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Caldas da Rainha Municipal flag Municipal coat of arms
Location
- Country	Portugal
- Region	Centro
- Subregion	Oeste
- District or A.R.	Leiria
Mayor	Fernando José da Costa
- Party	PSD
Area	255.7 km²
Population
- Total	48,846
- Density	201.0/km²
No. of parishes	16
Coordinates	39º40' N 9º13'W
Municipal holiday	May 15
Website: www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt

Caldas da Rainha (pron. IPA: ['kaɫdɐʃ dɐ ʁɐ'iɲɐ]) is a city (Portuguese: cidade) in Portugal. The name mean "Queen's Hot Springs" or "Queen's Spa". The city of Caldas da Rainha is the seat of the larger municipality (Portuguese: município or concelho) of the same name. Caldas da Rainha is the capital of the Comunidade Urbana do Oeste (West Urban Community; part of the nation's latest local government plan). The city is best known for its hot springs and pottery.

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Civil Parishes (Freguesias) 2 History 2.1 The Founding 2.2 Evolution 2.3 The 20th century 2.4 Coat of arms 3 Government 3.1 Câmara Municipal 3.2 Assembleia Municipal 4 Demographics 5 Economy 6 Culture 6.1 Ceramics 6.1.1 Main pottery genres 6.2 Gastronomy 7 Tourism / sites of interest 7.1 Beaches and water 7.2 Churches 7.3 Museums 7.4 Parks and plazas 8 Transportation 8.1 Bus 8.2 Rail 8.3 Roads 9 Education 9.1 Elementary schools 9.2 Secondary schools 9.3 Professional Education 9.4 Higher Education 9.5 Sister cities 10 Sports 11 Notable Natives 12 Miscellaneous Information 13 External links 13.1 Official Web Site 13.2 Maps 13.3 Newspapers 13.4 Other links 14 References and notes

Caldas da Rainha is located at 39.40°N latitude 9.13°W longitde. The municipality comprises an area of 255.7 km² (2004 statistics).^[1] The city is located approximately 82 km north of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Although the municipality borders the Atlantic Ocean, the city proper is about 10 km from the ocean.

Administratively, Caldas da Rainha is in the district of Leiria. Statistically, it is in the sub-region of Oeste within the region of Centro. Historically, it is located in the province of Estremadura.

The municipality is bordered to the north by Alcobaça, to the east by Rio Maior and to the south by Bombarral, Cadaval and Óbidos.

The municipality of Caldas da Rainha comprises sixteen civil parishes (Portuguese: freguesias). They are ^{[2] [3]} :

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)

Freguesia	Population (Resident) (2001 census)	Area (Total) (km²)
A-dos-Francos	1,797	19.78
Alvorninha	3,123	37.62
Carvalhal Benfeito	1,339	14.08
Coto	1,135	5.50
Foz do Arelho	1,223	9.95
Landal	1,144	9.94
Nadadouro	1,422	9.22
Nossa Senhora do Pópulo (part of the city of Caldas da Rainha)	14,453	12.30
Salir de Matos	2,428	24.29
Salir do Porto	770	9.91
Santa Catarina	3,282	19.94
Santo Onofre (part of the city of Caldas da Rainha)	10,775	9.11
São Gregório	907	14.42
Serra do Bouro	720	17.98
Tornada	3,150	19.82
Vidais	1,178	22.21

Caldas da Rainha was founded by Queen Leonor, wife of King João II. One day in 1484, while traveling from Óbidos to Batalha, she found a group of peasants bathing in foul-smelling waters by the roadside. She stopped to inquire about this oddity and was told that the waters possessed curative powers. She decided to try it for herself. She was pleased to find that she was quickly relieved of some affliction she had been suffering (exactly what is not known). On that site, the queen ordered a thermal hospital built so that others may enjoy the relief that she felt. Construction began the following year, 1485. Although the first patients were admitted in 1488, construction was not completed until about 1496 or 1497. The name of the settlement that grew up around the site (Caldas da Rainha), reminds us of both its founder and the reason for its existence.

Caldas da Rainha was officially elevated to the status of town (Portuguese: vila) in 1511. It became a city in 1927.

