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    Santarém

    Portugal

    Santarém

    CityCulture

    Santarem is located on a plateau high above the Tejo, about 80 kilometers northeast of Lisbon. It is often referred to as the Capital of Gothic due to its many Gothic churches.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Portugal
    7. Ribatejo
    9. Santarém
    Santarem is located on a plateau high above the Tejo, about 80 kilometers northeast of Lisbon. It is often referred to as the Capital of Gothic due to its many Gothic churches. From the Portas do Sol garden, you look out far over the river and the flat Lezíria, the land of horse and bull breeding. The old town is quiet and not very touristy.

    Sights in Santarém

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Jardim das Portas do Sol

    1Jardim das Portas do Sol

    Garden on the old castle grounds, surrounded by remnants of the city wall. From the edge, you look out over the Tejo and the Lezíria plain.
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    Sé de Santarém

    2Sé de Santarém

    Former 17th-century Jesuit church on Praça Sá da Bandeira, now a cathedral. Inside: gilded altars and a painted ceiling, sacred art in the adjoining museum.
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    Igreja de Santa Maria da Graça

    3Igreja de Santa Maria da Graça

    Gothic church with a large rose window on the facade. Pedro Álvares Cabral, the discoverer of Brazil, rests here.
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    Church of Saint Mary of Marvila
    Church

    4Church of Saint Mary of Marvila

    Church with a Manueline portal, whose interior is almost completely lined with 17th-century Azulejos.
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    Convent of Saint Francis
    Attraction

    5Convent of Saint Francis

    Gothic 13th-century Franciscan monastery, restored after long decay. The church and cloisters are preserved and now host exhibitions.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Dom Papinhas

    Restaurant in Rua Dr.
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    2

    QUINTA DO SABOR - CAFÉ & Restaurante

    Restaurant in Portugal.
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    3

    Taberna do Quinzena

    Restaurant in R. Pedro de Santarém 93 95.
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    4

    O Torgal

    Restaurant in R. Alfageme de Santarém 37.
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    5

    Restaurante Brazão

    Restaurant in Av. dos Combatentes 25.
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    Culture and History

    Afonso Henriques conquered Santarém from the Moors in 1147, after which the city was often a royal residence. Pedro Álvares Cabral is buried in the Graça Church. On April 25, 1974, Captain Salgueiro Maia led troops from Santarém to Lisbon and played a central role in the Carnation Revolution.The Ribatejo is the land of the Campinos, the horsemen with red vests and green caps. Bullfights take place here in the Portuguese style, where the bull is not killed in the arena.

    Out and About in Santarém

    Trains from Lisbon arrive at the station down by the Tagus; from there, a bus takes you to the center. Explore the old town on foot. For excursions to Almourol, Tomar, or the Lezíria, you'll need a car.

    Accommodations in Santarém

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    Campgrounds in Santarém

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      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      • 1Jardim das Portas do Sol3 days
      • 2Sé de Santarém4 days
      • 3Igreja de Santa Maria da Graça5 days
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    Nearby

    Ribatejo

    Ribatejo

    The Ribatejo is the region on both sides of the middle Tejo northeast of Lisbon. It is flat, fertile alluvial land with viticulture, rice fields, and pastures where horses and fighting bulls are bred. Key towns are Santarém with its Gothic churches and Tomar with the Templar castle Convento de Cristo, plus the river castle of Almourol.
    Castelo de Almourol

    Castelo de Almourol

    The Castelo de Almourol stands on a small rocky island in the middle of the Tejo River between Tancos and Vila Nova da Barquinha. The Templars rebuilt the castle in 1171 under Gualdim Pais on older foundations; it secured the former border line on the Tejo. Today, it is one of the most famous photo motifs of the Ribatejo.
    Óbidos

    Óbidos

    Óbidos is a small town, completely surrounded by a medieval wall, about 80 kilometers north of Lisbon. Inside the walls are white houses with blue and yellow trim, cobblestone streets, and churches; the castle crowns the top. Since 2015, Óbidos has been part of the UNESCO Cities of Literature network, and several bookshops are housed in unusual spaces. During the day it is very busy, but significantly quieter in the mornings and evenings.
    Costa de Prata (Silver Coast)

    Costa de Prata (Silver Coast)

    The Costa de Prata, the Silver Coast, is the coastal stretch between Lisbon and Coimbra, encompassing the districts of Leiria and the western area around Caldas da Rainha. Here lie the walled town of Óbidos, the monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, the fishing and surfing town of Nazaré, the Peniche peninsula, and the pilgrimage site of Fátima in the hinterland.
    Fátima

    Fátima

    Fátima is one of the world's largest Catholic pilgrimage sites. In 1917, three shepherd children reportedly had multiple apparitions of the Virgin Mary here. Today, a huge square surrounds the small Chapel of the Apparitions, with two basilicas at its ends. The town thrives almost entirely on pilgrims; hotels and devotional shops line up around the sanctuary.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI