View source for Torres Vedras

{{for|the wine|Torres Vedras DOC}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox Portuguese subdivision
| type            = municipality
|official_name      = Torres Vedras
|image_flag         = Pt-tvd3.png
|flag_border        = no
|image_shield       = COA Torres Vedras municipality (Portugal).png
| image_skyline           = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = Casa da Quinta das Lapas - Lapas Grandes - Portugal (42746371922).jpg
| photo1b                 = Torres Vedras, Castelo.jpg
| photo2a                 = Castelo de Torres Vedras - Portugal (5191199675) (cropped).jpg
| photo2b                 = Obelisco ao Exército Luso-Britânico na Guerra Peninsular no Jardim da Graça 04.jpg
| photo2c                 = Chafariz dos Canos - Torres Vedras - Portugal (16858841935).jpg
| photo3a                 = Câmara Municipal de Torres Vedras 05.jpg
| photo3b                 = Aqueduto de Torres Vedras - Portugal (109230268) (cropped).jpg
| spacing                 = 2
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size                    = 280
| foot_montage            =
}}
|region             = Oeste e Vale do Tejo
|CIM                = [[Oeste (intermunicipal community)|Oeste]]
|district           = [[Lisbon District|Lisbon]]
|parishes           = [[#Geography|13]]
|leader_name        = Laura Rodrigues
|leader_party       = [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|PS]]
|coordinates        = {{coord|39|5|N|9|16|W|type:adm1st_region:PT_dim:100000|display=inline,title}}
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=280|frame-align=center|zoom=9|type=shape-inverse|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#5f5f5f}}
| map_caption        = Interactive map of Torres Vedras
|elevation          = 
|elevation_min      = 
|elevation_max      = 
|area_total         = 407.15
|population_as_of   = 2021
|population_total   = 83,075
|patron             = [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Santa Maria do Castelo]] and [[São Gonçalo de Lagos]]
|postal_code        = 2560
|area_code          = 261 
|website            = {{website|http://www.cm-tvedras.pt}}
}}
'''Torres Vedras''' ({{IPA|pt-PT|ˈtoʁɨʒ ˈvɛðɾɐʃ|lang|Pt-pt Torres Vedras FF.ogg}}) is a [[concelho|municipality]] in the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] district of [[Lisbon (district)|Lisbon]], approximately {{convert|40|km|mi}} north of the capital [[Lisbon]]. It is a strong agricultural region linked to its vineyards, and has an intense commercial and industrial life. It is part of the [[Intermunicipal communities of Portugal|intermunicipal community]] [[Oeste (intermunicipal community)|Oeste]] and the region [[Oeste e Vale do Tejo]].<ref>[https://omirante.pt/sociedade/2023-02-06-Uniao-Europeia-aprova-nova-regiao-do-Oeste-e-Vale-do-Tejo-1922470e União Europeia aprova nova região do Oeste e Vale do Tejo], ''O Mirante'', 6 February 2023.</ref> The population {{asof|2011|lc=on}} was 83,075,<ref name=ine>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&contecto=pi&indOcorrCod=0011166&selTab=tab0|title = Statistics Portugal - Web Portal}}</ref> in an area of {{convert|407.15|km2}}.<ref name=dgt>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal_caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2017__em_vigor_/ |title=Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país |access-date=2018-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105172426/http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal_caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2017__em_vigor_/ |archive-date=2018-11-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Castelo de Torres Vedras - torre de menagem.jpg|thumb|275px|The keep tower of the [[Moors|Moorish]] Castle of Torres Vedras, used in battle in the nation's infancy]]
[[File:Linhas de Torres II.jpg|thumb|275px|Part of the defensive [[Lines of Torres Vedras]] initiated by Lt. Gen. Arthur Wellesley in the [[Peninsular Wars]]]]
In 1148, [[Afonso I of Portugal|Afonso I]]  took the town of Torres Vedras from the Moors, in the then region of [[Estremadura Province (1936-1976)|Estremadura]], an area encircled by gentle hills and valleys. King [[Afonso III of Portugal|Afonso III]] conceded a [[foral]] (''charter'') in 1250, which was later confirmed by King [[Manuel I of Portugal|Manuel I]] in 1510. This latter decree conferred on the town many of the municipal privileges that it held for 729 years.

