Palmela Municipality
| Palmela | |||
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| Municipality | |||
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| Coordinates: 38°40′N 8°58′W / 38.667°N 8.967°WCoordinates: 38°40′N 8°58′W / 38.667°N 8.967°W | |||
| Country |
 Portugal
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| Region | Lisbon | ||
| Subregion | Península de Setúbal | ||
| Metropolitan area | Lisbon | ||
| District | Setúbal | ||
| Parishes | 4 | ||
| Government | |||
| • President | Ana Teresa Vicente (CDU) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 465.12 km2 (179.58 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2011) | |||
| • Total | 62,831 | ||
| • Density | 140/km2 (350/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1) | ||
| Website | http://www.cm-palmela.pt | ||
Palmela (Portuguese pronunciation: [pɐɫˈmɛlɐ]) is a town and a municipality in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 62,831, in an area of 465.12 km².
The municipality is located in Setúbal District, about 25 km (16 mi) south of Lisbon. The municipal holiday is 1 June.
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 4 civil parishes (freguesias):
The town's name comes from its Roman founder, Cornelius Palma (Palmella). Palmela, once a fortress, was conquered by the Portuguese in the 12th century. A semi-rural town, it is located up a hill in the Arrábida area, right in the middle of Portugal's biggest urban area. Many people are moving in from big cities like Lisbon. Wild fires in the region are a threat to the environment.
The castle, Castelo de Palmela, offers a unique view over the whole region of the Setúbal Peninsula, Lisbon, and the Atlantic Coast. It was a strategic place in past centuries, and today it is still a main juncture of Portugal's road and rail networks.
Palmela is home to many multinational industrial plants like Volkswagen and Coca-Cola, and a significant number of foreign families live in the area. The local radio often broadcasts in Ukrainian.
Palmela's traditional products are the wine, which has achieved international awards in several festivals like Bordeaux's, and the Queijo de Azeitão (Azeitão's cheese). There are several festivals dedicated to these products, the most famous being the Festa das Vindimas (Vines' Festival) and the Festival do Queijo, Pão e Vinho (Festival of Cheese, Bread and Wine).
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Wikipedia