On the Streets of Setúbal

3 min readJan 13, 2015

The records of human occupation in the territory of the municipality date back to prehistoric times, having been collected in various locations, numerous remains from the Neolithic.

With the Roman presence in the centuries I to IV of our era, was born Cetóbriga, an important urban and industrial core, mainly connected to the salting fish, which extended over both banks of the river Sado, integrating Troia.

During the barbarian invasions and the Arab occupation, the inhabited area was gradually abandoned to the advancing sands.

Watchtowers as Palmela, more sheltered harbors, as Alcacer do Sal, and fertile valleys, as Azeitão, were the sites chosen by the Muslim invaders to settle.

After the conquest of the Moors, Palmela and the establishment of Santiago Espada Order, Setúbal was repopulated first on the hill of Santa Maria and progressively in the lower zone that extends to the current Troino neighborhood . It received, in 1249, from D. Paio Peres Correia, master of the Order, the first charter letter.

Setúbal, with a relatively small land area, had to be said, struggling with the neighboring municipalities of Palmela, Santiago do Cacém and Alcacer do Sal, then already established.

With the difficulties presented by the inhabitants, with regard to entry and sale of products brought from Sesimbra, Palmela and Alcácer, the master of Santiago, D. Garcia Peres, in 1343, gave effect to a letter of D. Afonso IV, demarcating the end of Setúbal, having been built one curtain walls.

Throughout the fifteenth century, the town developed economic activities, mainly related to the industry and trade, taking high yields with the charges for the entry into port.

The first Franciscan convents, one of the Convent of Jesus, were built in Setúbal during this century.