The municipality was established in 1190 by Dom Sancho I, the second monarch of Portugal. The municipality of Almada includes two cities – Almada and Costa da Caparica.

Almada is a transportation center and a fast-growing city. The municipality’s main transportation is the Metro Sul do Tejo, a light-rail transit system serving the greater Lisbon area and the municipality of Seixal.

The Statue of Cristo Rei

Cristo Rei, or Christ the King, is the most popular monument in Almada. It is a massive religious monument overlooking Lisbon, capital of Portugal. It was inspired by the Christ Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. This was inaugurated in May 17, 1959 by Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, a dictator in Portugal during that time.

The monument is 246 feet tall or 75 meters high. The 92-foot-tall statue was designed by Francisco Franco de Sousa. At the base of the statue is an observation deck providing a panoramic view of the city of Lisbon, the Tagus River, and the 25 de Abril Bridge. It is located on the left riverbank.

The construction of the monument started in 1950 and it took nine years to finish. According to Portuguese historians, this monument was a plea to God to free Portugal from the dangers of World War II.

25 de Abril Bridge in Almada

The 25 de Abril Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting Lisbon and Almada on the left bank of the Tagus River. This bridge is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco, USA. In fact, both bridges were constructed by the same company, the American Bridge Company.

This bridge underwent a number of expansions over the years. The most significant improvement was the construction of two railways in the lower platform. Another was the conversion of the bridge from four lanes to six lanes to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles passing through Lisbon and Almada. In 2006, an average of 150,000 cars crossed this bridge on a daily basis.

Several scenes from a few movies were shot on this famous bridge. One of these movies was a James Bond movie in 1969, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Tourism in Almada

A few kilometers away from Almada are cities with pristine beaches which are popular tourist destinations. One of these cities is Costa da Caparica.

Costa da Caparica is under the Almada municipality. It is located on the south of River Tagus where 30 kilometers of magnificent beaches can be found. Eucalyptus and pine trees line and decorate the stretch of the beach front. Fine white sand also adorns these beaches.

Since Caparica is surrounded with bodies of water, fresh seafood is abundant. The town has designated Tuesdays and Sundays as special market days to give the wives of fishermen and farmers a chance to peddle their goods along the streets of the town. They bring with them their newly harvested local produce and the freshest seafood.

Tourists may also enjoy delectable local dishes in nearby restaurants and beach cafes. Nightlife is also a welcome surprise in the Caparica. There are bars that serve local concoctions and local performers to entertain guests. The people in Caparica are generally warm and friendly to guests.

Almada Arts & Culture

1. Almada International Theater Festival – Held at various venues in the city, including the Almada Theater itself, this annual festival is a program that runs for two weeks. Local, national, and international theater companies come together to celebrate the diversity of theater performances. During this event there are different activities such as dances, theater performances, and free street theater presentations. There are also conventions or talks for aspiring artists who come here to learn more about the art.
2. Almada International Dance Festival – Companhia de Danca de Almada is a professional contemporary dance company in Almada. It started its activities in 1990 and since then it has already presented over 600 performances that were witnessed by around 80,000 viewers in Portugal and other parts of the world.This festival is the gathering of national and foreign dance choreographers specializing in contemporary dance. Besides the scheduled performances, this event offers other related activities such as exhibitions, workshops, and conventions.

Known Personalities of Almada

• Anabela Braz Pires – Portuguese singer and musical theater actress
• Da Weasel – Popular Hip Hop Tuga band
• Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo – Professional Portuguese football player
• Telma Monteiro – Portuguese judoka (Judo practitioner)

Social Issues in Almada

“Almada, Better Without Cars” is a program of the municipality to minimize the use of private cars and maximize use of public transportation. This program aims to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home for at least once a week and use public transportation instead. This program hopes to raise environmental awareness to its citizens and reduce energy consumption associated with urban transportation.

The scheme was developed by concerned public and private institutions including the city council, public transport operators, the local energy department, the local chamber of commerce, local associations, and individual shop owners.

The Conclusion

Almada is a picture of relaxed and laid-back city with its love for the performing arts, panoramic views, and magnificent beaches. But scratch beneath the surface, it is a thriving municipality in Portugal.

Today, it is engaged in expansions of its Metro line and the construction of a new city on the south banks of River Tagus. The State of Almada is envisioning a city with not only additional apartments or residential homes but offices, establishments, public parks, health centers, schools, a hospital, a fire station, hotels, and restaurants. The main target is to provide everything necessary to support a fully functional community of the 21st century.

More Information about Almada

• National Name: Republica Portuguesa
• Government: Parliamentary Democracy
• Monetary Unit: Euro
• Languages: Portuguese (official)
• Population: 164,844
• Number of Parishes: 11
• Region: Lisboa
• Subregion: Peninsula de Setubal
• District or A.R.: Setubal
• Land Area: 70.0 km2
• Municipal Holiday: Saint John the Baptist, June 24
• Sister Cities: Porto Amboim, Angola; Sal, Cape Verde; Regla, Cuba