View source for Alcobaça, Portugal

{{Infobox Portuguese subdivision
| official_name           = Alcobaça
| type            = municipality
| image_skyline           = Alcobaça BW 2018-10-05 12-13-54.jpg
| image_caption           =
| image_flag              = Pt-acb3.png
| image_shield            = ACB1.png
| image_map               = LocalAlcobaca.svg
|coordinates             = {{coord|39|33|10|N|8|58|40|W|type:adm1st_region:PT_dim:100000|display=inline,title}}
|region             = Oeste e Vale do Tejo
|CIM                = [[Oeste (intermunicipal community)|Oeste]]
|district           = [[Leiria District|Leiria]]
| leader_party            = [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|PSD]]
| leader_name             = [[Hermínio Rodrigues]]
| area_total_km2          = 408.14
| elevation_m             = 42
|population_total        = 53649
|population_as_of        = 2011
| postal_code             = 2460, 2461, 2475
| area_code               =
| parishes         = [[#Parishes|13]]
| patron           = [[Bernard of Clairvaux|Saint Bernard]]
| holiday          = 20 August
| website                 = {{URL|http://www.cm-alcobaca.pt/}}
}}
'''Alcobaça''' ({{IPA|pt|alkuˈβasɐ|-|Pt-pt Alcobaça FF.ogg}}) is a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] city and municipality in the [[Intermunicipal communities of Portugal|intermunicipal community]] [[Oeste (intermunicipal community)|Oeste]] and the region [[Oeste e Vale do Tejo]],<ref>[https://omirante.pt/sociedade/2023-02-06-Uniao-Europeia-aprova-nova-regiao-do-Oeste-e-Vale-do-Tejo-1922470e União Europeia aprova nova região do Oeste e Vale do Tejo], ''O Mirante'', 6 February 2023.</ref> in the historical province of [[Estremadura Province (1936–1976)|Estremadura]], and in the [[Leiria District]]. The city grew along the valleys of the rivers [[Alcoa River|Alcoa]] and Baça, from which it derives its name. The municipality population in 2011 was 56,693,<ref name=ine>[http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xlang=en&xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&indOcorrCod=0005889&contexto=pi&selTab=tab0 Instituto Nacional de Estatística]</ref> in an area of {{convert|408.14|km2|mi2}}.<ref name=dgt>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal_caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2017__em_vigor_/ |title=Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país |access-date=2018-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105172426/http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal_caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2017__em_vigor_/ |archive-date=2018-11-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city proper has a population of 15,800 inhabitants.<ref>[http://codigopostal.ciberforma.pt/cidades/cidade.asp?cid=6 Mail post reference of Portugal]</ref>
The city of Alcobaça became notable after the first king of Portugal, [[Afonso I of Portugal|Afonso Henriques]], decided to build a church to commemorate the [[Conquest of Santarém]] from the Moors in 1147. The church later evolved into the [[Alcobaça Monastery|Monastery of Alcobaça]], one of the most magnificent [[gothic architecture|Gothic]] monuments in the country. In the church are the tombs of [[Peter I of Portugal|Pedro I of Portugal]] and his murdered mistress [[Inês de Castro]]. Over the centuries this monastery played an important role in shaping [[Culture of Portugal|Portuguese culture]].
A few kilometers to the north of Alcobaça is the [[Batalha Monastery|Monastery of Batalha]], another Gothic building constructed in memory of a different important battle, that of [[Battle of Aljubarrota|Aljubarrota]]. To the west of Alcobaça is the fishing village of [[Nazaré, Portugal|Nazaré]], now a popular resort town. To the south is the city of [[Caldas da Rainha]] and the medieval town of [[Óbidos, Portugal|Óbidos]]. To the northeast is the town of [[Porto de Mós]] with its rebuilt castle.
== History ==
Alcobaça became notable in the 12th century, when it was chosen as the future site of Portugal's largest church. In March 1147, the young King Dom [[Afonso I of Portugal|Afonso Henriques]] defeated the [[Moors]] by capturing the city of [[Santarém, Portugal|Santarém]]. As a tribute to his victory, he vowed to build a magnificent home for the [[Cistercians|Order of Cistercians]]. It took another 76 years before this task was completed. The monarchy continued to carry out further construction and 60 years later [[Denis of Portugal|King Dinis]] built the main cloister. The monastery was consecrated in 1262.
