List of cities in Portugal

This is a list of cities in Portugal. In Portugal, a city (Portuguese: cidade) is an honorific term given to locations that meet several criteria, such as having a minimum number of inhabitants, good infrastructure (schools, medical care, cultural and sports facilities), or have a major historical importance. The country's demographic expansion of the 1980s prompted the elevation of several towns to city status and, as of 2006, 151 locations in Portugal are considered a city.

In Portugal, the city is not an administrative division, therefore a city generally does not necessarily correspond to a municipality, with the exception of the entirely urban municipalities, such as Lisbon, Porto, Funchal, Amadora, Entroncamento e São João da Madeira.

The municipality with the most cities is Paredes Municipality which contains four cities.

Until 1910, a location was proclaimed city by royal charter, which happened 25 times to current Portuguese cities (royal charters were also granted to cities of the Portuguese Empire; for example, São Paulo in 1711). During the Portuguese First Republic, the process was transferred to the Parliament, which elevated three towns to the category of city. The dictatorial Estado Novo regime proclaimed seven cities on the Portuguese mainland (as well as some more in the colonies), this time by government decree. After the Carnation revolution, proclamation of cities returned to Parliament and now, Portugal has 156 cities, one of the consequences being that the title no longer holds the prestige it once had.

Eight locations have been always considered cities since Portugal became an independent kingdom (de facto 1128): Braga, Coimbra, Lamego, Porto and Viseu, as well as Évora, Lisbon and Silves, which were annexed at a later date. Guarda was the first city proclaimed as part of the independent kingdom, in 1199.

The most recent cities were proclaimed on 12 June 2009: Valença, Senhora da Hora, São Pedro do Sul, Samora Correia, and Borba

The most populous cities are: Lisbon (Lisboa), Oporto (Porto), Braga, Amadora, Gaia, Queluz, Funchal, Coimbra, Setubal, Agualva-Cacem and Almada.

