Caldas da Rainha E-mail
Caldas da Rainha is a city (Portuguese: cidade) in Portugal. The name means "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. The city itself has a population of 25,316. 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.

Caldas da Rainha is located at 39° 24' N latitude and 9° 08' W longitde. The municipality comprises an area of 255.7 km˛ (2004 statistics). 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.

The Founding

Caldas da Rainha was founded by Queen Leonor, wife of King Joăo 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 is referenced as the oldest thermal hospital in the world.

Evolution

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

The 20th century

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.

Coat of arms

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.

 























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