Setúbal, Nature&Culture, among castles, mountains and beaches

Palmela Castle is located at one of the highest points in Serra da Arrábida. It is a difficult to access location and therefore ideal for fulfilling its territorial defense function. During the Christian Reconquista led by D. Afonso Henriques, first king of Portugal, Palmela was part of the defense line south of the Tagus. At that time, the king donated the territories of Palmela, Almada and Alcácer to the Order of Sant'Iago da Espada for defense and settlement. In 1205, D. Sancho I confirmed the donation and installed the Chapter of the Order in the castle. In the century. XV, D. João I ordered a series of restoration works to be carried out, especially in the keep and ordered the construction of the convent that would become the seat of the Order from 1443 onwards. The castle also underwent some changes in the 14th century. XVII, under order of D. Pedro II. The friars remained in the Santiago convent until the extinction of the religious orders in 1834.

Built to replace another market, demolished in 1876, it was opened in 1930. The interior was completely remodeled following renovation work on the facilities carried out between 2010 and 2011. The tile panels inside stand out, depicting the city's various economic activities, designed by Portuguese engraver and painter Pedro Pinto, dating from 1929. At the north entrance there are also, on both sides, two other panels by Rosa Rodrigues, with images of the city, dating from 1944. In June 2014, the North American magazine USA Today recognized Mercado do Livramento as one of the best fish markets in the world.

Local souvenir shop, handmade by local artisans. Fish-shaped building, made of cork and wood.

The Convent and the Church of Jesus constitute true landmarks in Portuguese architectural history, marking the beginning of the Manueline style. The works, which began in 1490 and, apparently, ended in 1496, were led by Diogo Boitaca who signed works on monuments such as the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and the Batalha Monastery. The Church of Jesus is considered the first attempt at a church-hall in Portugal, designed as a homogeneously lit space. At the Convent of Jesus, innovative solutions were used for the time, such as round arches, vaults based on lowered arches and networks of ribs.

A must-visit tourist spot, the São Filipe Fort was once an important defensive and control bastion for the city. The São Filipe Fort is the result of orders from the Spanish monarch Philip II on the fortification of the coastline that protects Setúbal and the mouth of the Sado River. It was designed by Captain Fratino in 1583, consisting of an irregular polygonal plan, in the shape of a six-pointed star with six bastions, and on a steep slope over the sea, being protected on the north side by a second walled line. Forte de São Filipe, more often referred to as a fort or fortress, played a tactical role in reinforcing the defense line of the Portuguese coast attacked by pirates from northern Europe and Africa. From the fort walls you can see one of the most breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the bay.

The crystal clear blue of the sea waters crossing with the green of Nature, makes Serra da Arrábida a special corner of Portugal. From paradisiacal beaches, stunning landscapes and viewpoints, to mysterious caves and castles to visit, Serra da Arrábida brings you a great diversity of activities. Serra da Arrábida is part of the Arrábida Natural Park and is located near the city of Setúbal (about 10 km), 45 km from Lisbon and approximately 17km from Sesimbra. The Arrábida Natural Park is made up of very steep terrain from the various mountains: Serra do Louro, Serra do Risco, Serra de São Luís, Serra dos Gaiteiros, Serra de São Francisco and Serra da Arrábida. Its highest point is 501 meters of altitude, allowing you to see a part of the Portuguese Vincentian coast. With an extension of around 10,800 hectares, Arrábida covers the municipalities of Palmela, Sesimbra and Setúbal.

It belongs to the district of Setúbal and its beach (Portinho da Arrábida beach) is the main tourist attraction of this small town. It is a small sandy area next to the small town (village) of Portinho da Arrábida. It is at the foot of the mountain between other beaches (Creiro and Alpertuche) in the region. As in this entire area, the waters are calm, clear, cold and perfect for those who like diving. The beach is rocky and has some beach facilities (restaurants). In 2010, it won a distinction for being considered “one of the 7 natural wonders of Portugal” – beaches categories.

Sesimbra Castle is the last of the Portuguese castles on the sea to maintain its medieval design. It was classified as a National Monument on June 16, 1910 and has several reasons of interest. Its walls have a unique view over the town and the sea. Inside there are two permanent exhibitions about its history, a heritage interpretation center, a church and a disused cemetery. It also offers a museum circuit that allows visitors, independently, to enjoy the property's various points of interest. Visitors can walk along the walls and enjoy a privileged view of the town of Sesimbra and the region. The café with terrace offers some local products. It stands out in the landscape for its grandeur.

The Fortaleza de Santiago has coexisted with the Sesimbra community for 365 years. It was built at a time when danger arrived from the sea and maritime borders had to be defended, however, the course of history meant that it lost its defensive preponderance. After meticulous and specialized work, which preserved the initial structure as much as possible, the Santiago Fortress opened to the public in July 2014, fully restored. Visitors were then able to understand the original functions of each space, from the magazine area to the Governor's house, passing through the dormitories, getting an idea of how these fortifications worked. In 2016, the Fortaleza de Santiago received what is the biggest project destined for the space: the Sesimbra Maritime Museum, which showcases the history of the sea, fishing and the fishing community from the earliest times to the present.

The Cabo Espichel Sanctuary, inserted in the Arrábida natural park, also known as the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Pedra Mua, is located in Cabo Espichel, west of the town of Sesimbra, which marks the southwestern tip of the Setúbal peninsula and from where glimpse the dizzying and abysmal Lagosteiros Bay. According to legend, an apparition of Our Lady took place there. Nothing remains of the primitive sanctuary referred to by the Visitations of the Order of Santiago. Based on the cult of Nossa Senhora do Cabo and the 14th century Ermida da Memória, in the 18th century, D. Pedro II and D. José ordered the construction of a sanctuary that continued to be worshiped until the transition to the 20th century, before going into decline. The sanctuary brings together the church built between 1701-1707 in a floor-to-ceiling style, two wings of inns built between 1745-1760, the water house dating from 1770 and supplied by an aqueduct and the opera house, from the end of the 1800s.

The desire to build a monument to Christ the King began in 1940 when the Portuguese bishops vowed to build a Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus over Lisbon if Portugal were spared from the War. Portugal maintained a position of neutrality in World War II, not participating directly in war actions and this fact was decisive in launching a national fundraising campaign, so that the construction could become a reality. And, in 1959, the Monument to Christ the King was inaugurated, rising 113 meters over the cities of Almada and Lisbon, offering a 360º panoramic view over both banks of the Tagus River and surrounding areas. Within the four pillars of the Monument to Christ the King, symbol of the four cardinal points, is the Chapel of Our Lady of Peace. The image of Our Lady is a replica of the same image that was offered to the Church of Saint Eugene in Rome, on the occasion of the Holy Year of 1950.