Why move to Setubal District
The conundrum is, do you put yourself within easy reach of the Lisbon super centre, the sumptuous national parks or go for one of the well-connected cities along the coast?
The Setubal district combines two formerly separate states: The Setubal Peninsula, which is a satellite area of Lisbon comprising sub-metropolitan areas, independent urban centres, including the city of Setúbal and the Arrabida Natural Park, and the northern area of Alentejo Litoral, which stretches includes Alcacer do Sol, Granola, Santiago do Cacem, Sines and the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve.
Setubal city has the third largest port in Portugal with the advantage of shelter from the Atlantic provided by the curving peninsular. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Lisbon, but its own town centre is bustling with shops and restaurants too. Attractions include a sensational looking Gothic church accented with Arrabida pink stone from a local quarry. The Convent of Jesus has been converted into a museum housing important regional artistic works and the Archaeology and Ethnography Museum of Setubal documents discoveries that chart the town’s inhabitants from the Bronze Age onwards. Finally, there’s the Fort of Sao Filipe, which, like many in the region, has been converted into a pousada (countryhouse hotel). Situated on the mouth of the River Sado, Setubal is ideally placed for trading regional goodies like oranges, fish and a local wine variety made with muscatel grapes.
On the west-facing edge of the peninsula, you’ll find the Costa da Caparica coastline. Lauded for its vast sandy beach, powerful surf and raw natural beauty, it’s less than a 40-minute drive from Setubal and just 20 minutes from central Lisbon.
The Arrabida Natural Park combines chalk cliffs, azure ocean and verdant vegetation-covered mountains. You’ll find a coastal scrubland with an occasional beach protected from the cooler north winds by 300 metres or more of cliffs. Portinho da Arrabida is a popular cove, home to a small 17th century fort that has been converted into a Sea and Marine Biology Centre. Other beaches worth visiting are Figueirinha and Galapos.
The proud town of Palmela is crowned by its castle on a hill to the north. From its high position, you’ll see views stretch back to Lisbon and into the Alentejo midlands. The small village of Azeitao is home to the world-renowned Quinta do Bacalhau and the Quinta das Torres wine estates, both family operations since the 16th century. The Quinta das Torres former family home is now an elegant hotel. Sines is the most southerly municipality on the Setubal coast. It was the first and is now the largest port in Portugal and is the birthplace of Vasco da Gama. Villas and apartments are your best bet around Setubal if you are looking for affordable accommodation. There is also land for development available but it’s not cheap.