The church contains the tombs of [[Peter I of Portugal|Pedro I of Portugal]] and his murdered mistress [[Inês de Castro]]. Pedro had married Constanza, the ''[[Infante|Infanta]]'' (princess) of [[Crown of Castile|Castile]], but escaped with his mistress Inês and later lived in the city of [[Coimbra]]. His father, [[Afonso IV of Portugal|King Afonso IV]], believing that the family of Inês was a threat to his kingdom, had her murdered. Shortly after the death of his father, Pedro declared that he had married Inês in a prior secret ceremony in [[Bragança, Portugal|Bragança]], and took a gruesome revenge on the  killers and exhumed her body. He presented the embalmed corpse at the court with a crown on her head and demanded that all his courtiers kneel and individually pay homage to her decomposed hand. Today, their ornate tombs face each other so that on [[Last Judgment|Judgment Day]] his first sight would be of Inês.
During the following centuries, the monks from this monastery had a major influence on the development of Portuguese culture. Notably, in 1269 they were the first to give public lessons to their congregation, and later they produced the first authoritative history on Portugal in a series of books. In 1810, the invading [[France|French]] pillaged the abbey, taking with them most of its most important treasures, including the noteworthy library. The items that remained were later stolen in 1834 during an anti-clerical riot and the banning of religious orders in Portugal.
==Climate==
Alcobaça has a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]:''Csb'') with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
{{Weather box
|location = Alcobaça, Portugal, 1981–2010
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|width = auto
|Jan record high C = 23.7
|Feb record high C = 25.0
|Mar record high C = 29.8
|Apr record high C = 33.0
|May record high C = 35.3
|Jun record high C = 40.8
|Jul record high C = 40.0
|Aug record high C = 41.0
|Sep record high C = 39.4
|Oct record high C = 33.0
|Nov record high C = 27.9
|Dec record high C = 24.0
|year record high C =
|Jan high C = 15.2
|Feb high C = 16.1
|Mar high C = 18.6
|Apr high C = 19.2
|May high C = 21.3
|Jun high C = 24.4
|Jul high C = 26.0
|Aug high C = 26.6
|Sep high C = 25.6
|Oct high C = 22.3
|Nov high C = 18.3
|Dec high C = 15.8
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 8.4
|Feb mean C = 9.5
|Mar mean C = 11.6
|Apr mean C = 12.7
|May mean C = 14.8
|Jun mean C = 17.9
|Jul mean C = 19.6
|Aug mean C = 19.8
|Sep mean C = 18.5
|Oct mean C = 15.4
|Nov mean C = 11.7
|Dec mean C = 9.7
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = 4.0
|Feb low C = 4.9
|Mar low C = 6.7
|Apr low C = 8.1
|May low C = 10.2
|Jun low C = 13.1
|Jul low C = 14.7
|Aug low C = 14.6
|Sep low C = 13.0
|Oct low C = 10.4
|Nov low C = 7.2
|Dec low C = 5.6
|year low C =
|Jan record low C = -5.9
|Feb record low C = -5.7
|Mar record low C = -5.2
|Apr record low C = -0.5
|May record low C = 1.0
|Jun record low C = 4.7
|Jul record low C = 6.1
|Aug record low C = 5.5
|Sep record low C = 3.5
|Oct record low C = 0.2
|Nov record low C = -5.6
|Dec record low C = -5.8
|year record low C =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 107.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 82.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 59.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 80.7
|May precipitation mm = 59.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 22.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 8.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 12.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 40.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 104.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 122.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 118.5
|year precipitation mm =
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 11.0
|Feb precipitation days = 9.4
|Mar precipitation days = 7.8
|Apr precipitation days = 10.3
|May precipitation days = 8.1
|Jun precipitation days = 3.8
|Jul precipitation days = 1.6
|Aug precipitation days = 2.0
|Sep precipitation days = 5.1
|Oct precipitation days = 10.2
|Nov precipitation days = 11.1
