Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Rua Detrás da Guarda 26; 10am-midnight Tue-Sat, to 8pm Sun)
Opened in 2012, this sparkling
new art space has a packed cultural calendar. Wander through changing exhibitions on the
main floor, or stop in for an evening concert of jazz trios, classical quartets, world music
and the like, which are held on the open-air Pátio do Dimas. The cinema upstairs has a
mix of European art-house fare, children's animated films and documentaries.
Prices are reasonable: exhibitions are free, films and concerts range from free to €5.
Stop in the Cafe das Artes for a drink and to see what's on.
Praça do Bocage
PLAZA
All streets in the pedestrianised old town seem to lead to this mosaic-cobbled square,
presided over by the arcaded pink-and-white town hall. It's a sunny spot for a wander
amid the palms and fountains, or for coffee and people-watching on one of the pavement
terraces.
Castelo São Filipe
( 7am-10pm)
Worth the 500m schlep uphill to the west, the castle was built by Filipe I in
1590 to fend off an English attack on the invincible Armada. Converted into a
pousada
(upmarket inn) in the 1960s, its hulking ramparts afford precipitous views and its chapel is
festooned in blue-and-white 18th-century
azulejos
.
CASTLE
Igreja de Jesus
CHURCH
(Praça Miguel Bombarda; 9am-1pm & 2-5.30pm Tue-Sun)
Setúbal's architectural stunner is
the sand-coloured Igreja de Jesus, one of the earliest examples of Manueline architecture,
adorned with gargoyles and twirling turrets. Around the altar, 18th-century blue-and-white
geometric
azulejos
contrast strikingly with the curling arches of the roof. Constructed in
1491, the church was designed by Diogo de Boitaca, better known for his later work on
Belém's fantastical Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.
Museu do Trabalho
MUSEUM
Michel Giacometti
(Largo Defensores da República; adult/child €1.15/free; 9am-12.30pm & 2-5.30pm Tue-Fri, 3-6pm Sat)
How
does the sardine get in the tin and 1001 other fishy mysteries are solved at this quirky,
