São Mamede (Batalha) Explained

Type:parish
Region:Centro
Cim:Região de Leiria
District:Leiria
Municipality:Batalha
Established Date:1916
Leader Name:Marco Alexandre Ribeiro Vieira
Coordinates:39.6228°N -8.7167°W
Elevation Min:320
Elevation Max:520
Area Total:46
Population As Of:2011
Population Total:3560
Population Footnotes:[1]
Patron:Mammes of Caesarea
Postal Code:2495
Area Code:032

São Mamede is a civil parish in the municipality of Batalha, part of the Central Region and the Região de Leiria intermunicipal community of Portugal. It had a population of 3,560 in 2011 in an area of 46sqkm.

History

The civil parish was created on 15 June 1916 by dismemberment of the parish of Reguengo do Fetal by law of president Bernardino Machado.[2]

Geography

São Mamede is located 15 km east of the municipality seat, facing the municipalities of Leiria, Porto de Mós, Ourém and the parish of Reguengo do Fetal (Batalha), and has an approximate area of 46sqkm.

Geology

The parish is located on the São Mamede Plateau, a large compact limestone mass part of the Estremadura Limestone Massif and the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park. This massif gives the parish a Karst topography, characterized by steep slope valleys, sinkholes, uvalas, pit caves and other multiple caves. The caves of São Mamede are not only strong tourist attractions, but also constitute a historical and patrimonial legacy of recognized worldwide value.

Demographics

In the 60s and early 70s a large flux of emigration drastically reduced the population. The current population is estimated to be around 3,513.[3]

Economy

Though a predominantly rural parish, São Mamede has seen a considerable development in the recent years. The current economic expression of São Mamede is based on the manufacturing and extractive industries and the civil construction sector, with agricultural activity carried out by a minority or carried out on a part-time basis. Religious and cultural tourism also plays an essential role in the local economy, benefiting São Mamede from a strategic location (axis: Batalha Monastery - Fátima Sanctuary), as well as other resources of great interest such as gastronomy, handicrafts and a whole range of other services such as diversified historical, architectural, artistic and cultural heritage, which constitutes a tourist potential duly noted in the various tourist routes in the region of Leiria and Fátima.

Villages

Places of interest

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Censos 2011:Resultados definitivos . . 29 May 2021 . 99.
  2. Web site: Elevação da povoação de São Mamede, no Concelho da Batalha, à categoria de Vila. . . 29 May 2021.
  3. Web site: Junta de Freguesia de São Mamede: Censos . www.jf-saomamede.pt . 29 May 2021.
  4. Web site: Capela de Santo António . www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt . 29 May 2021.