|Dec precipitation days = 12.2
|year precipitation days =
|Jan humidity = 78
|Feb humidity = 76
|Mar humidity = 71
|Apr humidity = 69
|May humidity = 68
|Jun humidity = 69
|Jul humidity = 68
|Aug humidity = 67
|Sep humidity = 69
|Oct humidity = 73
|Nov humidity = 77
|Dec humidity = 78
|year humidity =
|source 1 = [[Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Normal Climatológica – Alcobaça / Estação Fruticultura Vieira Natividade 1981-2010 |url=https://www.ipma.pt/bin/file.data/climate-normal/cn_81-10_ALCOBACA_E_FRUTICULTURA.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ipma.pt/bin/file.data/climate-normal/cn_81-10_ALCOBACA_E_FRUTICULTURA.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |publisher=[[IPMA]] |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref>|source 2 = Porto de Mós Municipality ([[IPMA]]: Humidity)<ref>{{cite web |title=Plano Municipal de Defesa da Floresta Contra Incêndios |url=https://www.municipio-portodemos.pt/cmportomos/uploads/document/file/1773/1016_pmdfci_caderno_i.pdf |publisher=Porto de Mós Municipality |access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Alcobaça, Portugal (1971–2000)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|width = auto
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high C = 23.1
|Feb record high C = 25.0
|Mar record high C = 30.0
|Apr record high C = 30.0
|May record high C = 34.0
|Jun record high C = 40.8
|Jul record high C = 40.0
|Aug record high C = 38.0
|Sep record high C = 39.4
|Oct record high C = 33.2
|Nov record high C = 26.6
|Dec record high C = 24.0
|year record high C = 40.8
|Jan high C = 15.1
|Feb high C = 15.8
|Mar high C = 18.2
|Apr high C = 19.0
|May high C = 20.8
|Jun high C = 23.7
|Jul high C = 25.9
|Aug high C = 26.2
|Sep high C = 25.6
|Oct high C = 22.0
|Nov high C = 18.4
|Dec high C = 15.9
|year high C = 20.6
|Jan mean C = 9.6
|Feb mean C = 10.6
|Mar mean C = 12.4
|Apr mean C = 13.6
|May mean C = 15.5
|Jun mean C = 18.4
|Jul mean C = 20.3
|Aug mean C = 20.3
|Sep mean C = 19.3
|Oct mean C = 16.2
|Nov mean C = 13.1
|Dec mean C = 11.1
|year mean C = 15.0
|Jan low C = 4.2
|Feb low C = 5.4
|Mar low C = 6.7
|Apr low C = 8.1
|May low C = 10.2
|Jun low C = 13.0
|Jul low C = 14.7
|Aug low C = 14.4
|Sep low C = 13.0
|Oct low C = 10.4
|Nov low C = 7.9
|Dec low C = 6.4
|year low C = 9.5
|Jan record low C = -5.5
|Feb record low C = -5.0
|Mar record low C = -3.0
|Apr record low C = -0.5
|May record low C = 1.0
|Jun record low C = 5.5
|Jul record low C = 6.0
|Aug record low C = 5.5
|Sep record low C = 3.5
|Oct record low C = 0.5
|Nov record low C = -2.5
|Dec record low C = -4.0
|year record low C = -5.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 106.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 101.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 59.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 76.1
|May precipitation mm = 64.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 23.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 7.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 11.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 36.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 95.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 124.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 132.1
|year precipitation mm = 839.6
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 13.6
|Feb precipitation days = 13.1
|Mar precipitation days = 10.4
|Apr precipitation days = 12.4
|May precipitation days = 11.1
|Jun precipitation days = 6.8
|Jul precipitation days = 3.1
|Aug precipitation days = 3.4
|Sep precipitation days = 6.4
|Oct precipitation days = 11.4
|Nov precipitation days = 13.8
|Dec precipitation days = 15.5
|year precipitation days = 121.0
|source 1 = [[Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera]]<ref name=IPMA>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200409213447/http://www.ipma.pt/bin/file.data/climate-normal/cn_71-00_ALCOBACA_E_FRUTICULTURA.pdf
| archive-date = 9 April 2020
| url = http://www.ipma.pt/bin/file.data/climate-normal/cn_71-00_ALCOBACA_E_FRUTICULTURA.pdf
| title = ALCOBAÇA/ E. FRUTICULTURA (126)
| work = Fichas Climatológicas 1971-2000
| publisher = Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera
| language = pt
| access-date = 9 April 2020}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Alcobaça - Portugal (2327895724).jpg|thumb|right|View of the city with [[Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park|Serra de Candeeiros]] in the background]]
[[File:Alcobaca noite 03.jpg|thumb|right|Alcobaça and the monastery at night]]
==Parishes==
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 13 civil parishes (''[[freguesia (Portugal)|freguesias]]''):<ref>{{cite web|title=Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 7|url=http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2013/01/01901/0000200147.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2013/01/01901/0000200147.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |access-date=16 July 2014|author=Diário da República|author-link=Diário da República|language=pt}}</ref>
{{div col |colwidth=20em}}
* [[Vestiaria, Portugal|Alcobaça e Vestiaria]]
* [[Alfeizerão]]
* [[Aljubarrota]]
* [[Bárrio (Alcobaça)|Bárrio]]
* [[Benedita (Alcobaça)|Benedita]]
* [[Cela, Alcobaça|Cela]]
* [[Coz, Alpedriz e Montes]]
* [[Évora de Alcobaça]]
* [[Maiorga]]
* [[Pataias e Martingança]]
* [[São Martinho do Porto]]
* [[Turquel]]
* [[Vimeiro (Alcobaça)|Vimeiro]]
{{div col end}}
== City information==
The main feature of the city is essentially the monastery that proudly presents a long and sombre façade with 18th-century embellishments. This austerity is further emphasized in the cloisters with its apt name of "Cloister of Silence". In contrast within the Abbey is the massive kitchen with a running stream specially diverted to pass through as a supply of fresh water. The open area of the kitchen chimney is large enough to take a whole ox for roasting. The surround to the sacristy doorway is an outstanding example of [[Manueline]] decoration. In 1794, [[William Thomas Beckford|Lord Beckford]] visited the Abbey and commented that he found some 300 monks "living in a very splendid manner"!
<gallery>
Alcobaça - panoramio (1).jpg|Alcobaça, panoramio
Alcobaça Praça da República.jpg|Square in Alcobaça
</gallery>
== Nearby locations ==
[[File:Alcobaca fountain hires.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Gothic fountain house and renaissance water basin in the cloister of the Alcobaça Monastery.]]
A few kilometers to the north of Alcobaça is another wondrous building constructed in memory of a different important battle, that of [[Battle of Aljubarrota|Aljubarrota]] in 1385, when King [[John I of Portugal]] defeated the Castilians and ensuring two hundred years of independence from the Castilian invaders. The construction of the Abbey at [[Batalha, Portugal|Batalha]] commenced in 1388 and was added to by various Portuguese Kings over these next two centuries. To the east of Batalha is the world-famous location of [[Fátima, Portugal|Fátima]] and a point of pilgrimage for the Roman Catholic religion due to the [[Our Lady of Fátima|vision of the Virgin Mary]] in 1917 by three young children whilst tending their flock. To the west of Alcobaça is the well-known fishing village of [[Nazaré, Portugal|Nazaré]]. Today, the village is now a small town and a popular holiday resort with most of its past and traditions having rapidly evaporated in the course of time. A very successful Portuguese feature film was made in the early 20th century that dramatically captured the primitive and dangerous life of these fishermen. Stoutly Catholic, the inhabitants have retained some of their past as can be still seen in their own particular style of costume. To the south is [[Caldas da Rainha]] and the quaint medieval town of [[Óbidos, Portugal|Óbidos]] that is an attraction for any tourists that enjoys a true glimpse of the past. Also to the south is the town of [[Porto de Mós]] with its fanciful rebuilt castle. This town borders the Nature Reserve [[Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros]]. These 390 square kilometres of limestone-covered landscape is also known for its caverns. The best known being the [[Gruta de Moinhos Velhos|Grutas de Mira de Aire]] can be visited and consists of tunnels, caverns with stalactites, stalagmites, lakes, and a music and light finale.
