Vila Franca de Xira

The municipality of Vila Franca de Xira is part of the District of Lisbon and, being crossed by the river Tagus, presents two types of landscape: on the right bank, is concentrated the majority of the population and industries; the left bank is occupied by typical lezírias ribatejano. These, in spite of Vila Franca has become a dormitory town, retain the rurality that always had. Some of the artefacts found in the municipality date back to the lower Palaeolithic, other to Roman occupation and Arabic, which attests that, in fact, the existence of this county is very old. Your configuration has been changing as the currently existing parishes were integrated. The French invasions went through here and the episode which became known as "Vilafrancada", a coup d ' état under the command of Miguel against the Constitution of 1822, mark the local history. The Vila Franca de Xira is associated with bullfighting, figure of the campino (with monument built), the pitchforks, the Knights and killer of bulls. In addition, figures like Alves Redol and Soeiro Pereira Gomes are linked to this land, by the literary contribution and humanist who gave to the city. One of the main tourist attractions of Vila Franca is, without doubt, the gastronomy, intense flavours, linked to fishing and the rural environment, given the connection to the River, that is, until today, a livelihood for many families. The Shad is the calling card of the region, but the eels to fisherman, the mixed stew, cod soup or the linguadinhos are recurring proposals on local menus. The "Garraios", the "Wait" and the "Lezírias" are the most typical regional sweets, without forgetting the famous melon, which reaches all over the country.

What to do in Vila Franca de Xira

Where to eat in Vila Franca de Xira

Where to sleep in Vila Franca de Xira

Lezíria Parque Hotel
Lezíria Parque Hotel

4 star

Situated 25 kilometres from the International Airport of Lisbon, the hotel Leziria Parque provides a beautiful view over the Tagus River and the lezíria. Offer…

Quinta do Alto
Quinta do Alto

Located in the middle of the lezíria ribatejana and integrated in a fifth of orchards and vineyards of selected varieties, this alpendrada House provides a ple…

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