(the ancient Lameca, Lamacaum), a town of Portugal, province of Beira-Alta, near the Douro, 46 miles E. from Oporto. It was the residence of the Moorish court till 1038, when it was captured and occupied by Ferdinand the Great of Castile. Here also the famous cortes of Portugal are supposed to have been held in 1143 or 1144. It is surrounded by a wall, and has a cathedral, founded by Count Henry, father of the first king of Portugal, about the middle of the fourteenth century; a church called Almacave, a college, a bishop's palace, a nunnery, three monasteries, and two hospitals. It is an episcopal city; and though of great note in former times, is now somewhat uninteresting. Pop. 9000.