== Major events ==
* Market days – Every Monday
* [[Carnival|Carnaval]] de Alcobaça – February/March
* Cistermúsica – classical music festival – June / July<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cistermusica.com/| title = Cistermúsica - Festival de Música de Alcobaça}}</ref>
* [[Bernard of Clairvaux|Saint Bernard]]'s fair – August 20
* Municipal holiday – August 20
* ''Marionetas na Cidade'' – [[puppetry]] festival – mid-October<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.samarionetas.com/#!marionetas-na-cidade/c1l7k| title = S.A.Marionetas - Teatro e Bonecos}}</ref>
* [[Simon the Zealot|Saint Simon]]'s fair – 4th week of October
* International display of Sweets and Conventual Liqueurs – November
== Notable people from Alcobaça==
[[File:Silva nizza12 (2).JPG|thumb|140px|João Pedro Silva, 2012]]
* [[Joaquim Ferreira Bogalho]] (1889–1977) the 20th president of [[S.L. Benfica]]
* [[Virgínia Vitorino]] (1895–1967) a teacher, poet and playwright.
* [[:pt:Joaquim Vieira de Natividade|Joaquim Vieira de Natividade, (Wiki PT)]] (1899–1968) an agricultural engineer
* [[:pt:Valdemar José Correia Barbosa Rodrigues|Valdemar José Correia Barbosa Rodrigues, (Wiki PT)]] (b. 1965) an environmental engineer, ensaist and poet
* [[:pt:José Aurélio|José Aurélio, (Wiki PT)]] (born 1938) a sculptor, works in stone, wood and bronze
* [[João Lourenço (footballer, born 1942)|João Lourenço]] (born 1942) a former footballer with 207 club caps
* [[Alberto Costa (Portuguese politician)|Alberto Costa]] (born 1947) politician, [[Ministry of Justice (Portugal)|Minister of Justice]], 2005–2009.
* [[Nuno Miguel Gonçalves|Nuno Gonçalves]], a Portuguese musician, founder of The Gift.
* [[João Traquina]] (born 1988) a Portuguese footballer with over 350 club caps
* [[João Pedro Silva (triathlete)|João Pedro Silva]] (born 1989) a Portuguese professional triathlete, competed at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]
* [[The Gift (band)|The Gift]] (formed 1994) a Portuguese alternative rock band
* [[Loto (band)|Loto]] (formed 2002) an electro-pop-rock-dance music band
* [[Spartak!]] (2006–2008) a musical collective from Alcobaça
* [[JÜRA]] Popular pop artist based in Lisbon
==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal}}
Alcobaça is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Aubergenville]], [[France]]
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Bełchatów]], [[Poland]]<ref name="Bełchatów twinnings">{{cite web |url=http://www.belchatow.pl/portal.php?aid=1158607934450ef43e80428|title=Portal Bełchatów|work=Miasto Bełchatów [Bełchatów town council] belchatow.pl|year=2010|access-date=22 June 2011|language=pl|trans-title=Bełchatów - Partnership Cities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613131345/http://www.belchatow.pl/portal.php?aid=1158607934450ef43e80428 |archive-date=13 June 2011}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ANG}} [[Cacuaco]], [[Angola]]
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chicopee, Massachusetts|Chicopee]], [[United States]]
==See also==
{{portal|Portugal}}
*[[Alcobaça IPR]]
*[[Alcobaça Monastery|Monastery of Alcobaça]]
*[[Monastery of Batalha]]
*[[Nazaré, Portugal|Nazaré]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Alcobaça}}
{{Commons category|Alcobaça (Portugal)}}
*[http://www.cm-alcobaca.pt/ Municipality official website]
{{Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste}}
{{Municipalities of Leiria}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alcobaca}}
[[Category:Alcobaça, Portugal| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Leiria District]]
[[Category:Cities in Portugal]]
[[Category:Populated places in Oeste e Vale do Tejo]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Leiria District]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Portugal]]
[[Category:UNESCO]]
[[Category:Iberian locality names of Arabic origin]]