Option 1 – In the morning…
10:00 am
We suggest you begin your journey at 10:00 am at the Historic Centre of Santiago do Cacém, a unique area that offers the opportunity to discover a rich and majestic past.
You should leave your coach at the Vale Matanças parking area, next to Passeio das Romeirinhas, which surrounds the Historic Centre.
Passeio das Romeirinhas: The Passeio das Romeirinhas tour was created in 1840. This was the romantic tour of the Belle Époque, overlooking the orchards of historic farms and, further away, the ocean. The Romeirinhas tours were completed on foot or by bicycle, but in a slow and stately manner on calm late afternoons.
The “high society” of Santiago do Cacém, who continued to complete the tour up until the nineteen thirties, abandoned the practice and the tour, which continues today to be a pleasant sightseeing tour offering beautiful views, and it ceased to form part of the daily routine of Santiago residents during the second half of the twentieth century.
Here we find the Chapel of St. Peter (dating back to the sixteenth century), a veritable picture postcard under the castle wall.
10:15 am:
Continue along Rua Condes de Avillez and on your right you will see an old garage marking the arrival of the first motorcar in Portugal, a Panhard & Levassor, which came to Santiago do Cacém in 1895.
10:20 am:
A little further on, you will find the imposing façade of the nineteenth-century Avillez Palace, the residence of the most important Santiago family of the time.
10:25 am:
Continue past Casa das Heras, an old building dating back to the beginning of the nineteenth century, which has a curious appearance with its façades totally covered in ivy (heras in Portuguese).
10:30 am:
Adjoined is the former House of the Prior Bonifacio, rebuilt in the early nineteenth century and easily recognizable due to the vegetation that covers it.
10:35 am:
Continue on and climb up to the Castle (seventeenth century), of Arab origin, and the Mother Church of Santiago (eighteenth century), both listed buildings offering an authentic collection of historic monuments.
10:45 am:
Mother Church of Santiago do Cacém: During the Arab occupation, there was quite probably a mosque on the site of this building. After being conquered by the knights of the order of Sant’Iago, it was later adapted into a Christian temple. The Church is situated next to the castle and used to be inside it before a tower and part of the wall were demolished, when the temple was rebuilt.
At the entrance, there is a stone panel in high relief depicting the Apostle of Santiago fighting the Moors. This panel was offered by D. Vetácia (one of the donataries of the village), in the first half of the fourteenth century. It was this piece that inspired the coat of arms of the city of Santiago do Cacém. On the left side façade, the Porta do Sol (Sun Door), is an example of the Gothic style.
12:15 pm:
Before descending, you should also visit the Tapada dos Condes de Avillez, a former romantic garden belonging to the noble Avillez family. With an arrangement that combined a botanical garden with a park of romantic inspiration, the gardens include various buildings and spaces: St. George’s Chapel, Tea House and Neogothic Greenhouse. It is formed of a terrace on the courtyard and roofs of the palace, which became an important and pleasant viewpoint.
Behind the Chapel, in a clearing of the park, is the Tomb of Bem Mirado, the favourite horse of the 4th Earl, which died of old age in the 1920s; the tomb is covered by a rectangular tombstone, where the head of the horse is shown in relief accompanied by an earl’s crown.
12:40 pm:
You can start your descent to the nerve centre of the city, the Town Hall, passing through Largo do Pelourinho and observing the numerous façades of buildings of architectural and cultural importance. It is located in the historic area of the city, surrounded by the Misericórdia Church, old emblazoned houses, manorial palaces and buildings where public services were based until the end of the last century.
In the middle of the square, its centre, is the pillory, which was reconstructed and placed there in 1845.
Highlights here are the Pillory itself, the former Municipal Services and old Women’s School, the old Church of the Holy Spirit, the former Hospital of the Holy Spirit, the former Town Hall, the Clock Tower and the Misericórdia Church.