Crest City Municipality Population[1] A city since
Abrantes
Abrantes
18,600
1916-06-14
Agualva-Cacém
Sintra
121,000
2001-07-12
Águeda
Águeda
11,357
1985-08-14
Albufeira
Albufeira
16,237
1986-08-20
Alcácer do Sal
Alcácer do Sal
9,118
1997-07-12
Alcobaça
Alcobaça
15,800
1995-08-30
Almada
Almada
101,500
1973-06-16
Almeirim
Almeirim
11,607
1991-08-16
Alverca do Ribatejo
Vila Franca de Xira
29,086
1990-08-09
Amadora
Amadora
151,500
1979-09-17
Amarante
Amarante
11,000
1985-08-14
Amora
Seixal
53,638
1993-07-02
Anadia
Anadia
3,533
2004-12-09
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo
21,200
1534-08-21
Aveiro
Aveiro
67,003
1759-04-11
Barcelos
Barcelos
20,000
1928-09-06
Barreiro
Barreiro
50,232
1984-06-28
Beja
Beja
23,475
1521-04-10
Braga
Braga
181,819
From time immemorial
Bragança
Bragança
19,998
1464-02-23
Caldas da Rainha
Caldas da Rainha
30,006
1927-08-26
Câmara de Lobos
Câmara de Lobos
16,842
1996-08-02
Caniço
Santa Cruz
11,586
2005-06-09
Cantanhede
Cantanhede
7,066
1991-08-16
Cartaxo
Cartaxo
10,115
1995-08-30
Castelo Branco
Castelo Branco
34,525
1771-03-20
Chaves
Chaves
19,307
1929-03-18
Coimbra
Coimbra
138,540
From time immemorial
Costa da Caparica
Almada
14,100
2004-12-09
Covilhã
Covilhã
36,147
1870-10-20
Elvas
Elvas
28,106
1513-04-03
Entroncamento
Entroncamento
20,065
1991-08-16
Ermesinde
Valongo
40,139
1990-08-10
Esmoriz
Ovar
11,200
1993-07-02
Espinho
Espinho
10,500
1973-06-16
Esposende
Esposende
9,148
1993-07-02
Estarreja
Estarreja
7,000
2004-12-09
Estremoz
Estremoz
9,011
1926-08-31
Évora
Évora
46,417
From time immemorial
Fafe
Fafe
15,323
1986-08-23
Faro
Faro
43,757
1540-09-07
Fátima
Ourém
10,302
1997-07-12
Felgueiras
Felgueiras
15,100
1990-08-10
Figueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz
36,500
1882-09-20
Fiães
Santa Maria da Feira
13,100
2001-07-12
Freamunde
Paços de Ferreira
7,452
2001-07-12
Funchal
Funchal
100,526
1508-08-21
Fundão
Fundão
8,957
1988-04-19
Gafanha da Nazaré
Ílhavo
14,021
2001-07-21
Gandra
Paredes
5,200
2003-08-26
Gondomar
Gondomar
25,000
1991-08-16
Gouveia
Gouveia
3,500
1988-02-01
Guarda
Guarda
32,274
1199-11-27
Guimarães
Guimarães
52,181
1853-06-23
Horta
Horta
9,000
1833-07-04
Lagoa
Lagoa
5,000
2001-07-12
Lagos
Lagos
20,000
1573-01-27
Lamego
Lamego
12,000
From time immemorial
Leiria
Leiria
50,264
1545-06-13
Lisbon
Lisbon
545,245
From time immemorial
Lixa
Felgueiras
5,500
1995-08-30
Loulé
Loulé
24,000
1988-02-01
Loures
Loures
26,000
1990-08-09
Lourosa
Santa Maria da Feira
11,300
2001-07-12
Macedo de Cavaleiros
Macedo de Cavaleiros
7,800
1999-06-24
Maia
Maia
40,000
1986-08-23
Mangualde
Mangualde
8,107
2001-07-12
Marco de Canaveses
Marco de Canaveses
9,000
1993-07-02
Marinha Grande
Marinha Grande
29,100
1988-04-19
Matosinhos
Matosinhos
47,703
1984-06-28
Mealhada
Mealhada
5,500
2003-08-26
Mêda
Mêda
2,004
2004-12-09
Miranda do Douro
Miranda do Douro
2,000
1545-07-10
Mirandela
Mirandela
11,000
1984-06-28
Montemor-o-Novo
Montemor-o-Novo
14,000
1988-04-18
Montijo
Montijo
30,486
1985-08-14
Moura
Moura
10,000
1988-02-01
Odivelas
Odivelas
54,500
1990-08-10
Olhão da Restauração
Olhão
31,100
1985-08-14
Oliveira de Azeméis
Oliveira de Azeméis
15,000
1984-05-16
Oliveira do Bairro
Oliveira do Bairro
5,005
2003-08-26
Oliveira do Hospital
Oliveira do Hospital
4,400
1993-07-02
Ourém
Ourém
11,100
1991-08-16
Ovar
Ovar
18,900
1984-06-28
Paços de Ferreira
Paços de Ferreira
9,000
1993-07-02
Paredes
Paredes
12,500
1991-08-16
Penafiel
Penafiel
10,000
1770-03-03
Peniche
Peniche
17,500
1988-02-01
Peso da Régua
Peso da Régua
10,000
1985-08-14
Pinhel
Pinhel
3,500
1770-08-25
Pombal
Pombal
18,500
1991-08-16
Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada
46,102
1546-04-02
Ponte de Sor
Ponte de Sor
11,000
1985-08-14
Portalegre
Portalegre
15,700
1550-05-23
Portimão
Portimão
40,700
1924-12-11
Porto
Porto
237,559
From time immemorial
Vila Baleira (a.k.a. Porto Santo)
Porto Santo
4,475
1996-08-02
Póvoa de Santa Iria
Vila Franca de Xira
28,000
1999-06-24
Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim
38,257
1973-06-16
Praia da Vitória
Praia da Vitória
6,500
1981-06-20
Quarteira
Loulé
21,000
1999-06-24
Queluz
Sintra
116,124
1997-07-24
Rebordosa
Paredes
12,100
2003-08-26
Reguengos de Monsaraz
Reguengos de Monsaraz
7,900
2004-12-09
Ribeira Grande
Ribeira Grande
6,350
1981-06-29
Rio Maior
Rio Maior
11,102
1985-08-14
Rio Tinto
Gondomar
61,227
1995-08-30
Sabugal
Sabugal
2,300
2004-12-09
Sacavém
Loures
17,000
1997-06-04
Santa Comba Dão
Santa Comba Dão
3,200
1999-06-24
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz
6,500
1996-08-02
Santa Maria da Feira
Santa Maria da Feira
16,900
1985-08-14
Santana
Santana
3,300
2001-01-01
Santarém
Santarém
30,100
1868-12-24
Santiago do Cacém
Santiago do Cacém
7,753
1991-08-16
Santo Tirso
Santo Tirso
14,100
1985-08-14
São João da Madeira
São João da Madeira
21,102
1984-06-28
São Mamede de Infesta
Matosinhos
27,000
2001-07-12
São Salvador de Lordelo
Paredes
11,000
2003-08-26
Seia
Seia
7,000
1986-08-23
Seixal
Seixal
31,101
1993-07-02
Serpa
Serpa
9,990
2003-08-26
Setúbal
Setúbal
120,636
1860-04-19
Silves
Silves
11,000
From time immemorial
Sines
Sines
15,555
1997-07-12
Tarouca
Tarouca
3,200
2004-12-09
Tavira
Tavira
13,300
1520-03-16
Tomar
Tomar
20,000
1844-02-12
Tondela
Tondela
10,120
1988-02-01
Torres Novas
Torres Novas
14,900
1985-08-14
Torres Vedras
Torres Vedras
27,200
1979-02-03
Trancoso
Trancoso
3,350
2004-12-09
Trofa
Trofa
22,000
1993-07-02
Valbom
Gondomar
14,100
2004-12-09
Vale de Cambra
Vale de Cambra
4,200
1993-07-02
Valongo
Valongo
27,900
1990-08-10
Valpaços
Valpaços
4,102
1999-06-24
Vendas Novas
Vendas Novas
10,103
1993-07-02
Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo
36,750
1848-01-20
Vila do Conde
Vila do Conde
32,257
1988-02-01
Vila Franca de Xira
Vila Franca de Xira
19,000
1984-06-28
Vila Nova de Famalicão
Vila Nova de Famalicão
30,100
1985-08-14
Vila Nova de Foz Côa
Vila Nova de Foz Côa
3,303
1997-07-12
Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia
178,526
1984-06-28
Vila Nova de Santo André
Santiago do Cacém
12,123
2003-08-26
Vila Real
Vila Real
27,250
1925-07-20
Vila Real de Santo António
Vila Real de Santo António
11,000
1988-04-19
Viseu
Viseu
50,583
From time immemorial
Vizela
Vizela
10,100
1998-09-01

Contents

Notes

  1. ^ Although the cities list doesn't indicate the cities' population, it indicates the parishes that compose them, therefore, this number is the sum of the population of the parishes. The population data was taken from the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities and is from 2004.

See also

References

  1. "Cidades Portuguesas". Instituto Nacional de Estatística. http://www.ine.pt/prodserv/nomenclaturas/refter/cid-vil/cidades_ano.asp?ano=200212&anoD=2002. Retrieved 2006-07-08. 
  2. "Municípios Portugueses". Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses. http://www.anmp.pt/. Retrieved 2006-03-27. 

External links