Caparica (Almada)

Infobox_Parish_pt
official_name = Caparica
image_coat_of_arms = ALM-caparica.pngMunicipality = Almada
area_total = 10.71
population_total = 19,327 (2001)
population_density = 1,805
postcode=P-2825
website = [http://www.jf-caparica.pt www.jf-caparica.pt]
footnotes =

Caparica is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Almada. It has a population of 19,327 inhabitants and a total area of 10.71 km². Its name of inhabitants are known as Caparicanos.

Name

The word "Caparica" seems to derive from the Latin "cappar", "cappari" or "capparis", which means caper. Therefore, "caparica" is a place where capers exist. It exists in the city of Almada a big incidence on the Latin originated terms. It excludes the Arabic originated word, partly the "al-kabbara" which derives from the Latin.

Location

The parish is confined to the north by the Tejo River, the parishes of Trafaria and Costa de Caparica to the west, Pragal to the south and the parishes of Sobreda and Charneca da Caparica to the south.

It became a town on September 27, 1985 and the city marked officially as Monte de Caparica (the name of the settlement of the parishe for the opposition of Costa da Caparica.

History

The parish history of Caparica was founded during the Roman conquest of the entire Iberian Peninsula. It was founded by the Romans, along with Alcochete, Montijo or Sesimbra.

Localities

The parish of Caparica has 18 localities:

*Vila Nova de Caparica
*Capuchos
*Funchalinho
*Areeiro
*Granja
*Fómega
*Alcaniça
*Raposo
*Pêra
*Monte da Caparica
*Torre
*Fonte Santa
*Serrado
*Pilotos
*Costas de Cão
*Banática
*Porto Brandão
*Lazarim

Economy

Its main ecomony are services, construction and petroleum industry. Agriculture has been declining by housing developments in the mid to late 20th century.

Points of interests

*Churches
*3 chapels
*Fortaleza do Porto Brandão
*Casa de Bulhão Pato
*Forte de São Sebastião da Caparica
*Fortaleza da Torre Velha ou Torre Velha
*Solar da Quinta de Nossa Senhora da Conceição (features a garden)

Festivities

*Festas das Colectividades (Hune)
*Festas Populares do Monte de Caparica (Popular Festival) (July and August)

Other

*Clube Desportivo e Recreativo da Manobra
*Clube Recreativo da Caparica
*Clube Recreativo e Desportivo da Banática
*Clube Recreativo "Os Estrelas" (Fonte Santa)
*Clube Recreativo "União e Capricho"
*Clube Recreativo União Raposense
*Clube Desportivo e Recreativo Manobrense
*Grupo Desportivo e Recreativo Zip-Zip da Fomega
*Monte de Caparica Atlético Clube (disputa na época de 2004–2005 2º divisão distrital da Associação de Futebol de Setúbal)
*Serrado Futebol Clube
*Sociedade Columbófila do Porto Brandão
*Sociedade de Educação e Recreio Vila Nova de Caparica
*Sociedade de Recreio e Beneficência do Porto Brandão