Comporta
Encyclopedia
Comporta is a civil parish and village in the municipality of Alcácer, in the old district of Setúbal, in continental Portugal
, located at the base of Tróia Peninsula
, along the Sado
estuary. Information from the 2001 Census, identified a population of 1348 almost equally divided by gender (715 men, 633 women).
, Comporta was a small agglomeration of 65 impoverished cabanas around a principal estate.
Until 1989, Comporta was a part of the parish of Santa Maria do Castelo.
on the southern margin of the Sado River
, the region is characterized by the number or rice fields under cultivation. In addition, its vicinity within the Sado estuary makes the region a focus of many species of terrestrial and marine birds, including the grey heron
s, stork
s and flamingo
s.
While Comporta is the administrative centre of the parish, there are several small population concentrations throughout (localities, places or villages); they include: Brejo da Carregueira, Brejo da Carregueira de Cima, Cambado, Comporta, Figueiral Moitinha, Murta, Possanco, Torre, Torroal and Carrasqueira.
Commercial rice cultivation was an important part of the economy since 1925, providing employment to many factories, although over the years these facilities have been closed and the management of the lands transferred to Lisbon or Ribatejo. The "Comporta" brand, promoted by the Herdade da Comporta since 1925, gave way to new packaging under the Alcacer do Sal or Coruche brands. The rice industry has become less an integral part of the community, and only the Arroz Ceifeira brand, managed by João Duarte Correia (an ex-miller in the Torrinha factory) continues to sell/promote the local industry.
Although the patron saint is Saint Peter
, the residents of Comporta continue to celebrate other religious festivals associated with the popular saints, in addition to the Festival do Arroz (Rice Festival), which celebrates the founding of the parish. Every two years the village of Carrasqueira is the site of the Festival da Batata Doce (Sweet Potato Festival), as well as being the annual meeting-place for motorcyclists. On the second Friday of each month, there is a traditional market, in which the inhabitants sell handicrafts, food and other goods.
The major associations in the parish are the Clube Recreativo da Herdade da Comporta (Recreational Club of the Herdade da Comporta), the Grupo Desportivo da Carrasqueira (Sport Group of Carrasqueira), the Grupo Motard Rateres do Sado (Motorcycle Club of the Sado) and the Associação de Moradores dos Brejos (Residents Association of Brejos) .
In addition to the popular bolinhos de arroz (rice balls), the traditional culinary plate in Comporta is beans with rice and linguiça
, in addition to the popular bacon
and chouriço and coriander
cooked in a earthen pot over woodfire, or the arroz de bacalhau (cod in rice), ensopado de enguias (eel soup/stew) and massa de peixe (fish pasta).
Carresqueira is also known for the wooden dock, a municipal heritage due to its method of construction, extension and important contribution to the local landscape, along with the Concheiros do Paleolítico.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, located at the base of Tróia Peninsula
Tróia Peninsula
Tróia is a peninsula located in Grândola Municipality , Portugal, next to the Sado River estuary. Tourism is the peninsula's main activity due to its long beaches facing the Atlantic. There is a ferry boat connection between the peninsula and the city of Setúbal...
, along the Sado
Sado River
The Sado River is a river in Southern Portugal, and is one of the major rivers in the country. It flows in a South/North direction through 175 km from its springs in the Caldeirão hills before entering the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary in the city of Setúbal.In Setúbal, its estuary is famous...
estuary. Information from the 2001 Census, identified a population of 1348 almost equally divided by gender (715 men, 633 women).
History
The history of this area stems from early settlement by black slaves, its toponymy assumed to be a condescending term to refer to their well mannered natures. During the time of the Companhia das LezíriasCompanhia das Lezírias
The Companhia das Lezírias or CL for short , is a state-run agriculture and forestry company located in the Lezíria do Tejo subregion, and headquartered in Samora Correia, Benavente municipality, Portugal. It was founded in the 19th century by the Portuguese Crown...
, Comporta was a small agglomeration of 65 impoverished cabanas around a principal estate.
Until 1989, Comporta was a part of the parish of Santa Maria do Castelo.
