Page 161 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

The castle at Palmela
with views over the
Serra da Arrábida

pousada, with a restaurant in limestone mountains that
the monks’ refectory and a stretch east-west along the
swimming pool for residents, coast between Sesimbra and
hidden inside the castle walls. Setúbal. It was established to
From the castle terraces protect the wild, beautiful STAY
and the top of the 14th-century landscape and rich variety of
keep, there are fantastic views birds and wildlife, including
over the Serra da Arrábida to wildcats and badgers. Sana Park Sesimbra
the south, and on a clear day The sheltered, south-facing In an ideal spot right on
across the Tagus to Lisbon. In slopes are thickly covered with Sesimbra’s seafront,
the town square below, the aromatic and evergreen this classy hotel offers
church of São Pedro contains shrubs and trees such as pine excellent sea views
8th-century tiles of scenes and cypress, more typical of from the rooms, which
from the life of St Peter. the Mediterranean. Vineyards are decorated in
The annual wine festival, also thrive on the sheltered contemporay style.
the Festa das Vindimas, is slopes and the town of Vila The hotel has its own
held on the first weekend of Nogueira de Azeitão is pool and a restaurant
September in front of the 17th- particularly known for its with a terrace in front
century Paços do Concelho wine, Moscatel de Setúbal. of the beach.
(town hall). Traditionally The Estrada de Escarpa (the ⌂ Avenida 25 de
dressed villagers press the N379-1) snakes across the top Abril 11, Sesimbra
wine barefoot and on the final of the ridge and affords ∑ sesimbra.sana
day of celebrations there is a astounding views. A narrow hotels.com
spectacular firework display road winds down to Portinho ¡¡¡
from the castle walls. da Arrábida, a sheltered cove
with a beach of fine white Pousada Dom
sand and crystal clear sea, Afonso II
14 popular with underwater Housed within a
fishermen. The sandy beaches
Serra da Arrábida of Galapos and Figueirinha are stylishly converted
castle, the hotel has
a little further east along the
! D5 @ Setúbal n Parque sweeping views of the
Natural da Arrábida, Praça coast road towards Setúbal. Sado river and valley,
da República, Setúbal; 265 Just east of Sesimbra, the and there is also a
Serra da Arrábida drops to
541 140 swimming pool and
the sea in the sheer 380-m restaurant.
The Serra da Arrábida Natural (1,250-ft) cliffs of Risco, the ⌂ Castelo de Alcácer do
Park covers the range of highest in mainland Portugal. Sal, Alcácer do Sal
∑ pousadas.pt
From the castle terraces and the top of the ¡¡¡
14th-century keep, there are fantastic views
over the Serra da Arrábida to the south, and
on a clear day across the Tagus to Lisbon.

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