Central Way
Muge < > Santarém
Stage 17
In the commune of Almeirim, before arriving at Ribeira de Santarém, the Igreja de Santa Marta, in Benfica do Ribatejo, inspires a visit. It was built in the 18th century as a chapel of Quinta de Santa Marta, an extensive agricultural estate that dominated the region since the late Middle Ages. The ensemble was fully restored in the late 20th century, as attested by the commemorative inscription placed on the main façade.
Gate of Santiago
It was the main door of Santarém castle, for that reason called “Porta da Alcáçova”, whose first mention dates from 1249. The present designation derives from the invocation of the church where the sidewalk connecting the plateau’s spur of the plateau to the river used to pass. Until the 16th century, it also served as access to the village, through a way considered unrecoverable in 1797. In it, one can see a “Fernandinos de Portugal” coat of arms that documents the town walls reinforcement. There is also no memory remain of the Hospital de Jesus Cristo, which was located in this pathway and allowed the support of pilgrims and travelers who came to the city. It is currently crossed by the numerous pilgrims of the Way to Santiago.
Alcorce Brigde
Built between the end of the 19th century and the first half of the14th century, the Alcorce bridge was the main city exit to the north, towards Tomar and Coimbra, crossing the Vala de Alcorce or Palhais, a small affluent of Tagus river. Endowed with four round arches, it also exhibits a structure with two rampant hauls, as was frequent in the Romanesque bridges. In front of the bridge, on the side of Ribeira de Santarém, is the fountain of Palhais, the last source for those who left Santarém towards north.
Church of Santa Maria da Alcáçova
This church, the religious seat of the power established by the Order of the Temple in the city after the conquest of 1147, was built around 1154 and instituted as a royal chapel by D. Afonso Henriques. Three years later, it was constituted as collegiate and enjoyed of ample protagonism in Middle Age. The current church, where Roman capitals have been reused as a mark of the temple’s prestige and antiquity, is the result of a campaign of the first decades of the 18th century. The campaign was sponsored by D. Rodrigo Teles de Meneses, descending from a family with great tradition in the city.
and also…
Santarém Municipal Festivities − March
Santarém’s National Gastronomy Festival − October
Agriculture National Fair/Ribatejo’s Fair
It is the biggest tourist attraction in the country, considered one of the most important of Europe, in the agriculture area, and takes place during the month of June. It is known for its rich ethnographic values, patented at the International Folkloric Festival, bull races, campinos (cattle herders) races, halter games, bullfights, equestrian competitions, and horse raids, among others.
Leaving from the Parish Council, we turn left to Rua Almirante Reis, accompanying the building of Casa Cadaval. We have the Roman bridge in front of us, but we don’t cross it, continuing instead to the right under the viaduct of the N114 national road, until we find another bridge over which we cross the Muge stream.Archaeological sites with large accumulations of shells, animal remains and hundreds of human skeletons of a species not yet fully identified, which have lived here for about 5 thousand years, the Concheiros de Muge, were discovered along this stream. These are the most famous and rich places of Portuguese prehistory.
At the Concheiro da Moita do Sebastião, for example, we can find traces of circular huts of logs and clay, silos on the ground to preserve food, and graves ritualized with ochre and stones under their heads.
Through a path of fine sand, first, and then through a narrow rural road, we advance through the immense cultivated or fallow areas that lead to Benfica do Ribatejo. Nearby, the vineyard becomes predominant, in a region whose wines have been increasingly recognized and the main wineries (to visit!) already assume high levels of production and quality.
We enter Rua Direita towards the village center, former land of fishermen, now “just” of “campinos” (bull herdsmen), full of courage and dressed up, with the red hat, while dancing the Ribatejo fandango. We leave the village also through Rua Direita again. At the crossroad to Cortiçóis we turn left and continue along the Vala de Alpiarça.
We pass under the motorway viaduct and turn left again to cross Quinta do Casal Monteiro. We take the opportunity to have lunch and enjoy a degustation of the region’s wines with an appropriate setting.After 3.5 km, we enter the village of Tapada. By asphalt, we follow and climb a path to meet the N114 again. We now cross the Ponte D. Luís over the Tejo, which in 1881 was the third largest bridge in Europe. On the opposite bank, on the right, we head to Santarém stream, to avoid walking up to the city now, which we’ll try to visit later.
We enter this old port of fluvial commerce following the road N365 sidewalk, crossing the railway line and finishing the stage in the local Parish Council, which is eager to welcome us. Behind us, we leave Igreja de Santa Cruz, a beautiful Gothic church from the mid-19th century, that used to serve the local population, which grew a lot between 1218 and 1260. At that time, the bustling village was a building site to support the construction of large monasteries in the region.
Tips
Always carry water, supplies, sunscreen, a hat, waterproof, comfortable shoes, and a map.
Support
CTT Post Office
Bank/Cash Dispenser
Tourism Office +351 243 304 437
Public Entities
Câmara Municipal de Santarém,
Divisão de Turismo +351 243 304 258
Health
Santarém Hospital
+ 351 243 300 200
Pharmacy
Points of Interest
Alcáçova Church
Vale Figueira Main Church
Misericórdia Church
Santa Maria de Marvila Church
Santarém Cathedral
Diocesano Museum of Santarém
Junqueira Fountain
Alcorce Bridge
São Tiago Gate
Cabaças Tower
Portas do Sol Belvedere Garden
USEFUL CONTACTS
Emergency: 112
Forest Fires: 117
Santarém Fire Department:+351 243 377 900
Santarém Fire Department:+351 243 333 122
GNR − Santarém Territorial Station:+351 243 300 070
PSP − Public Security Polic: +351 243 322 022
CODE OF CONDUCT
Do not leave the marked and signaled route. Do not approach cliffs. Pay attention to the markings. Do not dispose of organic or inorganic waste during the trail, take a bag for this purpose. If you see garbage, collect it, help us to keep the Paths clean. Beware of livestock, don’t bother the animals. Leave Nature intact. Do not collect plants, animals or rocks. Avoid making noise. Respect private property, close gates and barriers. Don’t light fires and be careful with cigarettes. Do not vandalize the Paths signage.
