Alcochete

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Alcochete
Flag of Alcochete
Municipal flag
Coat of arms of Alcochete
Municipal coat of arms
Location of Alcochete
Location  
 - Country Flag of Portugal Portugal
 - Region Lisboa
 - Subregion Península de Setúbal
 - District or A.R. Setúbal
Mayor Luís Franco
 - Party CDU
Area 129.0 km²
Population
 - Total 14,347
 - Density 111/km²
No. of parishes 3
Coordinates 38º45'N 08º58'W
Municipal holiday Saint John
June 24
Website: http://www.cm-alcochete.pt

Alcochete (pron. IPA[aɫku'ʃet(ɨ)]) is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 129.0 km² and a total population of 14,347 inhabitants. The municipality is composed of 3 parishes and is located in the district of Setúbal. Alcochete is the site of Sporting's academy.

The present mayor is Luís Franco, elected by the Unitarian Democratic Coalition.

The municipal holiday is June 24.

The largest outlet mall in the Iberian Peninsula is just outside town. Alcochete is known for its bullfighting tradition and its proximity to the longest bridge in Europe, the Vasco da Gama Bridge.

The actual site of today Alcochete was already occupied during Roman times with a clay production facility. It's name is thought to derive from the arabic word for oven for reasons not yet understood. It became a vacation site preferred by the portuguese royalty and the future king D. Manuel I was born in the village. It has experienced major development due to the construction of the Vasco da Gama bridge.

On January 10, 2008, Portuguese prime minister José Sócrates announced that Alcochete has been selected as the site of the new airport serving Lisbon, Portugal's capital.[1] The existing Portela Airport, which is located within the city of Lisbon itself, has become too small to handle demand. This preliminary decision will be finalised after public consultation.

[edit] Parishes

  • Alcochete (São João Baptista)
  • Samouco
  • São Francisco

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Portugal's new Lisbon airport to be built in Alcochete for 4.9 bln eur - PM from Forbes online, January 10, 2008