Amadora between aqueduct landscapes and culture

Amadora combines impressive architectural heritage with museums, cultural venues and green open spaces. Particularly prominent is the Aqueduto Geral das Águas Livres: around 8 km of the 14 km-long main section lie within the Município da Amadora. In the Freguesia Águas Livres, 19 arches remain, the highest of which reaches 18 m and has a span of 8.5 m. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment can therefore regard Amadora as a base for very different days on holiday – from historical discoveries to walks, cycling tours and family activities.

Discover aqueducts and historic sites

The Aqueduto das Águas Livres, together with its feeder channels and associated components, is fully classified as a national monument. The history of the area also includes the Necrópole de Carenque, with three collective tombs carved into limestone outcrops; the 16th-century Casal da Falagueira de Cima; and the Ponte Filipina, also known as Ponte de Carenque de Baixo, from the 17th century. At the Casal, boundary stones bearing the cross of the Order of Malta recall its former affiliation with the order. The Ponte Filipina is currently used exclusively by pedestrians.

The Villa Romana da Quinta da Bolacha also offers a glimpse into distant eras. The excavated structures were built in the 3rd century, remodelled in the 4th century and inhabited until the middle of that century. The Museu Municipal de Arqueologia offers groups and schools from within and outside the Município guided tours of the villa by prior appointment. Another historic site is the Casa Roque Gameiro, built between 1898 and 1901 as the home of the watercolour painter Alfredo Roque Gameiro and his family. The dining room features a remarkable tile pattern by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro with naturalistic themes.

Museums, art and events

The Museu da Amadora comprises the Núcleo Museológico do Casal da Falagueira as its main location, the Núcleos Museológicos of the Necrópole de Carenque and Moinho do Penedo, the cultural storage facilities and the Casa Roque Gameiro. The permanent exhibitions cover early human settlement, rural history, the Aqueduto das Águas Livres and the history of aviation in Amadora. The Núcleo Museológico do Moinho do Penedo is the only windmill in the Município da Amadora available for public visits.

Further cultural experiences are provided by the Galeria Municipal Artur Bual, which organises exhibitions and cultural projects, as well as the Bedeteca da Amadora and the Biblioteca Municipal Fernando Piteira Santos, with storytelling sessions, workshops, reading clubs and exhibitions. The Recreios da Amadora serves as a cultural venue for theatre, dance, music, cinema and public commemorative events; its façade is classified as a property of municipal interest. Comic fans will find Amadora BD, an annual international festival dedicated to the global comic scene. The annual Prémios de Banda Desenhada da Amadora honour outstanding Portuguese and international comics published in Portugal.

Open spaces, trails and activities with children

The Parque Aventura covers around 5 ha and features landscaped areas for pedestrians and cyclists. The Ribeira da Falagueira runs along its entire length. Facilities focused on adventure sports include a miniature golf course, a traffic school for children and large playgrounds. The Parque Central complements this offering with family-oriented recreational areas, as well as the Jardim Zeca Afonso, the Jardim do Lago and a sports zone.

Several clearly described trails are available for planning your day. The linear trail Os Aquedutos na Amadora, Percurso C, is 4.5 km long, easy and starts at the Parque Aventura. The linear trail De São Brás à Buraca, which also starts there, is 4.5 km long and easy to moderate. Those who prefer a longer hike through the aqueduct landscape can plan the 16.2 km-long, moderate trail Da Buraca às Mães de Água. The Parque das Artes e do Desporto additionally offers a 3 km circular route, as well as space for walking, running and cycling. In the Jardim Amadora Este, a cycle path together with a two-lane pedestrian path leads from the Amadora-Este metro station along the Estrada dos Salgados to Alfornelos.

The right accommodation idea for your trip

Choosing a holiday apartment in Amadora can be tailored well to your preferred mix: culture enthusiasts can focus on aqueducts, museums and historic buildings, while active days are possible on the trails and in the parks. Families will find specific points of interest with playgrounds, miniature golf and a traffic school for children. In addition, the cave with the Mina d’Água is visible in today’s Jardim da Mina; it gave its name to the Bairro Parque da Mina and the Freguesia da Mina. The Mina d’Água is classified as a monument of municipal interest. For further orientation around the area, the Amadora profile is also available.

For the wider travel overview: Lisbon.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Lisbon, Tondela, Odivelas, Azambuja, Arruda Dos Vinhos, Mafra, Santa Iria De Azoia.