood Cova da Moura in Amadora but the place is still the home of artistic and creative hair sculptures. Dozens of hairdressers still operate in Cova da Moura. Their creations are very popular among the locals, which is very evident everywhere in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area today. These hairstyles are very popular among young adults.
Music also plays a big part in the Amadora culture. Rap music and Hip Hop Tuga are very popular in the suburban. Hip Hop Tuga is Portuguese’s version of the popular hip hop in the United States. The hip hop music is mixed with African music from Lusophone Africa and reggae. By definition, a Lusophone is someone who speaks native Portuguese. He is a person whose cultural background is centered on the Portuguese language.
The last five years were momentous for the growth of Hip Hop Tuga as a music sensation. Artists like Da Weasel, Valete, Boss AC, Sam the Kid, Mind Da Gap, Dealema, Micro, DJ Bomberjack, and Matozoo have made a name for themselves and gathered a lot of followers in the local music industry.
Amadora International Comics Festival
The Amadora International Comics Festival is an organized exhibition of comics or sketched characters which are published internationally. Comic enthusiasts from other parts of the world would come to Amadora to participate in the comics-making competition or simply to enjoy the event.
In 2008, the World Health Organization partnered with the Amadora International Comics Festival organizers to promote awareness on the increasing cases of tuberculosis in the region. The comic book competition was themed “Fight against Tuberculosis”. Each participant was asked to create a comic book that would educate the people, particularly children and young adults, about the dangers of tuberculosis.
Tourism in Amadora
Amadora has a number of decent hotels which offer basic accommodation for travelers. Restaurants or places to eat also offer local Portuguese cuisines. At night, there are bars located around the city for travelers who want to experience the Amadora nightlife, local wines, and music.
Amadora is near Sintra which is known as a major tourist attraction. Fittingly, the town was recognizes as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its 19th century romantic designs.
The most visited places in Sintra are the Pena Palace, Castelo dos Mouros, Sintra-Cacais Natural Park, Palacio Nacional de Sintra, and the Sintra Mountain Range.
Age-Sex-Marital Status in Amadora
The average age of the Amadora population is between 26 to 30 years old. Inhabitants are predominately male. Majority are unmarried but with children. 59% of the couples in Amadora are not married but are living together.
The Conclusion
The greatest challenge of Amadora today is the eradication of crimes, unemployment poverty, and family instability in the city. The State and other concerned private sectors are working together to break this cycle for the future generations to come.
One of these programs is Projecto Geracao, or Generation Project. This project aims to help young school drop-outs from Casal da Boba in Amadora by offering basic trainings, youth workshops, and employment opportunities to prepare them to be responsible adults.
For the Amadora people, it is a slow but steady journey to solve these social issues. But as long as there are people who genuinely care for the city and its inhabitants, Amadora will soon conquer the adversities victoriously.
11 Parishes of Amadora
The following are Amadora parishes:
- Alfornelos;
- Alfragide;
- Brandoa;
- Buraca;
- Damaia;
- Falagueria;
- Mina;
- Reboleira;
- Sao Bras;
- Venda Nova; and
- Venteira
More Information about Amadora
- National Name: Republica Portuguesa
- Government: Parliamentary Democracy
- Monetary Unit: Euro
- Languages: Portuguese (official)
- Region: Lisbon
- Sub-region: Greater Lisbon
- District: Lisbon
- Mayor: Jaoquim Raposo
- Municipality Holiday: September 11
- Crime Rate: Relatively higher than the national average