Attractions and Places To See around Santo António Da Charneca - 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.

Built in the 19th century, the house was restored in 1923 by the Swiss architect Ernesto Korrodi. The visit to the museum begins with a brief explanation of the company's history, followed by a guided tour of the old wine cellars – and, of course, you can also participate in a tasting at the end.

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.

The Bunch of Grapes is a work of art... Azeitão, in the district of Setúbal, is only about 40 kilometres from the capital, following the national road 10. Made up of small, beautiful villages, it is a perfect place to choose as a weekend itinerary. In fact, I recommend that you visit Azeitão on the second weekend of the month, when on Sundays, the crafts fair takes place in the central square of Vila Nogueira. And my suggestion is to start your itinerary on a Saturday morning. Start in Vila Nogueira de Azeitão at Praça da República, known here as Rossio, where you can admire the statue in the shape of a huge bunch of grapes that acts as a fountain and reminds us that we are in a land of wines, the Palace of the Dukes of Aveiro, and the statue of the poet and teacher Sebastião da Gama.

José Maria da Fonseca is a family-owned Portuguese wine producer that was established in 1834. The estate takes its name from its founder, José Maria da Fonseca, and is known for its broad portfolio of table and fortified wines from around the country, in regions such as Setúbal Peninsula, Alentejo, Douro, Dão and the Vinho Verde zone.

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...