While travelling through this district, King [[Afonso III of Portugal|Afonso III]] and Queen [[Beatrice of Portugal|Beatrice]], ordered the construction of a municipal hall, alongside the ancient castle (which today no longer exists). For his part, King [[Denis of Portugal|Denis]], his successor, was captivated by local Gracia Frois, fathering an illegitimate son, who would go on to be [[Count of Barcelos]].

Later, the municipality was donated to the Queens of the realm, and in particular, under the Aviz dynasty, the Infanta [[Eleanor of Portugal, Holy Roman Empress|Eleonor]] (daughter of King [[Edward I of Portugal|Edward]] and Queen [[Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Portugal|Eleanor]]), who would later marry [[Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick III of Germany]], was born in Torres Vedras (18 September 1434).

Torres Vedras continued to be a place of importance: in 1413, King [[John I of Portugal|John I]] met with his council after legitimizing his [[Conquest of Ceuta|expedition to Ceuta]] (marking the beginning of [[Portuguese discoveries|Portuguese maritime expansion]]); the Regent Peter, convened the Cortes in 1411, to deliberate over the wedding of his daughter Isabel with his nephew [[Afonso V of Portugal|Afonso]]; and the place where King [[John II of Portugal|John II]] received the ambassadors of the [[Kingdom of Naples]], and later the [[Republic of Venice]], in 1496.

At the same time, intrigues and confrontations were fermented in Torres Vedras by local [[Castellan#Portugal|alcaides]], such as in 1384 when the [[John I of Portugal|Master of Aviz]] encircled the town in order to force the Castilian alcalde Juan Duque to surrender. It was for the same reason, that King [[John IV of Portugal|John IV]] was forced to take city in 1640, when the Portuguese alcaide João Soares de Alarcão, aligned himself with the [[Philippine Dynasty|Philippine monarchs]].

In comparison, the loyalty and sympathies of the Portuguese of the region were tested with the French invasions of the [[Peninsular War]]s  (1808–1810). Anticipating the final defeat of the French, General Delaborde's forces were defeated on 21 August 1808, at the battles of [[Battle of Roliça|Roliça]] and [[Battle of Vimeiro|Vimeiro]], by the [[Anglo-Portuguese Army]] that had landed at Porto Novo. [[Jean-Andoche Junot|Junot]], who had installed himself in the town, signed a truce and left the town, retreating towards Lisbon, but not before sacking the churches and convents along the way.

[[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley]], later the Duke of Wellington and Marquess of Torres Vedras, began the construction (1809–1810) of the [[Lines of Torres Vedras]] that would extend to the sea. This fortified system, which included 152 forts and 628 redoubts, was marked by the [[Fort of São Vicente]], in Torres Vedras. Ironically, the fort only saw battle after the French were removed from Portugal, when Cabralist forces (those supporting politician [[António Bernardo da Costa Cabral, 1st Marquis of Tomar|Costa Cabral]]) under the [[Duke of Saldanha]], evicted [[Septembrism|Setembrist]] forces of the Count of Bonfim.

Over 10,000 troops were involved in the bloody Battle of Torres Vedras, which resulted in the surrender of the Count's forces on 23 December 1846. The deaths of 400 men and 500 wounded, that included Lieutenant-Colonel [[Luís Mouzinho de Albuquerque]], a liberal officer who disembarked in Mindelo and was later buried in the Church of São Pedro.

Following much of its history in battle, Torres Vedras lapsed into years of progress and development, supported by the expansion of the rail-lines in 1886, the installation of the electrical grid in 1912, and finally the canalization of waters to the town by 1926. These changes helped support a growth, construction of new barrios and roadways, resulting in the town's reclassification as a city in 1979.

