Side Image: Landscape over the Serra de São Luís
A PLACE
OF DISCOVERY
odemira
ODEMIRA TOURIST OFFICE
Praça José Maria Lopes Falcão
Tel: (+351) 283 320 900 ext. 1800
www.cm-odemira.pt
VILA NOVA DE MILFONTES TOURIST OFFICE
R. António Mantas
Tel: (+351) 283 996 599
[email protected]
atlantic alentejo
PLANÍCIE DOURADA TOURISM REGION
Praça da República, 12, 1º
Apartado 350
7800-427 Beja
Tel: (+351) 284 310 150
[email protected]
www.rt-planiciedourada.pt
www.visitalentejo.pt
www.visitportugal.pt
1. Flagpoles, streets of São Teotónio
Cover image: Malhão Beach
A DIFFERENT
PLACE
Situated on Beja district’s coastal strip,
the municipality of Odemira is midway
between Lisbon and the Algarve: apart
from its unique coast, it has characteristics
that make it fair to say that it has all of
the Alentejo in it.
From the inland areas to the coast,
Odemira, the largest municipality in the
country, has many points of interest. The
countryside contains several old villages,
some in the middle of the plain, such as
Vale de Santiago, others on gentle slopes,
hidden between valleys and hills, such
as Colos, Relíquias, S. Martinho das
Amoreiras, Santa Clara-a-Velha and São
Luís. In between narrow streets, redolent
of earlier times, the old centres of these
villages reveal lovely churches and
houses in typical architectural styles. On
the coast, where the land is more open,
Vila Nova de Milfontes and other more
Almograve, the municipality meets the
Atlantic.
Human presence in the region dates back
to prehistoric times, which is confirmed
by archaeological studies revealing the
existence of numerous remains. The
cultural heritage reflects local habits and
customs: from handicrafts to traditional
trades, cante (song) and the violas
campaniças (10-stringed guitars) to
gastronomy, this lore is kept alive in the
habits and culture of the people of the
Alentejo.
The municipality is traversed by the River
Mira, which rises in the Serra do Caldeirão
and leaves its conspicuous mark on the
landscape as it flows from south to north
before reaching the sea in Vila Nova de
Milfontes. Both the latter and the town
of Odemira itself owe their origin to the
River Mira (known in former times as
the “master river of salt water”), which
continues to be an important
catalyst for the region. Besides
the river and the sea, the
verdant countryside
also makes this part
of the Alentejo a
different place.
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS
Local Council
(+351) 283 320 900
Fire Brigade
(+351) 283 320 800
Fire Brigade Vila Nova de Milfontes (+351) 283 996 620
Health Centre
(+351) 283 320 130
GNR (Police)
(+351) 283 322 171
Emergency Number
112
Text: Câmara Municipal de Odemira Translation: Traducta Photography: Nicola Di Nunzio Design: MDO Design
SANTA CLARA-A-VELHA TOURIST OFFICE
Alameda das Índias
Tel: (+351) 283 881 358
1st Edition 2007 | Planície Dourada
ZAMBUJEIRA DO MAR TOURIST OFFICE
R. Miramar
Tel: (+351) 283 961 144
ALVALADE
Left page image: Mouth of the River Mira, Portinho do Canal
2. Festival of Southwest, Zambujeira do Mar
3. Percebes (goose barnacles)
4. White stork, Cabo Sardão
LISBOA
CERCAL
Campo Redondo
Ribeira
da Azenha
Vale Santiago
Brunheiras
VILA NOVA
DE MILFONTES
a journey through time
Bicos
Aivados
Colos
BEJA
Relíquias
S. Luís
OURIQUE
BEJA
Longueira
odemira
S. Martinho
das Amoreias
Almograve
ODEMIRA
Cabo Sardão
ZAMBUJEIRA
DO MAR
Photo: C.M.O. Archive
Luzianes - Gare
Boavista
dos Pinheiros
S. Teotónio
Carvalhal
Brejão
Azenha do Mar
Baiona
Santa
Clara-a-Velha
Santa Clara Dam
Sabóia
Pereiras
S. Miguel
LAGOS
Nave
Redondo
FARO
5. View of Odemira
ODEMIRA, HISTORICAL TOWN
Odemira is situated on a hill on the River
Mira. It is an old town and used to be an
important river and sea port when the
Mira played a vital role as a link to the
outside world.
Close observation reveals the town’s
centuries-old history: on the Cerro do
Peguinho, a section of the old castle wall;
by the bridge, the Marcos da Barca, an
old way of crossing the river; the
windmill and the four white churches
amid the houses; the gardens filled with
flowers; the fountains, chimneys and the
modern roundabout (with a metal
sculpture of a tree) coexist harmoniously
in a journey through time.
