Cantanhede

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cantanhede Municipal coat of arms
Location
- Country	Portugal
- Region	Centro
- Subregion	Baixo Mondego
- District or A.R.	Coimbra
Mayor	Joao Moura
- Party	PSD
Area	397 km²
Population
- Total	12,000
- Density	/km²
No. of parishes	19
Coordinates	38º37'N 8º55'W
Municipal holiday
Website: www.cm-cantanhede.pt

Cantanhede (pron. IPA: [kɐ̃tɐ'ɲed(ɨ)]) is a municipality of Portugal, located in the district of Coimbra. The town is located halfway between the cities of Coimbra and Aveiro.

It is a well-preserved urban area elevated to city status, with an urban population of 8,000 and a population of 12,000 in the municipality. It is home to a number of large and elegant homes, dating back to the 19th Century.

[edit] Economy

Cantanhede is growing fast, and the inauguration of the C.C. Rossio (a large shopping centre) helped to boost the area's economy. Traditionally a major agriculture center, Cantanhede is at the heart of the Bairrada Wine District. The town is home to Biocant[1], a modern biotechnology park, aimed to create value in business initiatives by developing and applying advanced life sciences knowledge and technology. This park is attracting biosciences companies to Cantanhede, and has the scientific background of the University of Coimbra and Aveiro University, both associated entities of the project. The new fire brigade building has helped to put out fires more quickly and has improved the emergency services in this area.

[edit] Other

This small "town" is located just 30 kilometers (45 minutes) from the very popular beaches of Mira and Tocha.

[edit] External links

• Cantanhede Municipality
• Photos from Cantanhede