==Geography==
{| border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="float:right;"
|
{{stack|
{{Historical populations
|title = Population of<br />Torres Vedras<br /><small>(1801–2011)</small>
| 1801 | 17244
| 1849 | 15021
| 1900 | 35726
| 1930 | 47917
| 1960 | 58837
| 1981 | 65039
| 1991 | 67185
| 2001 | 72250
| 2011 | 79465
}}
}}
|}
Fronting the Atlantic Ocean, Torre Vedres is bordered by the municipalities of [[Lourinhã Municipality|Lourinhã]] (to the north), [[Alenquer Municipality, Portugal|Alenquer]] (to the east), [[Sobral de Monte Agraço Municipality|Sobral de Monte Agraço]] (to the southeast) and [[Mafra Municipality|Mafra]] (to the south). A dispersed population, Torres Vedras includes 21 urban agglomerations, of which most have less than 200 inhabitants. Altogether the municipality has a population of 79,465.<ref name=ine/>

The municipality covers an area of {{convert|407.15|km2|mi2}}.<ref name=dgt/> Administratively, the municipality is divided into 13 civil parishes (''[[freguesia (Portugal)|freguesias]]''):<ref>{{cite web|title=Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 122|url=http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2013/01/01901/0000200147.pdf |access-date=3 August 2014|author=Diário da República|author-link=Diário da República|language=pt}}</ref>
[[File:Red Roofs (2194078506).jpg|thumb|200px|The red tiled-roofs of the town in Santa Maria do Castelo e São Miguel parish]]
{{Div col}}
* [[A dos Cunhados e Maceira]]
* [[Campelos e Outeiro da Cabeça]]
* [[Carvoeira e Carmões]]
* [[Dois Portos e Runa]]
* [[Freiria]]
* [[Maxial e Monte Redondo]]
* [[Ponte do Rol]]
* [[Ramalhal]]
* [[São Pedro da Cadeira]]
* [[Torres Vedras (São Pedro e Santiago e Santa Maria do Castelo e São Miguel) e Matacães]] 
* [[Silveira (Torres Vedras)|Silveira]]
* [[Turcifal]]
* [[Ventosa (Torres Vedras)|Ventosa]]
{{div col end}}

The resident population of the city of Torres Vedras (approximately 20,000 inhabitants in two largest urban parishes) represents about 25% of the population of the municipality.

===Climate===
Torres Vedras has a [[warm-summer Mediterranean climate]] with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers.

{{Weather box
|location = Dois Portos, Torres Vedras, 1991-2020 normals, 1931-1960 sunshine, 1961-1990 humidity, altitude: {{convert|110|m|abbr=on}}
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 25.8
|Feb record high C = 24.1
|Mar record high C = 31.3
|Apr record high C = 32.0
|May record high C = 35.2
|Jun record high C = 41.6
|Jul record high C = 41.7
|Aug record high C = 44.8
|Sep record high C = 40.1
|Oct record high C = 35.5
|Nov record high C = 27.0
|Dec record high C = 26.2
|year record high C =

|Jan high C = 14.3
|Feb high C = 15.4
|Mar high C = 18.0
|Apr high C = 19.3
|May high C = 22.0
|Jun high C = 24.9
|Jul high C = 26.8
|Aug high C = 27.8
|Sep high C = 26.3
|Oct high C = 22.5
|Nov high C = 17.5
|Dec high C = 14.8
|year high C = 20.8

|Jan mean C = 9.8
|Feb mean C = 10.7
|Mar mean C = 13.0
|Apr mean C = 14.4
|May mean C = 16.7
|Jun mean C = 19.4
|Jul mean C = 21.3
|Aug mean C = 21.9
|Sep mean C = 20.3
|Oct mean C = 17.3
|Nov mean C = 13.1
|Dec mean C = 10.5
|year mean C = 15.7

|Jan low C = 5.4
|Feb low C = 6.0
|Mar low C = 7.9
|Apr low C = 9.4
|May low C = 11.4
|Jun low C = 14.0
|Jul low C = 15.7
|Aug low C = 16.0
|Sep low C = 14.4
|Oct low C = 12.2
|Nov low C = 8.6
|Dec low C = 6.3
|year low C = 10.6

|Jan record low C = -5.7
|Feb record low C = -6.0
|Mar record low C = -3.2
|Apr record low C = -0.8
|May record low C = 2.7
|Jun record low C = 5.4
|Jul record low C = 4.2
|Aug record low C = 5.2
|Sep record low C = 3.4
|Oct record low C = 0.0
|Nov record low C = -4.5
|Dec record low C = -5.5
|year record low C =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 81.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 62.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 60.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 63.3
|May precipitation mm = 48.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 16.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 3.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 5.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 31.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 90.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 98.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 86.8
|year precipitation mm = 647.9

