Grândola (, ) is a town (''vila'') and

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

Setúbal District The District of Setúbal ( ) is a district located in the south-west of Portugal. It is named for its capital, the city of Setúbal. Geography It is delimited by Lisbon District and Santarém District on the north, Évora District on the eas ...

in Portugal. The population in 2021 was 13,822, in an area of . Besides the town of Grândola, it includes areas such as Tróia (part of Carvalhal parish), a peninsula between the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...

and the

Sado River The Sado () is a river in southern Portugal; it is one of the major rivers in the country. It flows in a northerly direction (the only major Portuguese river to do so) through from its springs in the hills of Ourique before entering the Atlanti ...

, and the popular summer resort of Melides. The municipality also features the Serra de Grândola mountain range and its coastline is partly within the

Comporta Comporta, also known as the Comporta Coast (Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''Costa da Comporta''), is a region in the northwestern coast of the Alentejo, in Portugal, south of the Lisbon metropolitan area. Comporta is one of the most exclusive ...

region. Grândola is known for inspiring the song "

Grândola, Vila Morena "Grândola, Vila Morena" (English: ''Grândola, Swarthy Town'') is a Portuguese language, Portuguese song by singer-songwriter Zeca Afonso, José Afonso, recorded in 1971. It was originally released in Afonso's 1971 album ''Cantigas do Maio'' and l ...

" by

José Afonso José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos (2 August 1929 – 23 February 1987), known professionally as José Afonso and also popularly known as Zeca Afonso, was a Portuguese singer-songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential ...

, which became an iconic symbol during the

Carnation Revolution The Carnation Revolution (), code-named Operation Historic Turn (), also known as the 25 April (), was a military coup by military officers that overthrew the Estado Novo government on 25 April 1974 in Portugal. The coup produced major socia ...

. The song was used as the second, secret radio broadcast signal on the 25th of April 1974, confirming that the military coup was underway. Its airing just after midnight following " E depois do adeus" on

Rádio Renascença Rádio Renascença, also known as RR or just 'Renascença' (), is a private, commercial radio station in Portugal, owned by various organizations within the Portuguese Catholic Church: among others, the Patriarchate of Lisbon. Founded in 1934, it ...

, marked the start of the revolution. The municipal holiday is October 22, the anniversary of Grândola's first

foral 200px, Foral of Castro Verde - Portugal The ''Carta de Foral'', or simply ''Foral'', was a royal document in Portugal and its former empire, whose purpose was to establish a ''concelho'' (Council) and regulate its administration, borders and priv ...

(

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the ...

). The current mayor of Grândola is António Figueira Mendes from the

Unitary Democratic Coalition The Unitary Democratic Coalition (, CDU) is an electoral and political coalition between the Portuguese Communist Party () and the Ecologist Party "The Greens" ( Portuguese: Partido Ecologista "Os Verdes" or PEV). The coalition also integrates ...

(CDU)

History

Early History and Medieval Period

Archaeological Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

studies indicate human presence in the region of Grândola since at least the

Mesolithic The Mesolithic (Ancient Greek language, Greek: μέσος, ''mesos'' 'middle' + λίθος, ''lithos'' 'stone') or Middle Stone Age is the Old World archaeological period between the Upper Paleolithic and the Neolithic. The term Epipaleolithic i ...

period, with sites representing nearly all subsequent historical eras. During antiquity, the

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

period was likely the time when Grândola's territory reached its highest levels of population, economic activity, and social development. Archeological sites in the municipality from the this period include the Roman Dam of Pego da Moura and the Roman ruins of Tróia. Following the establishment of Portugal, the territory became part of the domain of

Alcácer do Sal Alcácer do Sal () is a municipality in Portugal, located in Setúbal District. The population in 2011 was 13,046, in an area of 1,499.87 km2. History Earliest settlement There has been human settlement in the area for more than 40,000 y ...

and was largely under the control of the Military

Order of Santiago The Order of Santiago (; ) is a religious and military order founded in the 12th century. It owes its name to the patron saint of Spain, ''Santiago'' ( St. James the Greater). Its initial objective was to protect the pilgrims on the Way of S ...

. Around 1380, during the reign of King

John I John I may refer to: People Religious figures * John I (bishop of Jerusalem) * John Chrysostom (349 – c. 407), Patriarch of Constantinople * John I of Antioch (died 441) * Pope John I of Alexandria, Coptic Pope from 496 to 505 * Pope John I, P ...

