Alcácer do Sal

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Situated in the southern area of Setúbal's District and crossed by the Sado estuary, Alcácer do Sal is part of Alentejo Litoral subregion, included in the baixo Alentejo region. The layout of the urban grid, marked by the riverside axis with the narrow streets parallel to each other, the beauty associated with the estuary, the heritage and the typicality emblazoned on the white houses with blue ledges, give a peculiar appearance to the county. Traces found in the castle foundations date back to the late Neolithic human occupation. The Romans developed here an important commercial port, which prospered mainly with the production of salt and that has been one of the main wealth sources of the county. In addition to the navigability of the river, its military and commercial strategy was also favored due to the fact that here three of the main Lusitania roads intersect with each other. Pedro Nunes, mathematician, Ruy Coelho, musician, Francisco Soares Gentil, internationally renown doctor, and Bernardino Ribeiro, novelist and poet, constitute some of the emblematic figures of the municipality. On a gastronomic level there are numerous specialities from the Mediterranean trilogy that combine bread, oil and wine, and that are complemented with aromatic herbs, notably the eel and lamb stew, migas (dish made with leftover bread), rebolão potatoes with spare ribs, purslane soup, black bass, açordas (bread stews) and feijão adubado (kind of beans). In the wide range of conventual sweets, the most famous are the pinhoadas (pinion sweets), egg candies, honey cake, queijadas de requeijão (kind of small cheese sweets), salatinos, bolo real (cake made of eggs and almonds) and the bean and almond pastries. Not to be missed is the annually held Rice Festival in Comporta, which evokes the main activity of the parish.

What to do in Alcácer do Sal

Castelo de Alcácer do Sal

Alcácer do Sal

A moorish castle that was built during the 6th century. Conquered by the Portuguese crown in 1217, it ceased being used for military purposes in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the Order of Aracoelli founded a convent there, where they remained until 1834. Currently, one can visit the ruins of the catle, of the Aracoelli convent, of the …

Cais Palafítico da Carrasqueira

Alcácer do Sal

The Porto Palafita de Carrasqueira is composed of a wide range of boardwalks made of wood that is buried in the mud of the River Sado. These improvised constructions are a little more than fifty years old and are a result of the struggle against the sand invasion of the Sado river.

Cripta Arqueológica do Castelo de Alcácer do Sal

Alcácer do Sal

Regarded as the largest archaeological crypt in the country, lies beneath the Castle of Alcácer salt, transformed into the Pousada d. Afonso II. Shows traces of iron age dating back to the 6th century BC, as well as structures of the Roman period and the Islamic occupation, covering a considerable area. Met also medieval Christian-era walls pós-reconquista, based partly on …

Barragem de Vale de Gaio / Barragem de Trigo de Morais

Alcácer do Sal

A dam located in the Xarama river (Sado's River Basin) right in the planes of the Alentejo region. Fishing and swimming are allowed. Motor boats and surfing are allowed with some restrictions.

Museu do Arroz

Alcácer do Sal

The museological Space works on building of the former rice hulling factory, situated between the floodplain and Marshland. On level 0 in the boiler room, a film produced with former workers linked to rice production and tools are exposed. The …

Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso

Alcácer do Sal

A popular church with a well preserved altar.

Igreja do Senhor dos Martíres

Alcácer do Sal

This is one of the oldest Christian temples in the country and it stands out for the shapes and signals that are sculpted on the walls as well as for the different styles one can see in its various chapels.

Museu Municipal Pedro Nunes

Alcácer do Sal

Founded in the end of the last century, this museum features archaeology collections of the Alcácer do Sal parish, from pre-history to our days. A special not to the iron age and roman age objects.

Museu Etnográfico do Torrão

Alcácer do Sal

An ancient olive oil press, recovered with traditional techniques and materials, that is currently a museum. Devoted to all the different stages of bread making.

Stupa Tashi Gomang

Alcácer do Sal

Templo da comunidade budista Guhya Mantrika, o Stupa Tashi Gomang está situado no Centro de Retiros de Santa Susana, em Alcácer do Sal. É um dos maiores templos budistas do mundo ocidental, com 16 metros de altura e um templo …

Igreja Matriz de Santa Susana

Alcácer do Sal

A church with a longitudinal plan composed of the uneven rectangles of the nave and of the high altar. A special not to the paintings on the high altar, of the 1500s, and to the paintings on wood by the …

Miradouro do Castelo

Alcácer do Sal

From the Castle of Alcácer do Sal one can view the Sado river and the planes of the Alentejo region. Ideal for taking great photographs.

Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado

Alcácer do Sal

Occupying most of the estuary and its surrounding area (parishes of Alcácer do Sal, Grândola, Palmela and Setúbal), the Natural Reservation of the Sado's Estuary is a mixture of river and sea waters, where the sand banks, the beaches and …

Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo / Igreja Matriz de Alcácer do Sal

Alcácer do Sal

This temple was founded by the religious Order of Santiago at the end of the 12th century. A romanesque-gothic church with three naves. A special note to the portals and to the chapiters decorated by animal images.

Estação Arqueológica do Senhor dos Mártires

Alcácer do Sal

The site is buried under olive trees. It is classed as a National Monument. In this site, four different types of graves have been found, all of which related to crematory rituals.

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Where to eat in Alcácer do Sal

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Where to sleep in Alcácer do Sal

Cucumbi Hotel
Cucumbi Hotel

Localizada na aldeia do Barrancão, no concelho de Alcácer do Sal, a Herdade Cucumbi proporciona infindáveis atividades como a sua piscina com vista sobre os ca…

Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal
Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal

Historic/design inn

Located in the castle of Alcácer do Sal, the Pousada Dom Afonso II provides a refined stay in a historic atmosphere. With 35 rooms and several services availab…

Vale do Gaio Hotel
Vale do Gaio Hotel

3 star

A typical house with lovely views and quite a peaceful atmosphere, located by the Vale de Gaio dam. It has 14 comfortable rooms and is fit for practising sever…

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Sines

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