About Palmela

Palmela is a municipality and a hilltop town in Portugal's Setúbal District, south of Lisbon. It is located on a rocky hilltop near the parish church of Palmela. The name "Palmela" is derived from its Latin pallets, referring to the palisades or palm tree trunks that originally surrounded the settlement. The municipality of Palmela includes a large area to the east of the town, including most of the Palmela Castle and its extensive grounds. The municipality has an area of 128.3 km². The population in 2011 was 36,167, in an area of 128.3 km². The urbanized area extends beyond the limits of the municipality, with a population of over 40,000 (2006) in an area of approximately 30 km². The town is the seat of the subprefecture of Palmela and has 11,433 inhabitants (2001), making it the largest town in the district. The economic activity is based on tourism, wine production and industries. It is the birthplace of the explorer Hermenegildo Capelo. The town of Palmela is situated on a hilltop overlooking the Arrábida mountain range and the sorenity of the Sado estuary. It is 28 kilometres (17 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean. Across the river from Palmela and visible from the town is the Arrábida Convent, which is perched atop a hill. Palmela has a typical Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The average maximum temperature in January is 17.6 °C (63.7 °F) and the average minimum is 9.2 °C (48.6 °F). In July, the average maximum temperature is 31 °C (87.8 °F) and minimum is 20.4 °C (68.7 °F). The municipality contains two cities: Palmela and Pinhel. The population in 2006 was 41,479, of which 11,433 lived in the city of Palmela. Palmela (town), the seat of the municipality, has a medieval castle on a hilltop which was a Moorish stronghold until the 12th century Reconquista. The town's name derives from its Latin pallets, referring to the palisades or palm tree trunks that originally surrounded the settlement. The town's symbol is the cross of the Order of Christ, which was awarded to the town by king Dinis I. The municipal holiday is 1 June, the day of Saint Hermengild, a Visigothic princess who secretly converted to Christianity and was put to death by her father for her beliefs. Palmela is home to many vineyards and is considered the best place in Portugal to produce Moscatel de Setúbal, a sweet wine made from Muscat grapes. The town is also home to the Jose Maria da Fonseca wine company, which produces many of the country's finest wines. The town has a museum with exhibits on the history of the town and the nearby castle. The castle itself is open to the public and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Palmela is served by a railway station on the Lisboa-Setúbal line. The town is also a stop on the Portela de Sacavém-Vila Franca de Xira bus route. The nearest airport is Lisbon International Airport, located approximately 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the town.