Castelo de Palmela is a castle in Portugal. It is classified as a National Monument.

The Castelo de Palmela is located in the village, parish and county of the same name, district of Setúbal, in Portugal .

In Setúbal Peninsula, in the east side of the Arrábida mountain range, it is situated between the estuaries of the River Tagus and Sado River, near the mouth of the latter. It is part of the Costa Azul, in Arrábida Natural Park.

History

Background

The early human occupation of the region dates back to prehistory, particularly the Neolithic period, according to the abundant archaeological testimony. Some scholars point to date of 310 BC for the founding of a settlement on the current location, fortified at the time of Romanization of the Iberian peninsula in 106, by a Praetor of Lusitania, named Áulio Cornelius (or Áulio Cornelius Palma). Modern archaeological research proves, however, that the subsequent occupation of this site was uninterrupted, initially by the Visigoths and later the Muslims, the latter responsible for the primitive fortification between the eighth century and the ninth, greatly expanded between the tenth century and the 12th.

Castelo de Palmela

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The Fort of São Filipe de Setúbal, also referred to as the São Filipe Castle or the São Filipe Fortress, is in the city of Setúbal in the Setúbal District, of Portugal. The fort was built on the orders of Philip II of Spain (Philip I of Portugal), who personally witnessed the laying of the cornerstone of the new fortification in 1582. It stands in a dominant position on the right bank of the mouth of the Sado River, overlooking the centre of Setúbal to its east.

History

The fortification of the stretch of coastline around Setúbal dates back to the 14th century, with the construction at sea level of the Fort of Santiago do Outão, which was intended to control the Sado river access to the medieval village. During the reign of King John III in the first half of the 16th century there were plans to expand Setubal’s defences with the construction of a castle, but the financial difficulties faced at that time by the Crown made this impossible.

At the time of the Philippine Dynasty (1580-1640), Philip II of Spain ordered the construction of a new fortification on a hill adjacent to the city, to reinforce the defence of Setúbal. Recent scholars, however, have argued that the intention of the fort was also to protect a garrison loyal to the Philippine Dynasty and provide a clear indication of the Spanish king’s power, as the people of Setúbal had shown considerable opposition to Spanish rule. It was designed by Giovan Giacomo Paleari Fratino in 1583. Work on the fortress began in 1590 and was completed in 1600. During the Portuguese Restoration War the fort was the last part of Setúbal to fall to the Portuguese. Between 1649 and 1655 a “low battery” was added to provide additional defence against ships in the port.

The fort was damaged during the 1755 earthquake and the Command House, then the residence of the Governor of Setúbal, was destroyed by fire in the mid-19th century. It was classified as a National Monument in 1933 and was included in the Nature Park of Arrábida when that was established in 1976. Conservation work was undertaken in the 1940s and in 1962 parts were converted to a hotel, which opened in 1965 as part of the Pousadas de Portugal chain. Some damage occurred as a result of an earthquake in February, 1969. Repairs and further conservation work have been carried out since then but the hotel closed in 2014 due to problems of structural instability. The fort was reopened to the public on 31 March 2017, under the management of the city council, with an information centre and restaurant.

Fort of São Filipe de Setúbal

The Fort of Santiago do Outão is a former coastal military installation in Setúbal, Portugal that is currently the site of the Hospital Ortopédico Sant'Iago do Outão. The fort is located on the Costa Azul at the northern side of the Sado River's mouth.

History

The oldest identified structure at Outão is a lighthouse and watchtower at the mouth of the Sado River that was erected by João I in 1390. In 1572, during the reign of Sebastião I, the watchtower underwent a major expansion and was surrounded by fortified walls and transformed into a fortress by Afonso Álvares. The fort withstood a siege by the Duke of Alba during the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580.

Santiago do Outão remained loyal to Philip III until December 8, 1640 during the Portuguese Restoration War. The fort underwent a remodeling during the reign of João IV beginning in 1643 in order to provide better defenses at the entrance to Setúbal's port. The fort's reconstruction was completed by 1657.

In the 19th century, the fort was decommissioned and transformed into a prison. By 1890, Santiago do Outão was again transformed, this time into a summer palace for Carlos I. From 1900 until 1909, the fort was utilized as a sanatorium for the treatment of tuberculosis. Finally, the compound was converted into the Hospital Ortopédico Sant'Iago do Outão in 1909 which it remains as to the present day.

