Colares: Wine Landscape, Cultural Heritage and Historic Routes

Colares combines an independent wine tradition with remarkable historic buildings. Anyone wishing to shape a trip around culinary discoveries, culture and physical activity will find various starting points here for planning each day. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether the focus of your trip is more on viticulture, historic sights or a longer hike.

Vinho de Colares and the Wine Landscape

Colares is a distinct wine region where the highly regarded and increasingly rare Vinho de Colares is produced today. The wine-growing area has a distinctive landscape: the vineyards are located close to the sea and are protected from the very strong sea winds by reed palisades. This gives the wine landscape a characteristic appearance that differs from many other growing regions.

Approximately 80 % of the vineyards are located on “chão de areia”, meaning sandy soil. Traditionally, the vine is anchored in the soil layer beneath the sand using the “unhar” method, as a vine growing on its own roots, known in Portuguese as “pé franco”. These terms make the local viticultural method tangible and also offer travellers without specialist knowledge an engaging introduction to the regional culture.

A specific starting point for this subject is the Adega Regional de Colares. It was founded in 1931 and operates in the original building, where very large barrels hold the wines produced there as they mature. Guided tours and wine tastings are offered by prior appointment.

Hiking on Pequena Rota 8

The Pequena Rota 8 – Vinho de Colares begins at the Adega Regional de Colares and is an approximately 15.5-kilometre circular route. It is therefore suitable as a standalone activity for travellers who want not only to view the wine landscape but also to experience it along a longer route. Take the approximate length into account when planning your day and choose your accommodation according to your preferred travel rhythm, without equating the circular route with a specific walking time or difficulty level.

Historic Churches and Villas

The architectural history of Colares also offers several independent discoveries. The Igreja Matriz de Colares is dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Assunção and was built in the second half of the 16th century. Its nave forms a spacious Mannerist interior with five round-arched openings, one of which contains the side entrance. The walls are covered with patterned tiles from the 17th century in yellow, blue and white. The parish church, including its churchyard, is classified as a monument of public interest.

The origins of the Ermida de São Sebastião date back to the beginning of the 16th century. The present building was constructed in the third quarter of the 18th century and has an oval plan in the main chapel. This allows different historical layers to be read as part of a cultural programme, without requiring you to focus on a single historical subject.

Another glimpse into the history of the place leads to Villa Costa, now Vitorino. It was built in 1885 as a summer residence for José Inácio da Costa and is considered the second-oldest chalet in the Sintra area. For a trip with an interest in architecture and regional history, it complements the religious buildings with an example of residential and villa culture.

Colares as Your Personal Travel Base

The historic sites, wine landscape and circular route appeal to different holiday preferences. When searching for a holiday apartment, decide whether you primarily want to plan wine tastings by prior appointment, cultural and historical impressions or an active day on the Pequena Rota 8. The region’s transport history provides an additional perspective: on 31 March 1904, the first section of the Sintra tramway between Sintra (Vila Velha) and São Sebastião de Colares was opened over a length of 8,900 metres. This historic connection is part of the history of the area and should not be understood as current transport information.

Further Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to consider other places in the same travel area alongside Colares, you can extend your search to São João Das Lampas, Belas, Agualva, Terrugem, Almargem Do Bispo, Algueirão, Rio De Mouro and Mira-Sintra. This allows you to choose the right holiday apartment according to the desired character of your trip.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sintra.