Estremoz commemorated, on the evening of August 30, the centenary of its elevation to city, in a ceremony held at Rossio Marquês de Pombal, in front of the Town Hall. The celebrations were presided over by the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, and included the laying of a wreath of flowers at the bust of José Lourenço Marques Crespo, on Rua 5 de Outubro, interpreted by the Anthem of the City by the Band of the Artistic Philharmonic Society of Estremoz, followed by a parade to the Town Hall, the unveiling of the commemorative plaque of the centenary and the signing of the Book of Honour. The program also included performances by the Estremoz Choir "Tomaz Alcaide", institutional speeches, a tribute to centenary entities of the municipality, the presentation of a video related to the date and a fireworks display.
The mayor of Estremoz, José Sádio, recalled that it was on August 31 that the decree elevating the then remarkable town to the category of city was published, and attributed to José Lourenço Marques Crespo, then mayor, a decisive role in this process. "He was already then claiming that our importance in territorial terms was so great and tremendous that it would justify, and as it justified, that it be elevated," stated the mayor. During the ceremony, tributes were also paid to the security forces, Santa Casa da Misericórdia, cultural and sports associations and rescue forces of the municipality.
In his statements to journalists, Minister Manuel Castro Almeida highlighted the importance of preserving local identity and pointed to the dynamism of the associative movement as one of Estremoz's differentiating strengths. The government official defended that the future will favor territories with their own identity for the promotion of tourism and highlighted the agricultural and agri-food potential of the Alentejo. Regarding the asymmetries between the interior and the coast, Castro Almeida stated that the government's objective is to increasingly reduce these differences, investing so that people can remain in the territories where they were born.
José Sádio considered the transformation of Estremoz over the last century and highlighted the entrepreneurial and cultural growth of the municipality, as well as the growing presence of investors and foreign population. "In entrepreneurial terms, in cultural terms, Estremoz has had remarkable growth and recognized visibility in our country and beyond," stated the mayor. The mayor acknowledged that the development of the city is not complete, but showed pride in the path taken. "Estremoz will never be a finished project," he said, stating that there are still events scheduled until the end of the year to celebrate the historic date.
