Zambujeira do Mar

Zambujeira do Mar
Civil parish (Freguesia)
An image of the main settlement of Zambujeira do Mar, a clifftop grouping of residences and commerce
Coat of arms
Official name: Freguesia de Zambujeira do Mar
Country	Portugal
Region	Alentejo
Subregion	Alentejo Litoral
District	Beja
Municipality	Odemira
Localities	Alpenduradas, Bencaniz, Carvalhal da Rocha, Daroeira, Entrada da Barca, Sardanito, Touril, Valas, Vale Figueira
Center	Zambujeira do Mar
- coordinates	37°31′31″N 8°47′03″W / 37.52528°N 8.78417°W / 37.52528; -8.78417Coordinates: 37°31′31″N 8°47′03″W / 37.52528°N 8.78417°W / 37.52528; -8.78417
Lowest point	Sea level
- location	Atlantic Ocean
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Area	40.975 km2 (16 sq mi)
Population	2,011 (911)
Timezone	WET (UTC0)
- summer (DST)	WEST (UTC+1)
Postal zone	7630-801
Area code & prefix	(+351) 283 XX XX XX
Demonym	Zambujeirense
Patron saint	Nossa Senhora do Mar
Statistics: Instituto Nacional de Estatística
Geographic detail from CAOP (2010) produced by Instituto Geográfico Português (IGP)

Zambujeira do Mar is a former civil parish in the municipality of Odemira, Alentejo region, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the parish São Teotónio.Odemira Municipality in the Portuguese. It has a population of 911 inhabitants, dispersed over an area of 40.975 square kilometres (15.821 sq mi).

The most recent civil parish established in Odemira, Zambujeira do Mar was deannexed from the neighbouring civil parish of São Teotónio on 30 June 1989. It merged back into São Teotónio in 2013.

As its name implies, Zambujeira do Mar is located along the western coast of the Alentejo, south of Cabo Sardão, an area cut by various valleys, cliffs and faults, interspersed by small beaches consisting of clear fine sands, such as Zambujeira, Alteirinhos, Nossa Senhora e Tonel. The coast of Zambujeira is included within the Nature Park of the Southwest Alentejo and St. Vincent Coast (Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina), covering the various folding clifftops and small beaches/coves of the coast. In addition to the central coastal beach of Zambujeira, the beaches of Alteirinhos, Nossa Senhora, Arquinha and Tonel are geologically significant, as well as attracting summer tourists and vacationers.

The principal activity in the parish is tourism, although agriculture, cattle breeding and fishing are common activities for the industrial sectors of the economy. There are four ports along the coast that shelter the fishery ships in the area called Entradas da Barca. By the last half of the 20th century, rural tourism began to punctuate some of the areas of the parish, concentrated on providing quality leisure services associated with rural/farm activities.

Visitors to the parish, apart from the beaches, can visit many of the architecturally significant buildings in the region, including the square of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Mar, and the historical fountains of Amores and Santa Catarina.

August is the primary period of cultural activities for the parish, and includes: the summer music Festival do Sudoeste starting on first Thursday of the month (situated some kilometres from the centre); on 15 August, are the religious festivals of the region, dedicated the patron saint Nossa Senhora do Mar (Our Lady of the Sea); finally, on 29 August is annual fair.