Almeida, Portugal

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Almeida
—  Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Portugal
Coordinates: 40°44′N 6°54′W / 40.733°N 6.9°W / 40.733; -6.9Coordinates: 40°44′N 6°54′W / 40.733°N 6.9°W / 40.733; -6.9
Country	Portugal
Region	Centro
Subregion	Beira Interior Norte
District/A.R.	Guarda
Government
• Mayor	António Ribeiro (PSD)
Area
• Total	518.0 km2 (200.0 sq mi)
Population
• Total	7,784
• Density	15/km2 (40/sq mi)
Parishes (no.)	29
Municipal holiday	July 2
Website	http://www.cm-almeida.pt

Almeida (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐɫˈmejdɐ]) is a town and municipality in Portugal with a total area of 518 km² and a total population of 7,784 inhabitants. Located in Riba-Côa river valley, Almeida is an historic town in Beira Interior.

there are several castles in the municipality: Castelo Bom, Almeida and Castelo Melhor.

The municipality has 29 parishes, including the town of Vilar Formoso, and is located in the District of Guarda and part of Beiras comurb.

Cities nearby: Pinhel, Guarda and Sabugal.

The present Mayor is António Baptista Ribeiro, elected by the Social Democratic Party. The municipal holiday is July 2.

The fortress around the town guards an important cross-border road from Spain, and underwent several sieges. The town was captured by Spain in 1762 during the Seven Years' War. In 1810 and 1811, Almeida was the site of two important sieges during the Peninsular War. The siege of 1810 ended spectacularly when a chance shell ignited the main gunpowder magazine, which exploded, killing 500 defenders and destroying most of the town [1].

Parishes

• Ade
• Aldeia Nova
• Almeida [vila](town seat)
• Amoreira
• Azinhal
• Cabreira
• Castelo Bom
• Castelo Mendo
• Freineda
• Freixo
• Junça
• Leomil
• Malhada Sorda
• Malpartida
• Mesquitela
• Mido
• Miuzela
• Monte Perobolço
• Nave de Haver
• Naves
• Parada
• Peva
• Porto de Ovelha
• São Pedro de Rio Seco
• Senouras
• Vale da Mula
• Vale de Coelha
• Vale Verde
• Vilar Formoso [vila] (border town; borders Fuentes de Onoro, Salamanca {Castilla y Leon})

External links

• Municipality official website
• Photos from Almeida