Santarem: Tagus Landscapes, Heritage and Nature

Santarém sits on a high plateau overlooking the fertile Lezíria and the Tagus Valley. In the city, Portas do Sol combines a garden enclosed by old walls with a scenic viewpoint. This landscape sets the scene for a trip that can take in historic buildings and museums as well as wetlands, karst formations and trails. Santarem can be explored through specific interests: culture in Santarém and Tomar, nature experiences, hiking routes, and regional cuisine and traditions.

History and architecture

In Santarém, the 14th-century Torre do Relógio now houses the Núcleo Museológico do Tempo. The Romanesque Igreja de São João do Alporão has been converted into the Núcleo Museológico de Arte e Arqueologia; its apse was built in the Gothic style. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Marvila combines Manueline inspiration with exemplary 17th-century tilework. The Convento de São Francisco dates from the 13th century. Each of these buildings offers a different cultural point of interest, highlighting museum use, architectural history or decorative arts in its own way.

Tomar adds another dimension to this historical perspective. The Convento de Cristo was founded in 1160 by Templar Grand Master Gualdim Pais. The historic centre is also home to one of Portugal’s oldest synagogues, complemented by the Museu Luso-Hebraico Abraão Zacuto. Castelo de Almourol stands on an island in the Tagus. According to an inscription at the entrance, its reconstruction dates from 1171. Together with the castles of Tomar, Zêzere and Cardiga, it formed a defensive line along the Tagus.

Landscapes and nature experiences

The Paúl do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve is a freshwater wetland in a bend of the Almonda River. In winter, it is naturally flooded by the Tagus. A different landscape is found in the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros: the limestone massif is dotted with caves and karst features shaped by water and time. The park is home to 18 species of bat.

At the Monumento Natural das Pegadas de Dinossáurio, visitors follow an educational trail with information panels. The natural monument preserves several hundred tracks made by four-legged herbivorous dinosaurs 175 million years ago, arranged in twenty trackways. Guided visits can be arranged in advance. Near Rio Maior, visitors can observe salt production at the Marinhas de sal-gema, following the rules in place. The salt pans have been in use for more than eight centuries. Alongside wetlands, karst and geological history, a long tradition of human use offers another distinctive nature and cultural experience.

Trails, regional cuisine and traditions

Santarém can be explored via themed trails based on the artistic movements that accompanied the city’s social and economic development. The central Portuguese Way of St James, Caminho Português de Santiago – Caminho Central, is fully signposted from Lisbon. The section from Santarém to Golegã is approximately 30.5 km long. While the themed trails in Santarém take artistic movements as their guide, the Caminho Central is designated as a pilgrimage route; the two options therefore appeal to different interests.

Regional specialities around Santarém include Cozido de carne, Sopa da pedra and Migas ribatejanas. The Tejo Wine Route 118 follows the left bank of the Tagus for about 150 km and passes through seven municipalities: Abrantes, Constância, Chamusca, Alpiarça, Almeirim, Salvaterra de Magos and Benavente. In Golegã, the Feira Nacional do Cavalo takes place in November and includes demonstrations featuring purebred Lusitano horses.

Key celebrations at the Sanctuary of Fátima include the candlelight procession on 12 May and the farewell procession on 13 May. Fátima can be reached via the A1 motorway or national roads; bus services are provided by Rodotejo and Rede Expressos. If you are planning your trip around a celebration or the event in Golegã, check the dates for the relevant period. If travelling to Fátima, it is worth checking the timetables.

Choose a hotel location to suit your travel interests

If you are looking for a hotel in Santarem, first decide what you want to focus on during your trip. Buildings and museums, nature experiences, a stage of the Caminho or a November event in Golegã all call for different plans. Choose a location based on the places that matter most to your stay.

Discover more destinations

Soudos, Beco, Bemposta, Azoia De Baixo, Santo Estêvão, Benavente, Alvega, Martinchel, Amiais de Cima, Torres Novas, Tomar, Entroncamento, Vila Nova Da Barquinha, Almeirim, Abrantes, Monsanto, Cercal Do Alentejo, Rio Maior, Golegã, Foros De Salvaterra, Coruche, Urqueira, Santana Do Mato, Santarém, Atalaia, Fazendas de Almeirim, Sardoal, Mação, Samora Correia, Pego, Ourém, Mação, São Nicolau, Alpiarça Municipality, Chamusca, Cartaxo, Constância, Ferreira Do Zêzere, Alcanena

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