Castelo de Palmela : Your complete guide
Hello, this is Ismail Siddiky from Europe Diary.
Do you remember my 3rd blog about things to do around Lisbon? Today, I am talking about Castelo de Palmela.
We went to Setúbal for a hike through the windmill route, where we learned about the prehistoric occupation of the site and got to see Roman ruins, abandoned mills, traditional bakeries, beautifully restored windmills, among many other things. While we were hiking, I couldn’t take my eyes off the mesmerizing views over the castle of Palmela. So, after our hike, we went to explore the village and its castle. We should have walked there, but honestly, I could barely stand on my feet after the hike. So, we drove uphill through the narrow streets until we found this millenary castle.
If only its walls could speak! This structure is older than the Portuguese nationality, and what we can find here nowadays is the result of several repairs, reconstructions, and enlargements throughout the centuries. The first thing we found when entering through its barbican gate was a set of walls that served to trap enemies in case of invasions.
Another interesting thing about castles is the presence of the Traitor’s Gate. These are strategic military secrets that you can find in most castles and medieval cities of Portugal nowadays, and I usually teach people about them during my guided tours. It’s also common to find churches inside the walls, and Palmela’s Castle, though initially built by Islamic populations, is no exception.
This castle served the Santiago Military Order, which established its religious military seat between 1443 and 1834. Santiago Church was closed that day, so it was only possible for us to visit the ruins of Santa Maria Church. This temple might have been constructed during the 12th century over a previous mosque. It was used throughout the medieval ages and, unfortunately, part of it collapsed during the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. It was later used as a cemetery and even served as a wheatfield.
The castle and Santiago’s church have been considered national monuments since 1910, and right beside them, you’ll also find Santiago’s Convent, built in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was restored and converted into a Pousada de Portugal in the 1970s. This means you can stay here for the night! It’s such a great location, right next to the Tróia Peninsula and the Arrábida Natural Park, just a 15-minute drive from the beautiful city of Setúbal and 40 minutes from Lisbon. I wouldn’t think twice if I had the opportunity to stay here.
Anyway, we continued our castle quest, exploring the Menagem Tower. Over there, you can learn about Portuguese history and enjoy the fabulous views over Palmela village and its surroundings. I made sure to take my time being thankful for this wonderful country I live in and its exciting history that I love sharing with people.
I did have to battle the wind before going back home! We still had time to enjoy the Islamic archaeological findings and say farewell to the windmill route from the top of the hill.
It was surely an unforgettable day, surrounded by people I adore and doing what I love most—exploring Portugal and sharing it with you. I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and learning about another thing to do around Lisbon.
If you want to see more blogs like this about Portugal, make sure to stay tuned to my website. I’ll be writing more blogs like this every day.
My name is Ismail of Europe Diary, and I’ll see you next time.
Bye!