Medieval Setúbal

Roman Setúbal (Caetobriga) was probably abandoned in the 6th century AD owing to its limited security. The site does not appear to have been inhabited in Islamic times, but from the time of the Christian reconquest in the 12th century AD, a fishing village grew up on the site of the former Roman town.

The fishing village of Setúbal was granted a royal charter (the right to manage its own economic affairs) in 1249. Fish were as plentiful as ever in the Sado estuary and Setúbal lay in just the position to take advantage of sea fishing to the west, and river fishing to the east. The village grew and the first town walls were built between 1325 and 1375 AD. Growth continued and by about 1500 AD the town had grown out of its Medieval walls.