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Caldas da Rainha

Caldas da Rainha
City, Seat of a Municipality
Statue of Queen Leonor in a roundabout in Caldas da Rainha
Statue of Queen Leonor (Rainha Dona Leonor) in the middle of a roundabout in Caldas da Rainha
Image of the flag of Caldas da Rainha
Flag
Image of the coat of arms of Caldas da Rainha
Coat of arms
Logo of the Câmara Municipal of Caldas da Rainha
Logo
Nickname(s): Caldas
Map showing the location of the municipality of Caldas da Rainha within Portugal
Municipality of Caldas da Rainha within Portugal
Coordinates: 39°24′26″N 9°8′9″W / 39.40722°N 9.13583°W / 39.40722; -9.13583Coordinates: 39°24′26″N 9°8′9″W / 39.40722°N 9.13583°W / 39.40722; -9.13583
Country Portugal Portugal
Intermunicipal entity Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste
NUTS I statistical division Continente
NUTS II statistical region Centro
NUTS III statistical subregion Oeste
District Leiria
Historical province Estremadura
Founded 1484
Vila (town) status 1511
Concelho/Município (Municipality) 1821
Cidade (city) status 1927
Founded by Queen Leonor
Named for Queen Leonor
Freguesias (civil parishes)
Government
 • Type Municipality (Município, or concelho)
 • Body Câmara Municipal (executive)
Assembleia Municipal (deliberative)
 • Presidente da Câmara Municipal (Mayor) Fernando Manuel Tinta Ferreira (PSD)
 • Presidente da Assembleia Municipal Luís Manuel Pereira Monteiro Ribeiro
Area
 • Municipality 255.69 km2 (98.72 sq mi)
Dimensions
 • Length 24 km (15 mi)
 • Width 22 km (14 mi)
Highest elevation 255 m (837 ft)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Municipality 51,729
 • Density 202.3/km2 (524/sq mi)
 • Statistical city 27,378
 
Demonym(s) Caldense
Time zone Western European Time (UTC±00:00)
 • Summer (DST) Western European Summer Time (UTC+01:00)
Postal code (código postal) 2500
Area code(s) 262
Municipal holiday 15 May
Website http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/

Caldas da Rainha (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈkaɫdɐʒ ðɐ ʁɐˈiɲɐ]) is a medium-sized city in western central Portugal in the historical province of Estremadura and the district of Leiria. The city serves as the seat of the larger municipality of the same name and of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste (OesteCIM, Intermunicipal Community of the West). At the 2011 census, the municipality had a population of 51,729 in an area of 255.69 square kilometres (98.72 sq mi), with 27,378 residing in the city. Although the city itself lies about 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) inland, three of the municipality's civil parishes lie on the Atlantic Ocean. Caldas da Rainha is best known for its sulphurous hot springs and ceramic pottery.

The settlement was founded in the 15th century by Queen Leonor (Rainha Dona Leonor), who established a hospital and a church at the site of some therapeutic hot springs. The Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor (Queen Leonor Spring Water Hospital, or Thermal Hospital) is the oldest purpose-built institution of its kind in the world, with five centuries of history. The city's name, often shortened to simply "Caldas", can be translated as "Queen's Hot Springs", "Queen's Spa", or "Queen's Baths".

Caldas da Rainha is home to many cultural institutions. The city's nine museums cover art, history, and cycling. Cultural and sports venues include Centro Cultural e de Congressos (CCC, Cultural and Conference Centre), a centre for performing arts, exhibitions, and conferences; Expoeste – Centro de Exposições do Oeste (Exhibition Centre of the West), which hosts exhibitions and festivals; a bullring; several football (soccer) pitches; and a multi-sport municipal complex. Caldas hosts six professional and higher-educational institutions, including a major arts and design school and a school devoted to ceramics. In 2014 Caldas da Rainha had the best public secondary school in Portugal based on national test scores.


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