In the early 20th century, it had a significant artistic and intellectual life. During World War II hundreds of Jewish refugees came to Caldas da Rainha to escape Nazism.^[4]

Caldas da Rainha's coat of arms was granted by Queen Leonor, before municipal coats of arms were typically used in Portugal. Because of its early introduction, several elements of the arms violate Portuguese heraldic standards. For example, Portuguese coat of arms typically feature a mural crown, made up of brick towers. Caldas da Rainha's arms feature a gold crown. The arms lack the typical banner bearing the municipality's name. The shield is much longer than the normal 8:7 ratio.

The members of the Câmara Municipal (municipal chamber) are as follows:^[5]

• President: Fernando José da Costa
• Vice-President: Fernando Manuel Tinta Ferreira
• Members (Party):
  • Fernando Manuel Tinta Ferreira (PSD)
  • Maria da Coneição Feliciano Antunes Bretts Jardim Pereira (PSD)
  • João Manuel Rato Faria Aboim (PSD)
  • Hugo Patrício Martinho de Oliveira (PSD)
  • António Bento da Silva Galamba (PS)
  • Nicolau João Gonçalves Borges (PS)

The members of the Assembleia Municipal (municipal assembly) are as follows:^[6]

• President: Luis Manuel Monteiro Ribeiro
• Members (Party):
  • José Luís de Carvalho Lalanda Ribeiro (PSD)
  • José Eduardo Vera Cruz Jardim (PS)
  • Luís Manuel Pereira Monteiro Ribeiro (PSD)
  • Rui Alves Gomes (PSD)
  • Manuel Mendes Nunes (PS)
  • José Fernando d'Almeida Silva Pereira (PSD)
  • Luís Miguel da Rosa Goulão Freire (PSD)
  • Arnaldo Lino Monteiro da Rocha (PS)
  • Faustino Filipe Cunha (PSD, Independent)
  • Mário de Sousa Tavares (PS)
  • Daniel Miguel Rebelo (PSD)
  • Duarte Nuno Batista Ferreira (CDS/PP)
  • Maria Da Conceição da Costa Martins (PSD)
  • Maria Margarida Nave Nunes Maldonado Freitas (PS)
  • Pedro Miguel de Oliveira Marques (PSD)
  • Nuno Filipe Vieira Lino Fausto de Sousa (PSD)
  • Mário António Duarte Pacheco (PS)
  • José Pedro Fernandes Viegas (PSD, Independent)
  • Ana Margarida Lopes Botelho (CDU)
  • Sara Maria Belo Velez (PS)
  • Vitor Manuel Antunes Gancho (PSD)

As of the 2001 census, there are 48,846 residents in the municipality.^[1] This represents a 13.1% increase over the 1991 population of 43,205. As of the 2001 census, 23,483 (48.1%) residents are male and 25,363 (51.9%) are female.^[1] Residents aged 14 and under number 7,666 (15.7%), those aged 15 to 24 number 6,509 (13.3%), those aged 25 to 64 number 25,867 (53.0%) and those aged 65 and over number 8,804 (18.0%). Estimates as of 2006, place the population at 51,403.^[7] The population density is 201.0 inhabitants/km² (2004).^[1]

See the "Parishes" section for a breakdown of population by civil parish (freguesia).

As of December 31, 2004, there are 2,075 business firms in the municipality. 3.9% are in the primary sector (agriculture), 20.9% are in the secondary sector (manufacturing) and 75.3% are in the tertiary sector (services).^[1]

There are 31 banking institutions, with deposits totaling €518,021,400.^[1]

As of 2001, 49% of the population is employed, while 6.5% are unemployed.^[1] (The remainder are too young, are retired or do not otherwise participate in the workforce.)

Caldas da Rainha is well known for its glazed ceramic pottery (louça das Caldas). At the end of the 19th century, the ceramic industry set up place here, making the city Portugal's ceramic and pottery capital. Ancient references to pottery manufacturing can be found in the area, with soils rich in clay. A nearby village's name, Bombarral, can be translated as "good-clay pit", revealing that the pottery tradition has been settled here since ancient times. The typical Caldas pottery has evolved since its great boom in early 20th century, but the main types are still the same.

