Atouguia da Baleia

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Atouguia da Baleia is a comune ( freguesia ) in the Portuguese district of Peniche. 8931 inhabitants live in it (as at 30 June 2011).

History

Finds indicate a prehistoric human presence since the Neolithic period, also traces of settlement of the Castro culture of the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks, Romans and Celtiberian are found. 711, the area was Arabic.

During the Reconquista of Portugal 's first king D.Afonso Henriques conquered the territory and gave it 1160 Wilhelmo Lacorne, in recognition of his services in the successful siege of Lisbon and to the re-colonization by Franks and Galicians. 1168 Atouguia received first town rights D.Afonso II confirmed in 1218, and renewed D.Manuel I. in 1510.

Importance was the place by the increasing fishing and whaling in particular, from which it takes its name Additional ( Baleia, port. for whale). The former island Peniche, which was under the administration Atouguias, received from the 15th century through silting and shifts a natural land access and increased subsequently in importance. 1609 Peniche was elevated to town and to the separation from the county seat of Atouguias own circle.

In the course of administrative reform by the Liberal Revolution in 1822 and the following Miguelistenkrieg the circle Atouguia da Baleia dissolved in 1836 and affiliated to Peniche.

Attractions

Among the monuments of the community includes fortifications, fountains, historic public buildings, a windmill, the remains of the bullring from the 18th century, and a number of religious buildings, including the Mannerist - Baroque Igreja de Nossa Senhora nave da Conceição from the late 17th century, with vorgelagertem stone cross. Also worth mentioning is the built in the 13th century, has since then been expanded and remodeled, three-aisled Igreja de São Leonardo.

The historic center is also a listed building as a whole.