Page 189 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

Napoleon’s troops during the
HIDDEN GEM Peninsular War. North of the
Holy Cow! town, near the restored fort of
Just 5 km (3 miles) São Vicente, traces of trenches
northwest of Alenquer, and bastions are still visible,
at Meca, you’ll find the but along most of the lines
huge Neo-Classical the forts and earth works
Basílica de Santa have gone, buried by time
Quitéria. A blessing of and rapid change.
cattle takes place at this Above the town, the
beautiful 18th-century restored walls of the 13th-
church each May. century castle embrace a
shady garden and the church
of Santa Maria do Castelo.
of the humanist chronicler and Down in the town, on Praça 25 Traditional tiles
native son, Damião de Góis de Abril, a memorial to those decorating the Convento
(1502–74). Pêro de Alenquer, who died in the Peninsular da Graça, Torres Vedras
a navigator for the explorers War stands in front of the
Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 and 16th-century Convento da
Vasco da Gama in 1497 (p114), Graça. Today the convent depicting scenes of daily life.
was also born here. Uphill, houses the well-lit Museu Behind the church, on Rua
near the ruins of a 13th-century Municipal. A room devoted to Cândido dos Reis, stands a
castle, the monastery church the Peninsular War displays a pretty 16th-century water
of São Francisco retains a model of the lines; other fountain that is worth seeing,
Manueline cloister and a interesting exhibits include a the Chafariz dos Canos
13th-century portal. Founded 15th-century Flemish School (Fountain of the Pipes).
in 1222, this was Portugal’s Retábulo da Vida da Virgem.
first Franciscan monastery. Open for Mass at weekends, Museu Municipal
the monastery church, Igreja " ⌂ Praça 25 de Abril § 261
da Graça, has a 17th-century 310 484 # Tue–Sun ¢ 1 Jan,
29 gilded altarpiece. In a niche Easter, 1 May, 24 & 25 Dec
in the chancel is the tomb of
Torres Vedras São Gonçalo de Lagos.
Beyond the pedestrian Rua
! D5 £ @ n Praça do
MunÍcipio, Edificio dos 9 de Abril, the Manueline
Paços do Concelho; 261 church of São Pedro greets DRINK
the visitor with an exotic
310 483
winged dragon on the portal.
The town is closely linked with The interior has a painted Museu Rural e
the Lines of Torres Vedras, wooden ceiling and walls do Vinho
fortified defenses built by the adorned with colourful The banks of the Tagus
Duke of Wellington to repel 18th-century azulejo panels river are well known for
their vineyards: take
the N118 north of
Santarém and you pass
many signs for vinho
do produtor (wine
producer), where you
can stop and buy local
produce. A good place
to learn about the
wines is at the Museum
Rural e do Vinho, which
also offers tastings in
a restored adega
(wine bar).
! D4 ⌂ Rua 25
de Abril, Cartaxo
§ 243 701 257
¢ Mon
Vineyard at Alenquer,
an area known for its
wine production
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