• Utilitarian
  • Dishware
  • Kitchenware
• Humoristic/peculiar
  • Decorative
  • Phallic
  • Caricatural
  • Naturalist

The Utilitarian dishware has two main forms: the contemporary wares, with simple lines and design, for daily use, easily available in many glazes and colors, and naturalist themed wares, featuring cabbage leafs, fish shaped plates or bowls. One popular model, created by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, is a cabbage-shaped soup tureen.

The Humoristic pottery is mainly decorative, although some may not seem proper for display: the Phallic pottery includes breast-shaped mugs, phalluses, nude figurines and Toilet humour pieces.

The Caricatural pottery originally depicted social stereotypes or occupations (farmer, priest, fisherman) in a depreciative, sarcastic way. Today, public figures like polititians or celebrities are the most sought after, but the most popular is Zé Povinho. This bearded peasant, a character created by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, used as a symbol of Portugal and the Portuguese people, appears in many jocular, defying poses.

The Naturalist pieces are usually plates or bowls with fruits, vegetables and seafood - in sometimes complex arrangements - are used as symbols of abundance (see Horn of Plenty), usually hung on the kitchen walls. The ceramics are available for purchase at stands in the daily market at Praça da República (Praça da fruta) and shops in the vicinity. They are also available in stores outside Portugal, including a number of upmarket housewares stores.

Cavacas das Caldas are a small-bowl-sized, shell-shaped confection of flour and eggs, with a crunchy sugar covering. In June 2005, a 26 meter pyramid of cavacas was erected on Praça 25 de Abril in front of the city hall.^[8] Beijinhos das Caldas (English: "kisses") are similar, but are smaller and round.

• Foz do Arelho has a beach on Atlantic Ocean, 10 kilometers from center of town.
• Lagoa de Óbidos is a lagoon located on the border with Óbidos which empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
• Salir do Porto has a beach on the Atlantic Ocean.

• Ermida da São Sebastião is a 16th-century chapel, adjacent to Praça da República.
• Igreja Nossa Senhora do Pópulo is a gothic church near the thermal hospital. It was built ca. 1500 by order of Queen Leonor.
• Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is a 20th-century church located on Praça 25 de Abril.

• Casa Museu de S. Rafael — ceramics
• Museu Atelier António Duarte — sculpture
• Museu Atelier João Fragoso — sculpture
• Museu da Cerâmica — ceramics museum
• Museu do Hospital e das Caldas — art museum asscociated with the thermal hospital
• Museu José Malhoa — art museum located in Parque D. Carlos I

• Parque D. Carlos I is a large park in center of town. The José Malhoa Museum sits in the middle of the park. The park contains a doughnut-shaped pond with a small island in the center. Visitors can rent rowboats on the pond.
• Praça da República (Republic Plaza) is a square in center of town. The plaza hosts daily farmers' market, and is also known as Praça da Fruta (Fruit Plaza). Various shops surround the plaza.

Caldas da Rainha has a bus station located in the city center. The city is served by express, rapid, and interurban buses of Rede Nacional de Expressos and Rodoviária do Tejo. The city has no current local bus service, but the city council is accepting bids for a planned system.

Caldas da Rainha has a train station served by the Linha do Oeste (western line) of Comboios de Portugal. Trains run south to Lisbon and north to Figueira da Foz.

Caldas da Rainha is served by an extensive network of roads.

• A8 Auto-estrada do Oeste — connecting to Leiria and Lisbon.
• A15 — connecting to Santarém.
• IP 6 — connecting to Peniche, Santarém, Castelo Branco, and Spain.
• EN 8 — crosses the municipality from north to south, connecting to Alcobaça and Leiria to the north and Óbidos, Bombarral and Torres Vedras to the south. EN 8 was the municipality's major roadway before the "A" roadways were built.
• EN 360 — crosses the municipality southwest to northeast, connecting to Alcobaça.
• EN 361 — in the southwest of the municipality, connecting to Cadaval and Rio Maior.
• EN 114 — in the center and southeast of the municipality, connecting to Rio Maior.
• EN 114-1 — in the center and east of the municipality, a connecting road to EN-114.
• EN 115 — along the south and southwest border of the municiplity, connecting to Cadaval.

Caldas da Rainha is home to many educational institutions.