Geography
Located along the peninsula of TróiaTróia Peninsula
Tróia is a peninsula located in Grândola Municipality , Portugal, next to the Sado River estuary. Tourism is the peninsula's main activity due to its long beaches facing the Atlantic. There is a ferry boat connection between the peninsula and the city of Setúbal...
on the southern margin of the Sado River
Sado River
The Sado River is a river in Southern Portugal, and is one of the major rivers in the country. It flows in a South/North direction through 175 km from its springs in the Caldeirão hills before entering the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary in the city of Setúbal.In Setúbal, its estuary is famous...
, the region is characterized by the number or rice fields under cultivation. In addition, its vicinity within the Sado estuary makes the region a focus of many species of terrestrial and marine birds, including the grey heron
Grey Heron
The Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...
s, stork
Stork
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families....
s and flamingo
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
s.
While Comporta is the administrative centre of the parish, there are several small population concentrations throughout (localities, places or villages); they include: Brejo da Carregueira, Brejo da Carregueira de Cima, Cambado, Comporta, Figueiral Moitinha, Murta, Possanco, Torre, Torroal and Carrasqueira.
Economy
The principal economic activities in the area include fishing, agriculture, small industry associated with rice harvesting for local and migrant workers, in addition to many teritary services (hotels, bakeries, civil construction, sawmilling, carpentry and small commercial shops). Tourism has become an increasingly important part of this mix, with new investments into the area: the main village of Comporta has developed into an upmarket holiday destination, due to its tourist-friendly beaches and the number of restaurants and boutiques.Commercial rice cultivation was an important part of the economy since 1925, providing employment to many factories, although over the years these facilities have been closed and the management of the lands transferred to Lisbon or Ribatejo. The "Comporta" brand, promoted by the Herdade da Comporta since 1925, gave way to new packaging under the Alcacer do Sal or Coruche brands. The rice industry has become less an integral part of the community, and only the Arroz Ceifeira brand, managed by João Duarte Correia (an ex-miller in the Torrinha factory) continues to sell/promote the local industry.
Culture
Portuguese handicrafts, particularly miniatures boats of wood, quilts, needlework and embroidery are common in many of the villages.Although the patron saint is Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
, the residents of Comporta continue to celebrate other religious festivals associated with the popular saints, in addition to the Festival do Arroz (Rice Festival), which celebrates the founding of the parish. Every two years the village of Carrasqueira is the site of the Festival da Batata Doce (Sweet Potato Festival), as well as being the annual meeting-place for motorcyclists. On the second Friday of each month, there is a traditional market, in which the inhabitants sell handicrafts, food and other goods.
The major associations in the parish are the Clube Recreativo da Herdade da Comporta (Recreational Club of the Herdade da Comporta), the Grupo Desportivo da Carrasqueira (Sport Group of Carrasqueira), the Grupo Motard Rateres do Sado (Motorcycle Club of the Sado) and the Associação de Moradores dos Brejos (Residents Association of Brejos) .
In addition to the popular bolinhos de arroz (rice balls), the traditional culinary plate in Comporta is beans with rice and linguiça
Linguiça
Linguiça is a form of Portuguese smoke cured pork sausage seasoned with garlic and paprika.Outside of Portugal, Azores and Brazil, linguiça is also popular in Goa , Southeastern Massachusetts, Massachusetts' North Shore, California, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Okinawa, where it is often simply...
, in addition to the popular bacon
Bacon
Bacon is a cured meat prepared from a pig. It is first cured using large quantities of salt, either in a brine or in a dry packing; the result is fresh bacon . Fresh bacon may then be further dried for weeks or months in cold air, boiled, or smoked. Fresh and dried bacon must be cooked before eating...
and chouriço and coriander
Coriander
Coriander is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the...
cooked in a earthen pot over woodfire, or the arroz de bacalhau (cod in rice), ensopado de enguias (eel soup/stew) and massa de peixe (fish pasta).
Religious
- Church of São Pedro (Church of Saint Peter)
- Chapel of São Pedro (Chapel of Saint Peter)
Carresqueira is also known for the wooden dock, a municipal heritage due to its method of construction, extension and important contribution to the local landscape, along with the Concheiros do Paleolítico.