Comporta (civil parish)

Comportais afreguesia("civil parish") and village in the municipality ofAlcácer, in the old district ofSetúbal, in continentalPortugal, located at the base of theTróia Peninsula, along theSadoestuary. The population in 2011 was 1,268,in an area of 150.54 km.It is part of, and the namesake of, the largerComportaCoastal region.
During the time of theCompanhia das Lezírias, 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.
Located along the peninsula ofTróiaon the southern margin of theSado River, the region is characterized by a number of rice fields under cultivation. In addition, its vicinity within the Sado estuary makes the region a habitat of many species of terrestrial and marine birds, including thegrey herons,storksandflamingos.
While Comporta is the administrative centre of the parish, there are several small population concentrations (localities, places or villages) throughout; they include: Brejo da Carregueira, Brejo da Carregueira de Cima, Cambado, Comporta, Figueiral Moitinha, Murta, Possanco, Torre, Torroal and Carrasqueira.
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 tertiary 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 many restaurants and boutiques.
Commercial rice cultivation was an important part of the economy since 1925, providing 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 theHerdade da Comportasince 1925, gave way to new packaging under the Alcacer do Sal or Coruche brands.The rice industry has become less of 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, promoting the local industry.
Portuguese handicrafts, particularly miniature boats of wood, quilts, needlework and embroidery are common in many of the villages.
Although the patron saint isSaint Peter, the residents of Comporta continue to celebrate other religious festivals associated with the popular saints, in addition to theFestival do Arroz(Rice Festival), which celebrates the founding of the parish. Every two years the village of Carrasqueira is the site of theFestival 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 theClube Recreativo da Herdade da Comporta(Recreational Club of the Herdade da Comporta), theGrupo Desportivo da Carrasqueira(Sport Group of Carrasqueira), theGrupo Motard Rateres do Sado(Motorcycle Club of the Sado) and theAssociação de Moradores dos Brejos(Residents Association of Brejos) .
In addition to the popularbolinhos de arroz(rice balls), the traditional culinary plate in Comporta is beans with rice andlinguiça, in addition to the popularbacon,chouriçoandcoriandercooked in an earthen pot over woodfire, or thearroz de bacalhau(rice cod),ensopado de enguias(eel soup/stew) andmassa de peixe(fish pasta).
Comporta is famous for its high-quality beaches and its mild climate during the summer. Comporta beach has white sand and a blue sea. The wide stretch of sand, the parking lot and the good access - via a dirt road that runs north-south from the EN 261 before reaching Herdade da Comporta - make this one of the best known and most popular beaches in the region. For a long time, it was the place chosen by the people of inland Alentejo to go bathing. Today, due to the Lisbon-Madrid highway, it is the Spaniards who have made Comporta one of their places of choice. This beach has been awarded the Blue Flag over the years, a symbol of the quality you'll find here.
In 2015, the Sal restaurant on Pego beach in Comporta was considered the best beach bar/restaurant in the world by the readers of Traveler magazine.