- Igreja da Graça
This church dates back to the 13th century but it was restored in 1951. The main portal has a richly decorated rose window at the top. Inside there are three naves with very pure lines. The church contains several tombs, namely those of Pedro de Meneses and his wife; Pedro Álvares Cabral (discoverer of Brazil) and his wife are buried under a simple slab near the main chapel.
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Santarem - Igreja da Graça |
- Convento de Santa Clara
The former church of the convent dates back to the 13th century. Inside there is three naves, the tombs of the founder and two others from the 14th and the 17th century. There are also 17th century frescoes.
There are still a number of churches, Igreja de Santa Cruz, a 13th century church, restored during the 20th century, with a baroque portal; Capela de Nossa Senhora do Monte, a former chapel restored during the Renaissance, it has two beautiful azulejos from the 17th century; Igreja do Santo Estevão, a 17th century chapel with the founder's tomb; Igreja do Hospital de Jesus Cristo from the: 15th century; Igreja de São Nicolau, a very old church restored in the 17th century; capela de São Pedro, probably from the 14th century; Igreja
Nossa Senhora
da Piedade, a church started in1663..
- Fonte da Figueira
This
fountain leaned against a wall is a rare example of a 14th century fountain in Portugal, decorated with merlons and coats of arms of Portugal and King Dinis I.
- Torre das Cabaças
This ancient defensive tower of the mediaeval wall of the city now houses the Time Museum with an exhibition about the measurement of time through the ages.
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Santarem - Torre das Cabaças |
After Santarém, you can go to Almeirim, 7 km from there, a town on the left bank of the river.
In1411 king D.João I had a palace built here surrounded with gardens, agricultural land and also a hospital. Of all this there is nothing left.
The mainstay of the economy is agriculture, including wine making and modern industry of alimentary products such as fruit juices, processed tomato and canned vegetables. The city is also known for its gastronomy, to which Stone Soup (sopa de pedra) is just one great example.
A little further North, 10 km from Santarém there is Alpiarça, a town where you can visit a house museum, Casa Dos Patudos. It was the home of politician José Relvas (1858-1929) and was built by architect Raul Lino from 1905 to1909. Inside is a collection of very important and not only Portuguese pieces of art, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, furniture and tapestries.
13 km from Santarém, on the right bank of Tagus you will find Cartaxo, a town where there is the very interesting "Museu Rural e do Vinho" in a rural property from the 19th century. In this museum there is a collection of tools used for the production of wine. A part of this museum is also dedicated to horses, bulls, and those who work in the Ribatejo is region. You can buy and/or sample the regional wine - Vinho do Cartaxo - a strong red wine.
From Cartaxo you can go towards Azambuja, a city conquered from the Arabs by the first king of Portugal and where in 1296 king D.Dinis had a big pine forest planted.
From Azambuja take the A1 highway towards Lisbon, take the Alverca exit and then the A9 towards Loures, Torres Vedras, continue to Malveira, exit at Mafra to get to Ericeira.
