About Alcácer do Sal

Alcácer do Sal, Setúbal is a municipality in Portugal. The town of Alcácer do Sal lies on the left bank of the Sado River, about 100 kilometres south of Lisbon. It is the seat of the municipality of the same name and of the district of Setúbal. The present Mayor is Luis Menta from the Socialist Party. The municipal holiday is June 13. The territory of the municipality is crossed by the A12 motorway. Alcácer do Sal is one of the most historic towns of the Iberian Peninsula. Its origins date back to the Phoenician city of Basti, which later became a Carthaginian colony known as Salacia. The town was conquered by the Romans and renamed Salacium. An impressive Roman bridge over the Sado River, the Ponte de Trajano, still stands today. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the town was occupied successively by the Visigoths, the Byzantines, the Arabs and the Christians. In the 8th century, it was conquered by the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. The Moors retook the town in the 11th century, but it was reconquered by Afonso VI in 1093. The town was an important stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. In the 15th century, it was conquered by the Spanish but returned to Portuguese control in 1640. Alcácer do Sal has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The average annual temperature is 18 °C. The municipality contains several small villages, such as Caixeiral, Ponta do Corvo, Portinho da Costa, Carrasqueira, Azeitão and São Domingos de Rana. The economy of Alcácer do Sal is based on tourism, fishing and agriculture. The town is a popular destination for national and international tourists. Its beaches, such as Praia Verde, are well known. The municipality is also known for its production of ceramics and pottery. Alcácer do Sal is a municipality full of history and culture. Its strategic location and beautiful landscape make it a perfect destination for a relaxing holiday.