Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
to Cabo Espichel, where dinosaurs once roamed. It's 30km southwest of Setúbal, shelter-
ing under the Serra da Arrábida at the western edge of the beautiful Parque Natural da Ar-
rábida.
Sights
Castelo
( 8am-7pm)
For sweeping views over dale and coast, roam the snaking ramparts of
the Moorish castle, rising 200m above Sesimbra. It was taken by Dom Afonso Henriques
in the 12th century, retaken by the Moors, then snatched back by Christians under Dom
Sancho I.
The ruins harbour the 18th-century, chalk-white
Igreja Santa Maria do Castelo
; step inside to
admire its heavy gold altar and exquisite blue-and-white
azulejos
. The shady castle
grounds are ideal for picnics.
CASTLE
Fortaleza de Santiago
In the town centre, the grandest castle on the sand is 17th-century Fortaleza de
Santiago, once part of Portugal's coastal defences and the summertime retreat of Por-
tuguese kings. At research time it was closed for renovations.
CASTLE
Activities
Sesimbra is a great place to get into the outdoors with a backyard full of cliffs for climb-
ing, clear water for scuba diving, Atlantic waves for windsurfing, and miles and miles of
unspoilt coastal trails for hiking and cycling. Adrenaline junkies get their thrills with vig-
orous pursuits from canyoning to rappelling.
Vertente Natural
( 210 848 919;
www.vertentenatural.com
;
Santana; tours from €25)
An eco-aware, one-stop shop
for adventure sports, this Sesimbra -based outfitter offers trekking, canyoning, canoeing,
diving and rappelling. It's headquartered a few kilometres northwest of town.
ADVENTURE SPORTS
Aquarama
CRUISE