|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 10.8
|Feb precipitation days = 8.6
|Mar precipitation days = 8.7
|Apr precipitation days = 9.1
|May precipitation days = 7.0
|Jun precipitation days = 3.0
|Jul precipitation days = 0.8
|Aug precipitation days = 1.4
|Sep precipitation days = 4.5
|Oct precipitation days = 9.8
|Nov precipitation days = 10.9
|Dec precipitation days = 10.4
|year precipitation days = 84.9

|Jan humidity = 84
|Feb humidity = 82
|Mar humidity = 76
|Apr humidity = 77
|May humidity = 75
|Jun humidity = 75
|Jul humidity = 73
|Aug humidity = 74
|Sep humidity = 75
|Oct humidity = 78
|Nov humidity = 81
|Dec humidity = 83

|Jan sun = 137.2
|Feb sun = 154.2
|Mar sun = 176.0
|Apr sun = 223.2
|May sun = 246.0
|Jun sun = 264.2
|Jul sun = 308.9
|Aug sun = 295.7
|Sep sun = 234.5
|Oct sun = 191.4
|Nov sun = 140.0
|Dec sun = 115.1
|year sun =

|source 1 = [[Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera|Instituto de Meteorologia]] (1931-1960, 1991-2020 extremes)<ref>{{cite web |title=Normal Climatológica – Torres Vedras / Dois Portos 1991–2020 |url=https://www.ipma.pt/opencms/bin/file.data/climate-normal/cn_91-20_TORRES_VEDRAS.pdf |publisher=[[IPMA]] |access-date=27 August 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Plano Municipal de Defesa da Floresta Contra Incêndios |url=https://fogos.icnf.pt/pmdfci/11_Lisboa/1113/2G/Caderno_I/Texto/PMDFCI_TorresVedras_Caderno_I.pdf |publisher=Torres Vedras Municipality |access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=O Clima de Portugal: Normais climatológicas do Continente, Açores e Madeira correspondentes a 1931-1960 |date=1965 |publisher=Serviço Meteorológico Nacional, Observatório do Infante D. Luís (Lisboa) |page=94 |url=https://i.imgur.com/LEMnL84 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=O Clima de Portugal: Normais climatológicas do Continente, Açores e Madeira correspondentes a 1931-1960 |date=1965 |publisher=Serviço Meteorológico Nacional, Observatório do Infante D. Luís (Lisboa) |page=95 |url=https://i.imgur.com/0xFkJ62 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>}}

==Economy and tourism==
[[File:Escultura Uvas, Torres Vedras, Portugal.jpg|thumb|235px|left|Sculpture ''Uvas'', a symbol of [[viniculture]] (one of the main economic activities of the region), located in the southern access to the city]]
In 2011, Torres Vedras received the QualityCoast Gold Award for its efforts to become a sustainable tourist destination, and was selected for inclusion in the global atlas for [[sustainable tourism]] [[DestiNet]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.qualitycoast.info/brochure/qc2012.pdf |title=Sustainable Tourism (Looking for a Sustainable Destination) |journal=Coastal & Marine |volume=2012-1 |issn=1877-7953 |publisher=Coastal & Marine Union |location=Leiden, Netherlands |pages=8 |year=2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401134133/http://www.qualitycoast.info/brochure/qc2012.pdf|archive-date=2019-04-01 }}</ref>

The [[Leonel Trindade Municipal Museum, Torres Vedras|Leonel Trindade Municipal Museum]] is an archaeological and historical museum in the town, located in a former convent (Convento da Graça) on the southern edge of the city centre. In addition to an extensive archaeological section dating back to late- [[Palaeolithic]] times, the museum contains works of art from local churches as well as an exhibition relating to the Lines of Torres Vedras.<ref name="Patrimonio">{{cite web |title=Museu Municipal Leonel Trindade |url=http://www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/en/museus-e-monumentos/rede-portuguesa/m/museu-municipal-leonel-trindade/ |website=Patrimonio Cultural |access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> Much of the archaeological collection comes from the [[Chalcolithic]], fortified settlement known as the [[Castro of Zambujal]] (3rd millennium BC) and from the  [[Tholos do Barro]], a Chalcolithic tomb, both of which are in the municipality.