Fort of Santiago do Outão

The Bacalhôa brand, established in 1922, has allays showed a search for the perfection of their wines. The commitment of Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal is focused on the product differentiation, followed by a strong innovative component simultaneously, in order to not only meet but also anticipate and even exceed the expectations of the visitors of its spaces. This differentiation ambience of is clearly noticed in the famous Palace and Quinta da Bacalhôa, in Azeitão, a estate with a history that dates back to the beginning of the Avis Dynasty.
In Detail
The Quinta and de Bacalhôa Palace are surrounded by a unique landscape with a historical background dating back from the early 14th century. The architecture and the décor of the Palace gardens show the influences of the Portuguese discoveries, memories of their first owners inspired in the travels along Europe, Africa and the East, thus helping to transform this space into a single gem.
Over time, the Quinta has being adorned with 14th and 15th centuries Portuguese tiles evoking Moorish designs, and a "casa de fresco" overlooking the estate. From the inside to the outside, you can see unique pieces of the private art collection of Comendador Berardo passing through the gardens and vineyards to the "casa de fresco" where you can find the first tile dated in Portugal.
In 1936, the Palace of Bacalhôa was bought and restored by Orlena Scoville, of the United States of America, whose grandson undertook the mission of making the estate one of the biggest wine producers in Portugal, in the 70s of the 20th century. Acquired by ComendadorBerardo in 2000, is classified as a National Monument.
After major restoration works inside, keeping the original design, this monument opens its doors and invites you to visit every corner with great history.
The Museum of Bacalhôa is at the group's headquarters, located in Quinta da Bassaqueira. Visit the Museum and discover the different collections of works of art divided into three thematic groups. "Out of Africa", an exhibition that aims to honour the Honourable, and forever President, Nelson Mandela. The "What a Wonderful World" exhibition, a passage for an ambiance of glamour and perfection the mixes Art Nouveau with Art Deco, in an endearing atmosphere marked by the euphoria of the Roaring Twenties. And finally, "The Portuguese Tile from the 16th to the 20th centuries" an exhibition that shows the importance of the tile in Portugal. Used for more than five centuries eventually turn into a genuine national contribution to the world's artistic and cultural heritage.
At present, Quinta da Bacalhôa belongs to the José Berardo Foundation and Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal.
Infrastructures
Lake House
Visit the Lake House and discover the first tile ever dated in Portugal.
Tasting Room
Relax in the modern tasting room of the Bacalhôa Museum while you admire the peaceful scenery of the Japanese Garden.
Exhibition Room
Travel along the works of art divided into three thematic groups: African Art, Portuguese Tiles and Art Deco.
Location & Directions
The Palace, the Museum and the Quinta da Bacalhôa are located in Vila Fresca de Azeitão.
https://www.winetourismportugal.com/

Bacalhôa Palace

O Forte de Santa Maria da Arrábida também referido como “Forte de Nossa Senhora da Arrábida”, “Forte da Arrábida” e “Forte do Portinho da Arrábida”, está situado no sopé da encosta sul da cordilheira de mesmo nome, em posição dominante a sudoeste do Portinho da Arrábida, na barra norte do rio Sado, no Concelho e Distrito de Setúbal, em Portugal.

Complementa o conjunto de fortificações setecentistas que, erguidos no contexto da guerra de Restauração da independência de Portugal, se estendiam pelo litoral desde Setúbal até ao Forte de São Domingos da Baralha, perto do cabo Espichel.

A devoção a Nossa Senhora da Arrábida

O local assumiu dimensões religiosas a partir de 1250, quando, de acordo com a tradição, Hildebrando, um mercador das ilhas britânicas, ergueu uma pequena ermida devotada a Nossa Senhora, em acção de graças pelo milagre que ali o salvou de um naufrágio.

Na primeira metade do século XVI, entre 1539 e 1542, D. João de Lencastre (1501-1571), 1.º Duque de Aveiro, fez erguer o primitivo convento, doado ao franciscano espanhol Frei Martinho de Santa Maria, que ali desejava viver como eremita. Os trabalhos de edificação prosseguiram entre a segunda metade do século XVI e a primeira metade do século XVII, pela devoção do 2º e do 3º duques de Aveiro, aos quais se devem a hospedaria e as estações dos Passos da Paixão, e da da nora do 3º Duque. Em meados do século XVII, o 4º Duque de Aveiro promoveu a construção da capela do Bom Jesus.