There are 58 elementary schools in Caldas da Rainha, located throughout the municipality. They are:^[9]

EB 1 de A-dos-Francos EB 1 de Alvorninha EB 1 de Antas EB 1 de Bairradas EB 1 de Barrantes EB 1 de C. Rainha nº 2 EB 1 de C. Rainha nº 3 EB 1 de C. Rainha nº 4 EB 1 de C. Rainha nº 5 EB 1 de C. Rainha nº 6 EB 1 de Cabreiros EB 1 de Campo EB 1 de Carrasqueira EB 1 de Carreiros EB 1 de Carvalhal Benfeito EB 1 de Casais da Serra EB 1 de Casal da Areia EB 1 de Casal da Coita EB 1 de Casal da Marinha EB 1 de Casal das Freiras EB 1 de Chão da Parada nº 1 EB 1 de Chão da Parada nº 2 EB 1 de Coto EB 1 de Cruzes EB 1 de Cumeira EB 1 de Cumeira da Cruz EB 1 de Espinheira EB 1 de Fanadia EB 1 de Foz do Arelho

EB 1 de Guisado EB 1 de Lagoa Parceira EB 1 de Laranjeira EB 1 de Lobeiros EB 1 de Mata EB 1 de Mestras EB 1 de Moita EB 1 de Mosteiros EB 1 de Nadadouro EB 1 de Peso EB 1 de Rabaceira EB 1 de Ramalhosa EB 1 de Relvas EB 1 de Ribeira dos Amiais EB 1 de Rostos EB 1 de S. Clemente EB 1 de S. Gregório EB 1 de Salir de Matos EB 1 de Salir do Porto EB 1 de Sta. Susana EB 1 de Tornada EB 1 de Trabalhia EB 1 de Trabalhias EB 1 de Vidais EB 1 de Vila Nova EB 1 de Vila Verde EB 1 de Zambujal EBI 1,2,3 Sto. Onofre EBI de Sta. Catarina

There are five secondary schools in Caldas da Rainha, four of which are located within the city proper and one in Santa Catarina. They are:^[10]

• E.B. 2,3 D.João II
• Sec. Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
• Sec. Raúl Proença
• EBI 1,2,3 Sto. Onofre
• EBI de Sta. Catarina

Caldas da Rainha has four institutions offering professional education. They are:^[11]

• Escola Técnica Empresarial do Oeste
• CENCAL -Centro de Formação Profissional Para a Indústria Cerâmica
• CENFIM - Centro Formação Profissional Indústria Metalúrgica e Metalomecânica
• CENFORCAL - Centro de Formação Profissional

There are two institutions of higher education in Caldas da Rainha. They are:^[12]

• Escola Superior de Artes e Design das Caldas da Rainha|ESAD - Escola Superior de Artes e Design [1]
• EESBCR- Extensão da Escola Superior de Biotecnologia de Caldas da Rainha (Universidade Católica Portuguesa) [2]

• Badajoz, Spain
• Cambo-les-Bains, France
• Dinant, Belgium
• Le Raincy, France
• Perth Amboy, New Jersey, United States
• Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
• Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde

Caldas Sport Clube (CSC) was founded May 15, 1916. The club sponsors a football (soccer) team which competes in the Portuguese Football Federation's 3rd Division - Series D. The team plays at Campo da Mata, a 13,000-seat field located in a forest adjacent to Parque D. Carlos I. CSC also sponsors several youth (junior) football teams for various age groups.

• Mestre António Duarte
• José Malhoa
• Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
• José da Cruz Cardinal Policarpo
• Raul Proença

• Municipal Holiday: May 15
• Postal Code: 2500
• Telephone Dialing Code: 262

• Câmara Municipal de Caldas da Rainha — The municipal government's Web site (in Portuguese; English in development)

• The city (Câmara Municipal)
• The city (viajar.clix.pt)
• The city center (viajar.clix.pt)
• Borders of the freguesias (Câmara Municipal)
• Caldas da Rainha in context of District of Leiria (supertravelnet.com)

• Gazeta da Caldas
• Jornal das Caldas

• Associação Regional Caldense — Portuguese / American Social Organization
• Caldas da Rainha photo gallery by Dias dos Reis
• Caldas da Rainha - a photoset on flickr
• Caldas Sport Clube