Lisbon Estoril Coast Tourism Guide - Vila Fresca de Azeitao

Azeitao Portugal Guide, Portuguese Wines & Nearby Palmela

Surrounded by cork trees and olive groves, pretty Azeitao makes for a sublime inland peninsula base, and so close to Lisbon!

Surrounded by the stunning Serra da Arrabida (great walking and cycling territory!), Azeitao has its fair few country palaces - note the Jose Maria da Fonseca wine cellars too at the centre of the town. They're open to the public.

The area is renowned not just for its wine, but also olives and sheep's cheeses. Here also in Azeitao is the Palace of the Tavoras - a renowned historic family in Portugal. Pombal picked off certain members of this family whom he perceived a threat, ntoably the Duke of Aveiro who was accused of plotting to murder King Jose - he was excecuted and Pombal had the Tavoras coat of arms erased!

It's the landscapes up here that give the area its edge. The Arrabida Natural Park is home to ancient Mediterranean vegetation. For a luxurious rural retreat so close to Lisbon, you won't find better than here in Azeitao. Nearby Palmela to the north east of Azeitao contains more palaces and historic buildings, including Palmela castle where the Bishop of Evora was once imprisoned. Palmela is another centre for wine, and on the first Sunday of Spetember annually it celebrates the Festa das Vindimas - essentially a wine harvest! Here on the Setubal Peninsula around Palmela the main wine is Terras do Sado. The red grape variety here is Castelao Frances or Periquita and is used for mostly red, rose and sparkling wines.