No século XIX, com a extinção das ordens religiosas em Portugal, as instalações do Convento foram abandonadas pelos frades franciscanos (1834), sendo adquiridas pelos duques de Palmela (1863). Ao final do século XX, foram adquiridas pela Fundação Oriente (1990), que as requalificou como espaço cultural.

A fortificação

Encerrando a completa remodelação da estratégia defensiva do reino implementada a partir do reinado de D. João IV (1640-1656), compreendida na defesa da barra de Setúbal, esta fortificação marítima foi iniciada somente entre 1670 e 1676, sob o reinado de D. Pedro II (1667-1706), com a função de defesa do chamado portinho e o Convento da Arrábida, destino de peregrinação. As suas obras foram inteiramente refeitas sob o de D. João V (1706-1750), para serem dadas como concluídas em 1749, conforme inscrição epigráfica em lápide sobre o Portão de Armas:

"Governando estes reinos e senhorios de Portugal o muito alto e poderoso príncipe D. Pedro, Nosso Senhor, pelo Marquês de Fronteira, do Conselho de Guerra, seu Gentil-Homem da Câmara, vedor da sua Fazenda, Mestre de Campo General da Corte, Estremadura, Cascaes e Setúbal, [mandou] fazer esta fortaleza para defender este porto e [barra] da Arrábida e seus mares no ano de 1676. Por ordem de S. M. foi tudo reedificado desde os alicerces, feitas as estradas de novo e se acabou em MDCCXLIX."

Reconstruído ao final do século XVIII (1798), esteve em operação até ao reinado de D. Luís (1861-1889), quando, diante da perda da sua função defensiva em virtude da evolução dos meios bélicos e do abandono das instalações do Convento, foi desativado.

No início do século XX foi arrendado a um particular. A partir de 1932 foi adaptado às funções de pousada pelos pais de Sebastião da Gama, as quais exerceu até 1976.

A partir de 1978, o imóvel passou integrar o Parque Natural da Arrábida, passando a ser considerado Imóvel de Interesse Público. Desde então, foram efectuadas extensas obras de consolidação e restauro, adaptando-se o monumento à função de Museu Oceanográfico (1991), que mantém, no local, um centro de biologia marinha. Uma pequena loja comercializa itens relacionados à área protegida do parque e oferece café aos visitantes.



Forte de Santa Maria da Arrábida

The Castelo de Sesimbra (Sesimbra Castle), also known as Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors), is a castle located in the town of Sesimbra, in the Setúbal District of Portugal. It was classified as a National Monument on 16 June 1910.

History

The medieval castle stands in a dominant position on a cliff, over a cove which constitutes a natural harbour in the Setúbal peninsula between the estuaries of the Tagus river and the Sado river, a few miles from Cape Espichel. It was built on a site occupied in prehistoric times. In the 9th century it was a Muslim settlement during the period of Muslim occupation of Iberia, when it was known as Alcáçova. In 1165 it was conquered by D. Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal. In 1191 it was occupied by the Almohads, Moroccan Berbers, who almost entirely destroyed it in the process. The final reconquest took place in 1199, under King Sancho I, with the help of Frankish Crusaders.

Given its strategic importance, numerous enlargements to the castle were carried out immediately after the reconquest and throughout the Middle Ages. In 1323 a second reinforcement of the walls was made and the West Tower was built, this being needed as a lookout to identify Barbary pirates. In 1384 the castle served as a refuge for John of Avis and his troops during the war with Castile (1383-85).

From the fifteenth century, the population gradually began to move down from the hills to settle by the bay and pursue fishing and boatbuilding activities. By 1516 there were already signs of abandonment. The ramparts were reinforced in 1693 and other improvements made and, in 1721, the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo, which was built by Afonso I, was restored. However, the castle was already in a bad condition when it was effectively ruined by the earthquake of 1755. In 1875, part of the grounds was converted into a cemetery.

The advanced state of ruin of the castle was not addressed until between 1933 and 1945, when conservation work was carried out by the Direção-Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais (DGEMN-General Directorate of Buildings and National Monuments). Further restoration was carried out in 1998. The Castle of Sesimbra is now under the management of the Municipality of Sesimbra. The walls can be easily explored on foot and there are also two permanent exhibitions on its history, a shop and a cafeteria.