, the

Commandery In the Middle Ages, a commandery (rarely commandry) was the smallest administrative division of the European landed properties of a military order. It was also the name of the house where the knights of the commandery lived.Anthony Luttrell and G ...

of Grândola was established. This event, along with policies implemented by the crown and the Order of Santiago, contributed to the area's development. Land was distributed, chapels and mills were constructed, and the settlement of Gramdolla was recognized as a village. By the late Middle Ages, the village had a population of approximately 150, while the wider Commandery housed around 900 inhabitants across 220 households.

Early Modern Period

In 1544, King John III granted Grândola the status of a vila (town) and established it as a municipality, independent of Alcácer do Sal. This municipality was divided into three parishes: Grândola, Bayrros (Azinheira dos Barros), and Santa Margarida da Serra. At that time, the territory of the municipality was smaller than it is today. Significant civic and religious infrastructure was developed after the town's elevation, including the construction of a town hall, a jail, a

pillory The pillory is a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, used during the medieval and renaissance periods for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse. ...

, a hospital, a

Santa Casa da Misericórdia Santa Casa da Misericórdia is a charitable institution whose mission is to treat and support the sick, the disabled, and orphans. Founded in Lisbon in 1498 by Queen Leonor of Portugal, the institution grew into a network of charitable organizat ...

, and several chapels and churches. A common

granary A granary, also known as a grain house and historically as a granarium in Latin, is a post-harvest storage building primarily for grains or seeds. Granaries are typically built above the ground to prevent spoilage and protect the stored grains o ...

was established in 1579 to provide low-interest seed loans to poor farmers, operating until around 1880. By 1600, the municipality’s population was about 1,550, with 480 residents in the town itself. The population continued to grow in the following centuries, reaching approximately 4,000 by 1798. The local economy was centered on agriculture, particularly cereal and wine production, along with livestock raising and hunting. Industries such as milling,

weaving Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods are knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal ...

, construction, and clothing were prominent, while tanning,

pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a ''potter'' is al ...

, and ceramics were present to a lesser extent. In 1855, the municipality expanded with the annexation of Melides and São Mamede do Sádão, extending its boundaries to the coast. By 1900, the population had grown to 7,539.

20th and 21st Centuries

The 20th century brought major changes to the region. The Estado Novo's ruralist and

protectionist Protectionism, sometimes referred to as trade protectionism, is the economic policy of restricting imports from other countries through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, import quotas, and a variety of other government regulations. ...

policies, such as the Campanha do Trigo, led to an increase in cereal production, particularly wheat, while rice cultivation gained prominence in the lowlands of Melides and Carvalhal. The development of the Sul railway line in 1861 boosted the cork industry, which saw the establishment of numerous factories, including one that employed over 300 workers. Mining also played a significant role, with the Lousal

pyrite The mineral pyrite ( ), or iron pyrite, also known as fool's gold, is an iron sulfide with the chemical formula Fe S2 (iron (II) disulfide). Pyrite is the most abundant sulfide mineral. Pyrite's metallic luster and pale brass-yellow hue ...

mines becoming a hub of activity under the management of the Mines et Industries group from 1936. At its peak in 1960, the mining village had around 2,000 inhabitants, a sharp contrast to the approximately 300 residents today. With the increase in the number of rural workers, factory laborers, and miners, along with a rise in political awareness, worsening living conditions, and the repression under Salazar's regime, strikes and other popular protests became more common. The number of people arrested for political reasons also grew, earning Grândola a reputation as a revolutionary town. The population growth also contributed to the formation of cultural, sports, and recreational associations, particularly in the town center. Among these was the Sociedade Musical Fraternidade Operária Grandolense, which would later inspire

's famous song

. Population growth in the early 20th century was significant, rising from 7,539 in 1900 to a peak of 21,216 in 1950. However, the mid-century saw a decline driven by economic challenges,

political repression Political repression is the act of a state entity controlling a citizenry by force for political reasons, particularly for the purpose of restricting or preventing the citizenry's ability to take part in the political life of a society, thereby ...

