Page 185 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

Walking trail near the village
of Constância, running
beside the Zêzere river

counts of Abrantes, and the República, honours Gil Vicente, 21
richest and most remarkable the 16th-century playwright
nucleus of Sevillian dry-stone who was born here. Castelo de Almourol
tiles in the country. ! E4 § 915 081 737 @ To
On Rua da República, the Museu Dom Lopo Barquinha then taxi and
Misericórdia church, construc- de Almeida ferry # Tue–Sun during
ted in 1584, has six magnificent ⌂ Rua Capitão Correia de day light hours
religious panels attributed to Lacerda § 241 371 724
Gregório Lopes (1490–1550). # Tue–Sun Dramatically set on a tiny
The 16th-century church of island in the Tagus, this
São Tiago e São Mateus, enchanting castle was built
located in the unspoiled town 20 over a Roman fortress in 1171
of Sardoal, 8 km (5 miles) by Gualdim Pais. Legends of
north of Abrantes, holds a Constância this magical place abound. A
com pelling thorn-crowned ! E4 ⌂ 12 km (7 miles) 16th-century verse romance
Christ by the 16th-century west of Abrantes called Palmeirim de Inglaterra
painter, the Master of Sardoal. weaves an intricate tale of
An 18th-century tile panel on The pretty whitewashed town giants and knights, as well
the façade of the Capela do of Constância nurtures the as the fight of the crusader
Espírito Santo, in Praça da memory of the poet Luís Vaz Palmeirim for the lovely
de Camões, who lived here for Polinarda. Some say the castle
three years before he was is haunted by the ghost of a
banished from court in 1546 princess sighing for the love
for writing a love sonnet to a of her Moorish slave.
lady who was also favoured by
King João III. The riverside
gardens seen today were GREAT VIEW
influenced by those described Capture
in his poem Os Lusiadas. the Castle
The town sits on the con- With a car, head to
fluence of the Tagus and Zêzere Bar do Castelo, off the
rivers, and there are lovely M1191. This little bar is
local walks along their shores. on the opposite bank of
the Tagus to Castelo de
Almourel, making it a
great spot to enjoy a
Statue of Francisco de refreshing drink and
Almeida in front of the take a photo.
castle at Abrantes
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