==Sport==
The local professional [[association football|football]] team is [[S.C.U. Torreense]] which plays at the [[Estádio Manuel Marques|Manuel Marques Stadium]].

== Notable People==
[[File:Hans Burgkmair d. Ä. 006.jpg|140px|thumb|Eleanor of Portugal]]
* [[Eleanor of Portugal, Holy Roman Empress]] (1434–1467)  an infanta (princess), daughter of King [[Edward of Portugal]] & [[Empress of the Holy Roman Empire]]
* [[Lopo Soares de Albergaria]] (c.1460 – c.1520) the third Governor of [[Portuguese India]]
* [[Cristóvão Ferreira]] (c.1580–1650) a priest and Jesuit missionary who committed apostasy in Japan
* [[Luís da Silva Mouzinho de Albuquerque]] (1792–1846) a military officer, poet, scientist and politician
* [[Manuel Clemente]] (born 1948) a prelate of the Catholic Church; the [[Patriarch of Lisbon]] since 2013
* [[Carlos Miguel (politician)|Carlos Miguel]] (born 1957) a lawyer, politician and Govt. minister of [[Romani people|Romani ethnicity]]
* [[Guta Moura Guedes]] (born 1965) curator, author, journalist and television presenter.
* [[Beto (Portuguese singer)|Beto]] (1967–2010) a Portuguese singer; lived in Torres Vedras from aged 17 
* [[Susana Félix]] (born 1975) a singer, songwriter, musician, actress  and producer.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1223867/  Susana Félix, IMDb Database] retrieved 05 July 2021.</ref>
* [[Cristina Ferreira]] (born 1977), journalist, businesswoman and TV host.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2440053/  Cristina Ferreira, IMDb Database] retrieved 04 July 2021.</ref>
* [[Bernardo Blanco]] (born 1995), politician and Member of Parliament.
* [[Lisandro Cuxi]] (born 1999 in Zambujal) a Portuguese–Cape-Verdean singer-songwriter and dancer.

=== Sport ===
[[File:Joaquim Agostinho card 1972.jpg|140px|thumb|Joaquim Agostinho, 1972]]
* [[José Pereira (footballer)|José Pereira]] (born 1931) a football goalkeeper with 302 caps with [[C.F. Os Belenenses|Belenenses]] and 11 for [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
* [[Joaquim Agostinho]] (1942{{snd}}1984) professional bicycle racer
* [[Vítor Campos]] (1944-2019) a footballer with 275 caps with [[Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F.|Académica]]
* [[Hélder Baptista]] (born 1972) a retired footballer with 311 club caps
* [[Nelson Pereira]] (born 1975) football goalkeeper with 201 club caps and 3 for [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
* [[Zé António]] (born 1977) a Portuguese former footballer with 451 club caps
* [[Anselmo Cardoso]] (born 1984 in Freiria) a former footballer with 267 club caps
* [[André Santos (footballer, born 1989)|André Santos]] (born 1989) football player with 300 club caps
* [[Henrique Chaves]] (born 1997) a Portuguese racing driver.
* [[Fábio Carvalho (footballer, born 2002)|Fábio Carvalho]] (born 2002) footballer who plays for Brentford.

==See also==
* [[Torres Vedras IPR]]
* [[Leonel Trindade Municipal Museum, Torres Vedras ]]
* [[List of forts of the Lines of Torres Vedras]]

== References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{citation |title=Roteiro Turístico de Torres Vedras |first=António Augusto |last=Sales |publisher=Câmara Municipal de Torres Vedras |location = Torres Vedras, Portugal |language=pt |date=December 2007}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Torres Vedras}}
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/1419723/ Photos from Torres Vedras]
*[https://torresvedrasweb.pt/ Torres Vedras Web]
*[https://www.facebook.com/TorresVedrasAntiga/ Torres Vedras Antiga]
*[https://www.facebook.com/lugaresnaminhaterra/ Lugares na minha terra - Torres Vedras]
*[https://torresvedrasantiga.wordpress.com/2017/07/12/o-que-visitar-na-cidade-torres-vedras/ O que visitar em Torres Vedras]

{{Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste}}
{{Municipalities of Lisbon}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Torres Vedras| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Portugal]]
[[Category:Populated places in Lisbon District]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Lisbon District]]
[[Category:Lines of Torres Vedras]]