, the

colonial war Colonial war (in some contexts referred to as small war) is a blanket term relating to the various conflicts that arose as the result of overseas territories being settled by foreign powers creating a colony. The term especially refers to wa ...

and migration. The closure of the Lousal mines in 1988 and the decline of the cork and agricultural sectors contributed to population loss and economic shifts. As a result, the municipality experienced significant aging of its population, leading to a shrinking workforce and the closure of schools. Following the

in 1974, the municipality entered a new phase, with democratic governance leading to improvements in social infrastructure. Economic activities shifted towards

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...

and service industries, emphasizing

environmental preservation Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement about supporting life, habitats, and surroundings. While environmentalism focuses more on the environmental and nature-related aspects of green ideology and politics, ecologi ...

and cultural initiatives.

Climate

Grândola has a

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...

with hot summers and mild wet winters. The highest and lowest temperatures registered in the town were and , respectively.

Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into four civil parishes ('' freguesias''): * Azinheira dos Barros e São Mamede do Sádão * Carvalhal * Melides * Grândola e Santa Margarida da Serra

Transports

Grândola is well-connected by road, with several major highways providing access to the town. The A2 highway links Grândola to

Lisbon Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

to the north and the

Algarve The Algarve (, , ) is the southernmost NUTS statistical regions of Portugal, NUTS II region of continental Portugal. It has an area of with 467,495 permanent inhabitants and incorporates 16 municipalities (concelho, ''concelhos'' or ''município ...

to the south, while the toll-free IC1 offers an alternative route. Additionally, the A26/IP8 highway connects the town to

Sines Sines () is a town and a municipality in Portugal. The municipality, divided into two parishes, has around 14,214 inhabitants (2021) in an area of . Sines holds an important oil refinery and several petrochemical industries. It is also a popular ...

in the southwest and Beja in the east. The municipality is served by several bus lines, including Rede Expressos, which provides daily connections to various locations across Portugal. The Rodoviária do Alentejo also operates services linking Grândola to other towns in the Alentejo region. Grândola is integrated into Portugal's rail network via the Linha do Sul, which connects Lisbon to the Algarve. The town's railway station is served by

Alfa Pendular Alfa Pendular is the name of the flagship Pendolino high-speed tilting train of Portuguese state railway company Comboios de Portugal. Since the 1990's it connects the near-coastal and coastal cities of Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Santar ...

, Intercidades, and regional trains, all operated by

Comboios de Portugal CP — Comboios de Portugal, EPE (; ) is a state-owned company which operates passenger trains in Portugal. Prior to June 2009, CP stood for Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (English: ''Portuguese Railways'') although the company has been using it ...

(CP). The northern part of the municipality is accessible by

ferry A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus ...

across the

, connecting

Setúbal Setúbal ( , , ; ), officially the City of Setúbal (), is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The population of the entire municipality in 2014 was 118,166, occupying an area of . The city itself had 89,303 inhabitants in 2001. It lies withi ...

to the Tróia Peninsula.

Notable inhabitants

* Hélder Costa (born 1939) a Portuguese dramatist and playwright * Sonia dos Reis (born 1977) a politician, member of the

Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties Form ...

(PSD) * Dinis Vital (1932–2014) a Portuguese football goalkeeper, with upwards of 461 club caps

In popular culture

Portuguese singer-songwriter

was inspired to write his song "

" after performing in Grândola on 17 May 1964. "Grândola, Vila Morena", first recorded in 1971, became an iconic song in Portugal after being used as a radio-broadcast signal by the Portuguese

Armed Forces Movement 230px, A mural dedicated to the MFA, it reads: "Towards freedom. Long live the 25th of April!" The Armed Forces Movement (; MFA) was an organization of lower-ranking officers in the Portuguese Armed Forces. It was responsible for instigating th ...

during the

1974 Portuguese coup d'état The Carnation Revolution (), code-named Operation Historic Turn (), also known as the 25 April (), was a military coup by military officers that overthrew the Estado Novo government on 25 April 1974 in Portugal. The coup produced major social ...

, which led to the Carnation Revolution and the transition to democracy in Portugal.

Gallery

File:Grândola Vila Morena.jpg, Monument to the

File:Pego da Moura5.jpg, Roman Dam of Pego da Moura File:DolmendaPedraBranca1.jpg, Dolmen of Pedra Branca, a burial tomb from the late

Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...

File:Grandola railway station.jpg, Grandola railway station File:Troia - Portugal (50413907951).jpg, Troía peninsula File:Lagoa de Melides - Portugal (14382255371).jpg, Melides lagoon

References

External links

Website of the Municipality of Grândola
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grandola Towns in Portugal Populated places in Setúbal District Populated places established in 1544 Municipalities of Setúbal District 1544 establishments in Portugal