Cuba (), officially the Town of Cuba (), is a town 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' ...

in the

District of Beja A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...

in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 4,878, in an area of 172.09 km². The current mayor (since 2013) is João Português. The municipal holiday is Monday after Easter.

History

The name "Cuba" is likely of Arabic origin, pertaining to the

qubba A ''qubba'' (, pl. ''qubāb''), also transliterated as ḳubba, kubbet and koubba, is a cupola or domed structure, typically a tomb or shrine in Islamic architecture. In many regions, such as North Africa, the term ''qubba'' is applied commonly f ...

, that is

cupola In architecture, a cupola () is a relatively small, usually dome-like structure on top of a building often crowning a larger roof or dome. Cupolas often serve as a roof lantern to admit light and air or as a lookout. The word derives, via Ital ...

dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...

d tombs of ascetic spiritual leaders. Such toponyms are frequent in Southern Portugal and likely related to the

Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

movements that flourished during the period of

Almoravid The Almoravid dynasty () was a Berber Muslim dynasty centered in the territory of present-day Morocco. It established an empire that stretched over the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus, starting in the 1050s and lasting until its fall to the Almo ...

decay, such as the one led by

Ibn Qasi Abūʾl-Qāsim Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥusayn ibn Qasī (died 1151) was a Sufi, a rebel leader against the Almoravid dynasty in Al-Garb Al-Andalus and governor of Silves for the Almohads. The main sources for his life are Ibn al-Abbār, Ibn al-Khaṭ� ...

In the 20th century, a small number of scholars sought to ascribe Portuguese origins to

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus (; between 25 August and 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italians, Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed Voyages of Christopher Columbus, four Spanish-based voyages across the At ...

. One of these attempts had him born in the town of Cuba, after which he would have named the Caribbean island (see possible birthplace of Christopher Columbus). A statue honouring the explorer can be seen in the city centre.

Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into four civil parishes ('' freguesias''): * Cuba *

Faro do Alentejo Faro do Alentejo is a Portuguese civil parish (''Freguesia'') within the municipality of Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of isla ...

* Vila Alva * Vila Ruiva

Notable people

Diogo Dias Melgás Diogo Dias Melgás (often ''Melgaz'') (Cuba (Portugal), 1638 - Évora, 1700) was a Portugal, Portuguese composer of late-Renaissance music, Renaissance sacred polyphony. Life Diogo Dias Melgás was born in Cuba (Portugal), Cuba, Alentejo, on 14 Ap ...

(1638 in Cuba, Alentejo - 1700) a Portuguese composer of late-Renaissance sacred polyphony.

References

External links

Town Hall official website
Towns in Portugal Populated places in Beja District Municipalities of Beja District {{Beja-geo-stub