Castelo de Sesimbra

The Fortress of Saint James of Sesimbra (also known as the Fortress of Santiago) is a fortress located in the parish of Santiago in the coastal town and municipality of Sesimbra, in the Setúbal District of Portugal. It was built between 1642 and 1648 on the site of an earlier 16th-century Manueline fort. 

History

During the Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604), the Battle of Sesimbra Bay between two English naval forces and a Spanish fleet took place on June 3, 1602. The English managed to sink two Spanish vessels, forcing the Spaniards to withdraw to the fishing village of Sesimbra, where they attacked the existing fort and caused heavy damage.

The present fort was constructed when King John IV ordered the strengthening of Portugal’s Atlantic defences in the face of attacks by the Spanish navy during the Restoration War (1640-68). In many cases this involved restructuring earlier forts and increasing their firepower. The king appointed João de Cosmander, a Dutch Jesuit military engineer, to supervise construction of the new fortress on the site of the earlier fort built by King Manuel I, with the intention that it would be capable of protecting the fishing harbour of Sesimbra from piracy and from Spanish attacks. Cosmander also worked on the Castle of Campo Maior, the Castle of Belver, and the Castle of Elvas, all major forts in Portugal. 

The fort, which is oriented east-west along the beach, has a very solid structure with an austere appearance. It was developed with a polygonal star-shaped plan, with a rectangular central body and bastions, with cylindrical bartizans. The interior area was divided to make space for the residence of the Governor, the garrison barracks, cisterns, a warehouse and a chapel dedicated to Saint James. The north side of the fortress, facing the village, presents a less military appearance. The round arch gate is topped with a coat of arms with the national shield and inscription indicating the date of inauguration, 1648.

In 1712, King John V decided to install the Military Government of the region in the fortress. At that time the fort also served as a summer residence for the "Boys of Palhavã", the infant bastard sons of the king. The structure suffered damage as a result of the earthquake on 1 November 1755 that struck much of Portugal, after which it underwent reconstruction work on the north wall, the Door of Arms and the barracks of the Captain. In 1781 the north wall was replaced. In 1815 the fortification was in a state of ruin and further repairs were carried out. In 1832 the garrison left the fort, but it was subsequently re-occupied, with the last record of military occupation being 1846. In 1879 it was ceded to the Guarda Fiscal (Fiscal Guard) and passed on to the Customs Department in 1889. 

Some restoration work was carried out in 1930 and again in 1934-35. From 1938 it served as a summer camp for children of members of the Fiscal Guard. In the 1960s it was proposed for conversion into a hotel but no action was taken. Further repairs were carried out in 1976 and on several occasions after that, but the main restoration and conservation work began in 2011 after the fort had been handed over to the municipality. This work was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), for about €1.5 million. The fort, which was re-opened to the public in July 2014, now houses the Museum of the Sea of Sesimbra (2015), a museum devoted to the local fishing industry, as well as a restaurant, a souvenir shop and a tourist information kiosk. 

Fortress of Saint James of Sesimbra

The Fort of São Teodósio da Ponta do Cavalo is a coastal fort located in a dominant position at the extreme west of the Bay of Sesimbra in the Setúbal District of Portugal. It was built between 1648 and 1652.

History

During the period of the Portuguese Restoration War (1640-68), King John IV undertook a project to modernize the coastal defences of the country. This included the remodelling of existing fortresses and reinforcing their firepower, together with the construction of new fortresses located in strategic positions. The Fort of São Teodósio was part of the defensive line of the stretch of coast, known today as the Costa Azul (Blue Coast), stretching from Albarquel to Sesimbra, which was designed to assist with the defence of the important maritime settlement of Setúbal.

The fort was named in honour of the Crown Prince, Dom Teodósio, Prince of Brazil. It was executed by the military engineer Sebastião Pereira de Frias. Built in the Mannerist style from stone and brick, it has an irregular polygonal plan, with two square bastions and a circular tower in the centre.

The fortification was badly damaged by the earthquake in 1755 but never lost its strategic importance. In the 19th century it was garrisoned at the time of the Peninsular War, during the first French invasion led by General Junot (1807-08). Abandoned by troops in 1822, it was again used during the Liberal Wars (1828-34), but fell into disrepair thereafter. In 1895 a lighthouse was installed inside the fort.

In the twentieth century, the original layout of the fort was altered to accommodate construction of a harbour and its access road. It is now occupied by the Portuguese Navy, which is also responsible for managing the lighthouse. Visits are not possible. 

