Torres Novas: Trails, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Paul do Boquilobo Wetland is an important wintering area for waterbirds in Portugal and a Ramsar site. It lies near the confluence of the Almonda and Tagus rivers; bird groups found here include herons and anatids such as ducks and geese. The Reserva da Biosfera do Paul do Boquilobo offers walks, routes and trails, as well as guided visits inside the reserve to observe nature and biodiversity. Check the booking details for guided visits in advance.

Choose hiking trails by length and route

The PR1 Rota do Almonda is a 23-kilometre linear hiking trail in the municipality of Torres Novas. It connects the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros with the Reserva Natural do Paul do Boquilobo and is divided into three sections. The length and route provide a practical way to choose between the hikes described here: the PR2 Vales da Serra de Aire is 13 kilometres long, forms a loop and climbs to the summit of Serra de Aire. The shorter PR3 Moinhos da Pena is 9 kilometres long, also forms a loop and leads into the area of a significant group of windmills on the Arrife escarpment.

The GR54 Grande Rota do Carso is on a different scale: it is more than 125 kilometres long, crosses the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros and passes through the municipalities of Alcanena, Torres Novas and Ourém. The PR4 Rota da Olaia e Paço, by contrast, focuses on the landscape and the sanctuaries along the route. Country lanes pass through traditional olive groves dotted with fig trees, vineyards and intensively cultivated olive groves. Several sanctuaries, including the Capela de Pousos and the Igreja do Paço, can be reached via signposted detours. The PR5 Rota de Fungalvaz covers the village area of Fungalvaz and follows the upper course of the Ribeira da Beselga. Its steep-sided limestone valley is known as Fórnea de Fungalvaz.

Wetlands, caves and traces in the rock

Geology can also be explored in different ways. The karst network of the Grutas do Almonda extends for more than 15 kilometres and is considered Portugal’s largest natural cave. The Grutas do Almonda are not open to visitors because access is complex. The Grutas de Lapas reveal a different kind of rock landscape: beneath the typical houses and streets of the village of Lapas lies a labyrinth carved into the rock.

At the Monumento Natural das Pegadas dos Dinossáurios, several hundred footprints are spread across 60,000 square metres, forming around two dozen exceptionally well-preserved trackways. The figures convey the scale of the site, while the trackways themselves draw attention to the surviving traces.

Castles, churches and archaeological finds

Torres Novas Castle is a 12th-century fortress captured by D. Sancho I in 1190. From its towers, panoramic views extend to Serra de Aire in the northwest and across the surrounding town. At the Ruínas Romanas de Villa Cardílio, Roman history meets a specific archaeological detail: the site is classified as a National Monument, and a mosaic depicts the portraits and names of its two owners, Cardílio and Avita. The Igreja e Vestígios do Convento do Carmo is classified as a Monument of Public Interest.

Two chapels with different historical contexts offer further examples of religious architecture. The Capela do Vale dates from the 7th or 8th century and is the oldest religious building in the municipality of Torres Novas. The chapel of the Convento de Santo António dates from 1593; its 18th-century tiles depict scenes from the lives of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony. Together, they span the range from an early religious building to later narrative tile art.

Museums spanning the Middle Ages to industrial history

The Museu Municipal Carlos Reis is housed in the Casa do Mogo de Melo, a grand 18th-century building also known as Casa do Mogo. Its collections include painting, sacred art and archaeology, and cover local history from prehistory to the Middle Ages. Around 30 works by Carlos Reis, including landscapes and portraits, offer a distinct insight into the artist’s work.

At the Núcleo Museológico Cerca da Vila, a permanent exhibition spans prehistory to the end of the Middle Ages in the 15th century. The 400,000-year-old human fossil skull ARO3, from the Gruta da Aroeira, is also on display there. It is one of the oldest known human fossils in Western Europe. The Núcleo Museológico da Central do Caldeirão focuses on a different subject: it is located in a restored hydroelectric power station that operated from 1923 to 1984. Together, these sites cover archaeological eras and the more recent history of energy production.

Markets, events and getting there

The Feira Nacional dos Frutos Secos takes place every year in early October and has been held without interruption since 1985. It brings together dried-fruit producers, local foods, traditional cuisine, crafts, concerts and performances; individual programme items may vary from year to year. Check the dates for your travel year. The Feira dos Produtos da Terra takes place monthly on the fourth Sunday at Praça dos Claras, where local products are sold directly by producers. It is also a good idea to check the calendar before travelling. The Feira de Época/Memórias da História has been held annually since 2010 in the historic centre and around the castle. The programme includes performances, dance, music, street entertainment and traditional cuisine, among other things; dates and admission arrangements may change.

Torres Novas is conveniently located near the junction of the A1 and A23 motorways. A railway line connects the town with Lisbon, northern Portugal and Spain. Check current timetables if you plan to travel by train.

Discover more destinations

Assentiz, Torres Novas, Zibreira, Ribeira Branca, Chancelaria, Ferreira Do Zêzere, Cartaxo, Golegã.

For the overview of the wider region: Santarem.