Santarém: Gothic Architecture, Azulejos and Ways Through the City

Santarém is a destination for anyone who wants to combine culture, urban history and varied routes. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the city was a royal residence and a place where the Cortes met repeatedly, particularly until the end of the 15th century. Today, important Gothic buildings, views over the Lezíria do Tejo, regional cuisine and city walks of varying lengths come together here. When looking for a suitable holiday apartment, it is therefore worth first deciding on your main travel interests.

Gothic Heritage and Distinctive Azulejos

Because of its significant Gothic architectural and funerary heritage, Santarém is known as the “Capital of Gothic Architecture”. A notable example is the Igreja de Stª. Clara, built in the mid-13th century and belonging to the mendicant Gothic tradition. The Convento de S. Francisco was also begun in this style around 1242. The Fonte das Figueiras completes the picture as a rare example of 14th-century Gothic civil architecture.

Tile art is another special focus. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Marvila contains 65,000 azulejos and is known in Portugal as the “Cathedral of 17th-century Tile Art”. On the outside of the Mercado Municipal are 55 figurative and 8 decorative azulejo panels, installed between 1932 and 1936. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Graça preserves the tomb of Pedro Álvares Cabral. The Igreja de Nª. Srª. da Graça was built in the 14th and 15th centuries; its façade shows the influence of the Flamboyant Gothic style of the Mosteiro da Batalha.

Further insights are offered by the Igreja de S. João de Alporão / Núcleo Museológico de Arte e Arqueologia. The building was created in the 12th and 13th centuries during a transitional phase between Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The collection of the Núcleo Museológico consists primarily of tombs from the city’s former monasteries. The Museu Diocesano da Sé de Santarém also contains religious art, with works dating from the 13th century to the present day.

Routes for Different Day Plans

Anyone wishing to explore Santarém on foot can choose between clearly different formats. At fifteen signposted points, the Circuito da Alcáçova provides access to cultural heritage and traces of human settlement from the Bronze Age to the present day. This easy, non-circular urban walk is 0.67 km long and begins at the Roman cisterns of Portas do Sol. For a longer circular route, there is a moderately difficult 6.2 km trail that begins at the Jardim da República. There is also an urban, non-circular walking route with a low difficulty level and a length of 1.77 km; its starting point is the Igreja de Santa Clara. This allows you to tailor your daily plans to the distance and level of difficulty without giving up the city’s cultural focus.

Views, Landscape and Regional Cuisine

The Portas do Sol viewpoint offers panoramic views over the Lezíria do Tejo. The Jardim Portas do Sol covers an area of approximately 18,000 m², providing another reference point for planning a quieter part of the day. Along the PR2 – De STR ao Rio route, you may be able to observe the Sardinian warbler (Sylvia melanocephala).

Santarém also has its own culinary profile. Pampilhos are regional cakes; their long, narrow shape pays homage to the long stick of the Campino, the Pampilho. Traditional cuisine includes Bacalhau com magusto, Tiborna, Massa à barrão, Cachola de porco and Cozido das matanças.

Getting There and Choosing Accommodation

The bus station is located in the city centre and is served by good express bus connections. Santarém is also served by the CP – Comboios de Portugal railway line. If you want to focus on historic buildings, short distances and urban walks, you can consider a central location as a starting point when looking for a holiday apartment. If, on the other hand, you are planning several longer excursions, you should first compare your preferred daily structure with your chosen mode of transport.

For further stops on your trip, you can also include Romeira, Pernes, Achete, São Nicolau and Alcanede in your plans.

For the higher-level travel overview: Santarém.