ODEMIRA,
ATLANTIC
ALENTEJO
The municipality of Odemira is situated
in one of the loveliest regions of the
country, where the Alentejo meets the
Atlantic Ocean. Its immense spaces
provide stunning contrasts which are well
worth discovering.
The coast is under the influence of the
Photo: Maurício Abreu
USEFUL
INFORMATION
Southwest Alentejo and Vincentine Coast
Nature Park. Its landscape is well preserved,
with unique characteristics, very diverse
habitats and a great wealth of fauna and
flora.
This coastal strip boasts impressive
beaches and coves, such as Malhão (the
mouth of the Mira in Vila Nova de
Milfontes), Almograve, Zambujeira do Mar,
Carvalhal and others, which are excellent
both for sports and socialising as well as
for relaxation and privacy. At Cabo Sardão,
the municipality’s westernmost point, an
early 20th century lighthouse lights up
the whole of the coast. Don’t miss the
storks’ nests in the crags, a spectacle that
cannot be seen anywhere else in the
world.
The fishing ports nestled between the
cliffs are worth a leisurely visit: Portinho
do Canal, Lapa de Pombas, Entrada da
Barca and Azenha do Mar. This is traditional
fishing, mainly for sargo (sea bream) and
percebes (goose barnacles), which enrich
the region’s gastronomy.
Places of Tourist Interest
Odemira: Mill (1874) (Group visits, booking
in advance at the Town Hall); Marcos da
Barca, Odemira; River Tour (River Mira);
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade;
Cerro do Peguinho; Jardim do Damiano
de Odemira (Garden).
Vila Nova de Milfontes: São Clemente Fort
(1599-1602) (Entry prohibited); Mouth of
the River Mira: Farol and Franquia
beaches; Malhão beach; Portinho do
Canal (Fishing port).
Longueira / Almograve: Almograve beach;
Furnas beach; Lapa de Pombas (Fishing
port).
Zambujeira do Mar: Zambujeira beach;
Entrada da Barca (Fishing port).
S. Teotónio: Igreja Matriz (Mother Church)
of S.Teotónio (C14-18); Cabo Sardão (the
only place in the world where the white
stork nests in sea cliffs).
Boavista dos Pinheiros: Parque das Águas.
Colos: Chapel of Nossa Senhora das
Neves.
S. Martinho das Amoreiras: Necropolis of
Pardieiro (Iron Age).
Santa Clara-a-Velha: Santa Clara Bridge
(C18); Santa Clara dam.
Specialities
Caldeiradas e cataplanas de peixe e de
marisco (Fish and shellfish casseroles); Peixe
grelhado (Grilled fish); Feijoada de marisco,
de chocos e de búzios (Shellfish and bean
stew, with cuttlefish and whelks); Filetes
de peixe pampo (Fillets of sea perch);
Espetada de lulas e de tamboril (Squid and
monkfish skewer); Achigã grelhado (Grilled
sea bass); Moreia frita (Fried moray eel);
Saladas de polvo, búzio, e ovas (Octopus,
whelk and roe salads); Percebes (Goose
barnacles), Mexilhão (Mussels), Bruxas
(Slipper lobsters), Lavagante e outros
mariscos (Lobster and other shellfish); Sopa
de Feijão com Couve, Sapateira, amêijoa,
navalheiras (Bean soup with kale, crab,
clams and razor clams); Smoked sausages;
Ewe’s and goat’s cheeses; Honey; Wine;
Local brandies.
What to do
Walking tours and mountain biking;
Angling; Surfing; Windsurfing; Boat tours;
Dragon boating; Canoeing; Tour companies and marine tourism operators.
Main Events
Handicrafts
Weaving; Pottery; Tinwork; Basketry; April in Odemira (all through April,
throughout the municipality); Damiano
Furniture; Farm Utensils; Ceramics.
de Odemira / International Open Chess
Tournament (May, Odemira); Tass Jazz
(Fridays in June, Odemira); Brisas do
Atlântico (June, various sports, Zambujeira
do Mar, Longueira / Almograve); Maypole
Festival (June, every 2 years, S. Teotónio);
Faceco (3rd weekend in July, S. Teotónio);
Festival of the Southwest (1st weekend
in August, Herdade da Casa Branca);
Municipal Holiday (8 September,
Odemira).
Internet Access
Odemira Library
Cerro do Peguinho
Tel: (+351) 283 320 150