Sesimbra natural beauty

We have started off from Lisbon to a tour in the Sesimbra council. It is no doubt a beautiful travel with dense and diverse vegetation mostly pines and coark oakes trees along the way.

Sesimbra is about 40 kilometers from south of Lisbon and its main access is via A2 motorway. Leaving on the A2, we exit at the national road 378 and then on the national road 377 we arrive at the Interpretative Space of Lagoa Pequena, our first visit point.

Map of the visited places

Lagoa Pequena it is considered a Special Bird Protection Zone. It is one of the important observations routes of bird nests from Europe. It is part of an ecological system with a great diversity of fauna and flora.

The main lagoons (Source birdwatching Sesimbra Lagoa Pequena)

As you can see the scrub forest environment is spectacular around the Interpretative Space of Lagoa Pequena.

Lagoa Pequena with reeds and pine woods around One of the beautiful wooden walkways

Indication observatories A stop in the shade of vegetation

The good mood Another view of a wooden walkway with the vegetation around

Then, we have visited three bird observatories. We started through the marshy area of Lagoa da Estacada where the Lontra and Camão observatories are located.

Throughout the bird observatories the forest environment is made up with pine woods and reeds. We have seen some birds and ducks. It is no doubt a fantastic ecological environment.

Indications for the observatories of Lagoa da Estacada Water fresh extension of Lagoa da Estacada

Pedestrian bridge in the Lagoa da Estacada area The forest environment

Operation observation Lagoa da Estacada and some birds

We then have visited the Galeirão Observatory overlooking the Lagoa Pequena where it is more open to the sea and hence with more brackish waters than the fresh waters of Lagoa da Estacada.

Indications for the Galeirão Observatory In the route to the Galeirão Observatory

A view of the Galeirão Observatory Galeirão Observatory and some pine woods at the bottom

Then from Lagoa Pequena we have travelled to Cape Espichel (Cabo Espichel) further West about 17 kilometers .

According to the legend it was in this place with a beautiful panoramic landscape of cliffs that around the year 1410 appeared the image of the saint Nossa Senhora of Cape Espichel.

The influx of many pilgrims to this place that became a cult, gave rise in the 18th century to some of the buildings of the Sanctuary of Cape Espichel such as the church, the hostesses, the Ermida da Memória (chapel) and the Casa da Água (water house).

At cliff top of Cape Espichel Backwards of Cape Espichel Sanctuary Church

A hug of comfort with the panoramic landscape in the bottom The beautiful Lagosteiros beach

A special moment for a picture at Cape Espichel The chapel behind as a former cult place

Along the paths of Cape Espichel Front facade of Cape Espichel Sanctuary Church

The Cruzeiro and the pilgrim’s hosts around The Water House at bottom

Beside this beautiful setting is the lighthouse that was built in the 18th century. Currently the light of lighthouse still serves as a guide for fishermen in Sesimbra.

At the entrance of the lighthouse of Cape Espichel The lighthouse seen behind

Then we went looking for one of the great attractions of Cape Espichel which are the footprints of dinosaurs.

Pedra da Mua and the Lagosteiros are two natural momuments that sparked our curiosity on the trail of the dinosaurs that lived there for many millions of years.

Along a beautiful and natural setting we have walked around 25 minutes from the Sanctuary of Cape Espichel to where it was possible to get safely.

As the 3D shows the dinosaur footprints of Pedra da Mua e dos Lagosteiros are located on the sloping rocks.

Map with the location of dinosaur footprints

The enthusiasm for finding dinossaur footprints Discussion in group about the theme where are the footprints?

The scenery on the way to the dinosaur footprints The spirit to find the footprints

The panoramic view from the point we finish the walk

With the topic of conversation about the footprints of dinosaurs and being in an area where these giant animals lived, we also went to Pedreira (quarry) do Avelino considered a natural monument. The drive from Cape Espichel to Pedreira do Avelino is 10 kilometers.

There, we can see the footprints of dinosaurs preserved on a rocky surface some 155 million years ago.

Dinosaur footprints in Pedreira (quarry) do Avelino Visitors area in the Pedreira do Avelino

Following the visit to Pedreira do Avelino, it was time to have lunch. We then went to lunch at the Celmar restaurant in Aldeia do Meco about 7 kilometers from Pedreira do Avelino.

The chosen dishes were fish soup, seafood feijoada (beans) and seafood rice. It was really tasty.

Smiles from a good meal Fish soup

Seafood feijoada (beans) Seafood rice

After lunch we have visited the beautiful Sesimbra Castle and of great historical importance for the village of Sesimbra.

It was built in the 9th century as a militar fortification for maritime and land defense during the muslim presence, undergoing changes already in the Christian reign.

The Sesimbra Castle has a fantastic panoramic view of the village, including the bay area as well as part of the Arribida Mountain.

The walls and the circular turrets in the bottom Inside the circular turret

In the Citadel of Sesimbra Castle Intra wall enclosure

Green spaces in the Sesimbra Castle In the triangular area overlooking the bay

View to Sesimbra bay At bottom the Santa Maria Church of Sesimbra Castle

From the Castle of Sesimbra, about five minutes by car we ended up in the beautiful bay of Sesimbra to have an ice cream and to visit the Fortress of São Santiago, a truly relaxing space.

Enjoying the best ice creams of Sesimbra One of the guardhouses in the Fortress of São Santiago

A happy ending to the visit to Sesimbra

The visit to Sesimbra council was a very pleasant experience for us.

Since the pleasure of walking and birdwatching to the natural and historical beauty of Cape Espichel with the challenge of finding the footprints of dinosaurs as well as visiting the medieval castle and the bay of Sesimbra village.

We hope that our testimony of this tour will help our readers and travel lovers to get to know the fantastic natural and historical charms of Sesimbra council.

References visitsesimbra

Thanks to Manuel Manero for blogging recommendations

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