Vila de Serpa

City Coat of Arms
District	Beja
Mayor   - Party	João Manuel Rocha da Silva Communist
Area	1104.0 km²
Population  - Total  - Density	16 178 15/km²
Freguesias	7 parishes
Coordinates	37º56' N 7º35_W
Municipal holiday	Holy Tuesday
Official website: http://www.cm-serpa.pt/

Serpa (pron. IPA /'sɛɾ.pɐ/) is a municipality in Portugal, in Alentejo province, with a total area of 1104.0 km² and a total population of 16,178 inhabitants. The Guadiana River flows close to the town of Serpa. Image File history File links SRP.png Crest of Serpa municipality (Portugal) Author: Sérgio Horta The author has agreed to usage of his works under the GNU-FDL, as long as he is quoted as the source: Caro Senhor, Manuel Anastácio File links The following pages link to... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... Image File history File links LocalSerpa. ... Districts There are 18 Districts (distritos, singular - distrito) in mainland Portugal: note: Territorial division in Portugal is currently in flux, because of planned decentralization. ... The District of Beja is a district in the South Portugal, the district Capital is Beja. ... A mayor (from the Latin maÄ«or, meaning larger,greater) is the politician who serves as chief executive official of some types of municipalities. ... Political parties in Portugal lists political parties in Portugal. ... PCPs official symbol, featuring the hammer and sickle and the Portuguese national colors, red and green. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A freguesia is a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and the former Portuguese overseas province of Macao. ... District Beja Mayor   - Party João Manuel Rocha da Silva Communist Area 1104. ... This article is about longitude and latitude; see also UTM coordinate system Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (vertically) and longitude (horizontally); large version (pdf) The geographic (earth-mapping) coordinate system expresses every horizontal position on Earth by two of the three coordinates of a spherical coordinate system which... Holy Week is the Christian week from Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday. ... Pronunciation refers to: the way a word or a language is usually spoken; the manner in which someone utters a word. ... IPA may refer to: The International Phonetic Alphabet or India Pale Ale ... Alentejo (pron. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... Guadiana (Arabic, Wadi Ana, Latin Anas, Spanish Guadiana, Portuguese Guadiana or Odiana) is one of the major rivers of Spain and Portugal. ...

Serpa is of ancient origins and its establishment probably preceded the coming of the Romans to the area. After the Roman occupation, the neighbouring town of Beja (known as Pax Julia to the Romans) became the Roman capital of Southern Lusitania Province and Serpa was settled by Roman settlers. The archeological remains of a Roman Villa today lie close to Serpa. Beja can refer to: The Beja people, an ethnic group in the Horn of Africa The Beja language Beja, Portugal Béja, Tunisia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The Moors settled in Serpa after their invasion of the Iberian Pensinsula and remained until their defeat at the hands of Portuguese forces fighting their way south during the period of the Reconquista (the Christian re-conquest of Iberia). The Moors were the medieval Muslim inhabitants of al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula including the present day Spain and Portugal) and the Maghreb, whose culture is often called Moorish. // Origins of the name The name derives from the old tribe of the Mauri and their kingdom, Mauretania. ... For other uses, see Reconquista (disambiguation). ... Iberia can mean: The Iberian peninsula of South west Europe; That part of it once inhabited by the Iberians, who spoke the Iberian language. ...

As a result of Serpa's proximity to the Spanish border, the town has always been a defensive stronghold and today is still surrounded by thick castle walls. The town castle stands in the middle of town and is partly damaged as a result of the last Spanish invasion.

Owing to its rich past, Serpa offers much in historical interest to visitors, including archeological sites, the town walls, the castle, the aqueduct, the clock tower, the town's museum and numerous interesting old churches.

The area surrounding Serpa consists mostly of wheat farms and wheat has traditionally been the staple of the local economy employing many people. Due to the area's strong agricultural reliance much of the area's people have traditionally been peasants or sheep herders.

After the Portuguese Revolution of 1974 the Portuguese Communist Party gained strong support in the area and its popularity continues to this day. PCPs official symbol, featuring the hammer and sickle and the Portuguese national colors, red and green. ...

The present Mayor is João Manuel Rocha da Silva (Communist) and the President of the Municipal Assembly is José Jacinto Sargento Valente (Communist). PCPs official symbol, featuring the hammer and sickle and the Portuguese national colors, red and green. ... PCPs official symbol, featuring the hammer and sickle and the Portuguese national colors, red and green. ...

Today many urban residents of Lisbon, Beja and other cities maintain country homes in Serpa or take weekend breaks to the area as a result of Serpa's rural location and laid back lifestyle. District Lisbon Mayor   - Party Carmona Rodrigues PSD Area 84. ...

Serpa is famous for its Queijo de Serpa, a spicy and strong-smelling cheese made in the area and eaten throughout Portugal. Other local specialties include Shepherd's Lamb Stew, a Clam and Pork dish and Sweet Potato Pastries. Cheese is a solid food made from the curdled milk of cows, goats, sheep, or other mammals. ...

The municipal holiday is Easter Tuesday.

Parishes

The municipality is composed of 7 civil parishes: A freguesia is a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and the former Portuguese overseas province of Macao. ...

• Aldeia Nova de São Bento
• Brinches
• Pias
• Serpa (Salvador)
• Serpa (Santa Maria)
• Vale de Vargo
• Vila Verde de Ficalho

External links

Planicie Dourada Tourist Region

Municipalities of the District of Beja
Aljustrel | Almodôvar | Alvito | Barrancos | Beja | Castro Verde | Cuba | Ferreira do Alentejo | Mértola | Moura | Odemira | Ourique | Serpa | Vidigueira