(Note: in the period between 12:15 pm and 01:00 pm), instead of the Tapada and Largo do Pelourinho in the historic centre, you may choose to visit the Municipal Museum (http://www.cm-santiagocacem.pt/autarquia/equipamentos-municipais/museu-municipal-de-santiago-do-cacem/)
01:00 pm:
For lunch…
Head to one of the city’s many restaurants, where we recommend local products of renowned quality. Typical dishes include: miolos (brains), jantarinhos and cozidos (typical stews) and the delicious Carne de Porco Preto (pork meat from the Iberian Pig). Migas à Alentejana (bread stew with pork), Tomato Soups, Gaspacho, Açorda (bread soup) and Game Dishes complement the extensive menu.
Option 2 – In the afternoon…
03:00 pm:
After lunch, head to the Quintinha Municipal Mill where you can look around inside and see all the mechanisms of the traditional cereal grinding process, duly explained by the resident miller. (http://turismo.cm-santiagocacem.pt/museus/)
04:00 pm
Then visit the Roman Ruins of Miróbriga, an archaeological site boasting thermal baths, a Roman bridge, a domus with frescoes, forum, temple and Roman paving. It is also home to the only known Roman horse racing track in Portugal. The venue has a reception and interpretative centre and thematic exhibition hall.
There is a charge for guided visits and you are advised to contact the site in advance to request a guide (http://www.cultura-alentejo.pt/patrimonio_construido,8,lista.aspx)
It is estimated that you will finish this section of the route by 05:30 pm.
At the end of the day, we recommend a break for a light snack: Alentejo bread with local cheese, smeared with honey or traditional jams or served hot, with olive oil and sugar, the so-called tiborna.
For dinner…
If you are staying overnight to continue your visit the following day, for dinner we recommend one of the local restaurants. (http://turismo.cm-santiagocacem.pt/gastronomia-restauracao/), where you can enjoy a tasty and refined meal, accompanied by a fine local wine, whether red or white. Do not finish your meal without trying the traditional bolo de santiago cake, alcomonias (sweets made with honey and cassava) or rebuçados de pinhão e mel (sweets made with pine nuts and honey) , duly served with pennyroyal or blueberry liqueur.
Option 3 – In the morning, the following day…
10:00 am
Nothing like starting the day by heading for the coast at Costa de Santo André. If you slept in the city of Santiago do Cacém, this trip will take you across a large part of the parish of Santo André, the most populous in the Municipality. It is located 12 km from Santiago do Cacém.
10:30 am:
Vila Nova de Santo André is the largest population cluster in the county and emerged in the 1980s as a support to the Sines Industrial Complex.
Pass through the city of Vila Nova de Santo André towards Galicia. Here, on the left, at the exit for Brescos, the Furo da Galiza, belonging to the company Águas de Santo André, can be seen. The route is accessed through a gate that is located next to this site.
10:45 am:
The Salgueiral da Galiza Walking Trail is worth visiting for the quality of its habitats and the rarity of its landscapes. It is an easy circular route with a length of around 1,900m, part of which is a dirt track and part a wooden walkway. Guided tours with technicians from the Natural Reserve may be arranged by prior appointment, by calling 269708400, and visits are charged.
(http://www.icnf.pt/portal/turnatur/visit-ap/rn/rnlsas/pr-salg-galiz)
It is advisable to wear walking shoes/hiking boots/training shoes, a hat and use mosquito repellent.
12:00 pm
After the tour, you are advised to head to the Lagoa de Santo André lagoon, where you can observe one of the most beautiful landscapes on the Alentejo Coast, where the lagoon and the Costa de Santo André coast meet. Located near the sea and surrounded by a sandy beach that stretches for several kilometres, it is an excellent area for leisure, where artisanal fishing boats can still be seen. It constitutes valuable ecological heritage as a nesting site and stopover for migratory birds.
01:00 pm:
Before finishing your morning, and considering that this is an area rich in fish, you can try some specialities of the Alentejo Coast, such as ensopado (stew) and caldeirada de enguias (eel stew). The annual opening of the Lagoa de Santo André lagoon to the sea provides cleaner waters and, consequently, a higher quality of eel, as well as a true scenic spectacle.
It forms part of a rich gastronomic diversity, the record of an ancestral cultural heritage that must be preserved. Check out the list of restaurants that can be found on the CMSC website (http://turismo.cm-santiagocacem.pt/gastronomia-restauracao/)
It was a pleasure having you with us! Until next time…
