Sunny coast of Portugal, fresh breeze of the Atlantic Ocean, beautiful beaches and picturesque landscapes. You are on the Setubal peninsula, fifty kilometers from the capital Lisbon, the center of the country.
The Portuguese town of Azeitau is considered a real paradise for lovers of exquisite dishes and connoisseurs of beauty. This city is a great place for sweets and lovers of sweets. You will be able to visit the wine cellars, which are famous all over the world, and take part in interesting, informative and delicious tastings. Azeitau also became famous for its seafood dishes, local cheeses and appetizing various desserts.
In 2014, Azeitão cheese received the “Oscar of Gastronomy” – the Great Taste Awards, organized by the Guild of Fine Food from Ireland.
The Museu do Queijo de Azeitão is a cheese museum that can be accessed as part of an organized tour or on your own. The museum will tell you the history of cheese production, as well as its tasting.
In 1834, the Fonseca winery (the Jose Maria da Fonsec winery) was opened in Azeitau, and thanks to it, the town received world recognition. Wine production has become a family tradition here, and wine-making customs have been seriously observed for almost two hundred years. During the tour, you can follow the technology of wine production, see the huge barrels in which the wine fermented, and taste the most famous drinks.
Bacalhõa Vinhos is another urban winery, here you will learn about the journey of wine from the seven wine regions of Portugal from vineyards to bottles. Bacalhõa Vinhos is also a family-run firm that was founded in the 1920s, noting that the wine factory is located in a fourteenth-century castle that previously belonged to the royal family. In the castle you will also be told about art collections, paintings that previously belonged to royal persons.
In Azeitau, not only wine, cheese and local cakes will be interesting. Particularly worth mentioning is the local workshops of Azulejo azulejo – traditional tiles that are still popular in Portugal. This painted clay glazed and burned tiles (most often square, 14X14 centimeters).
In the town there is an opportunity to choose and purchase these bright tiles or independently learn to draw these patterns.
The town of Azeitau is located on the territory of the Arrabida Natural Park, which is under the protection of the state. In the reserve you can admire rare plants. They are characteristic of the Mediterranean, they can be seen only in the presence of the workers of the natural park. On the territory of the reserve you can do speleology, rock climbing and snorkeling.
In Arrabid there are beautiful and comfortable beaches, for example, the sandy coast of Galapinho, which was able to earn the title of the most beautiful beach in Europe, Figuerinha, Galapusz or Monte Branco.
In the fortress of Santa Maria da Arrabida there is a museum of oceanography, which is also worthy of your attention.
In order to get to the city of Almada by car from Lisbon, you should drive across the Tagus River along the famous hanging bridge on April 25. After a trip over the bridge, you will reach the famous Portuguese statue of Christ the King, which was opened in 1959.
