Attractions and Places To See around Alhos Vedros - Top 20

In wartime situations, it controlled the space between Lisbon and the South, between the Tagus and Sado rivers. During the Islamic period and the Christian offensive in the 12th and 13th centuries, this geostrategic position was compatible with other fortified sites—Coina, Sesimbra, and the Sado riverbank. In the surrounding area—with good conditions for grazing and a large area of agricultural land—some rural communities settled during the Islamic period, such as the village of Alto da Queimada (Serra do Louro). Inside the wall, the ruins of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo welcome visitors: Palmela's first parish church, probably from the 12th century (founded by King Afonso Henriques?), subject to interventions mainly in the 16th and 17th centuries and severely damaged by the 1755 earthquake. The walls, the pentagonal Keep—a 16th-century construction—are part of the original structure. The castle dates back to the 14th century, where the Bishop of Évora, D. Garcia de Meneses, was imprisoned in the waterless cistern for conspiring against King John II. The bishop died there from poisoning in 1484. The parade ground and barracks are worth visiting. As it stands, the castle is the result of several construction campaigns—repairs, reconstructions, and expansions—up until the 18th century. Archaeological work has identified some sections of the wall from the Islamic period, and other construction phases are recognized, likely dating from the post-reconquest period and, later, from the reign of King John I. The bastion system that surrounds the first line of fortification was commissioned by King Pedro II. In the house of the Prior-Major of the Order, or the military commander of the fortress—after the abolition of the orders (in 1834)—the explorer of African lands, Hermenegildo Carlos de Brito Capelo, son of the fortress's governor, was born on February 4, 1841. Palmela Castle was classified as a National Monument by Decree-Law of June 16, 1910. Parking outside the walls is recommended.

These were the "mills" of old, moved by the wind, heavy granite millstones, transformed wheat seeds into flour from which delicious bread was made, which "satisfied" the hunger of those who had little to eat.

Great View!

At the top of the Serra do Louro stand the windmills which, in the not so distant past, were an important industry for processing cereals. The force of the wind hits the open sails, turning an axle, which in turn transmits the rotation to a limestone stone that rotates on another fixed one. These stones, called "millstones", receive the cereal grains between them, transforming them into flour.

It was designed according to the rules of the late Baroque period, between 1764 and 1777. Legend has it that whoever drinks from this water will be forever linked to Azeitão. The Fountain in Vila Nogueira de Azeitão has been classified as a Property of Municipal Interest since 1977. It was built between 1764 and 1777 and bears the Coat of Arms of King José I. It is called Chafariz dos Amazados because, according to legend, when it was finished, visitors were astonished by its grandeur...

The first one you will see is also probably the most beautiful. It is Pasmados Fountain (Chafariz dos Pasmados) opposite the Igreja de São Lourenço. It was built between 1764 and 1777 as part of a poverty relief scheme. The fountain bears the coat of arms of King José I. The name translates as "Fountain of the Stunned" so-called as visitors are left "stunned" by the fountain's beauty.

Santa Apolónia Train Station is one of Lisbon's main train stations, located near the historic Alfama district. It opened in 1865 and is an important departure point for trains to national and international destinations, such as Madrid and Paris ¹. The station offers good public transport links, including the metro, buses and boats to the other side of the Tagus River. Taxis and car rental services are also available ¹ ². The National Pantheon is located in the parish of Belém, in Lisbon, and has had the status of National Pantheon since 2016 ³ ⁴. It is not located in the same area as Santa Apolónia Station, but in Belém.

A few steps from Palmela, I recommend a visit to the Quinta do Piloto winery. From the terrace, with a bottle of red wine in the shade of walnut trees, you have a wonderful view of Lisbon. A stop after the hike is recommended...