The Restaurant “Restaurante Grutas de Mira de Aire”

The regional cuisine is richer with the “Unique Flavors” that you can taste in Mira de Aire Caves Restaurant.

Any lover of traditional Portuguese cuisine, which does not dispense a good more elaborate and modern dish, here is a “perfect marriage” that satisfies the most demanding palates.

The architecture and decoration, combined with a natural and odd landscape creates a whole a tranquil setting that opens the appetite.

Open every day from 12h00 to 15h30 and from 19h00 to 22h00.

Reservations by 244,441,093

In a dominant position on a hill on the right bank of the Tagus river, formerly constituting the call Tagus Line, currently part of the Tourism Region of the Templars.

At the time of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, in 1118 or 1148, the town was conquered from the Moors by the forces of Afonso Henriques (1112-1185), which determined its reconstruction of the defenses. The defense needs of the call Tagus line, appreciated his site, at a time when the Templar Order endowed the middle reaches of the river an impressive defensive line, which signed up. Resisted thus harassment of the forces of the Caliphate under the Almohad Abem Jacob command, which had to withdraw suffering heavy casualties. In reward for this heroic deed, received the sovereign your Foral Charter (1179). Under the reign of Sancho I (1185-1211), a new siege Almohad under the Caliph Abu Yusuf Ya’qub command al-Mansur, was repeated in 1191, a time when all Christian conquests were lost in territories South of the River Tagus, with the exception of the city of Évora.

Later, D. Afonso III (1248-1279) gave it major improvements on defense, started in 1250 and completed between 1300 and 1303, during the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), highlighting the Keep tower and the expansion of the walls. This monarch donated the town to his wife, Isabel of Aragon, passing, thereafter, to integrate the assets of the queens of Portugal.

At the time of the 1383-1385 crisis lined up next to the Master of Avis forces, praying the tradition that was in this castle that took the decision to fight the troops of Castile in Aljubarrota.

Under the reign of King Manuel (1495-1521), the village received the Foral New (1510).

In the second half of the sixteenth century, Abrantes Castle fell into decay, particularly during the Philippine Dynasty.

Since 1981, the Boquilobo Marsh Nature Reserve is a UNESCO World World Biosfera.1 reserve This was the first Portuguese protected area to join the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It recognized the importance of the Reserve as a natural wetland and as a shelter place for a large number of birds as a breeding, feeding and resting the migration routes.

Has access to the reserve taking the path of Paul Bed and the road Golegã / Azinhaga.

It belonged to Henry the Navigator, following the Fernando de Castro, Mr. Paul Boquilobo and their descendants.

What to see

Interpretation Centre of Paul do Boquilobo – starting point for the pedestrian path, it may see a permanent exhibition and watch a movie on this protected area.

Observatory – from this you can recognize the different species that exist in this protected area, and the best time to do so since the fall from start to late spring.

Colony of herons – in the spring is formed an important colony of herons and spoonbills, coming partly from Africa to breed in this area. This reserve, one of the most important in the country, stands out for its breeding populations of Ardeidae and hold important
populations of ducks in winter. Despite having the presence of a number of birds during most of the year the bird take refuge within areas where the visitor, thewhich makes it quite difficult to bird watching at this location. During the summer and early autumn paul is almost dry.

Birdwatching: http://www.avesdeportugal.info/sitboquilobo.html

Salgueiral – Frequently plant communities of this wetland, lining the main water lines.

Farmland – the fertility of alluvial land allows an intense and rendável agriculture is especially dominated by corn for grain.

At the time of Independence of Portugal, before advancing to the South of the Portuguese forces under the command of King D. Afonso Henriques (1112-1185), the castle was conquered, in March 15, 1147, by surprise in an assault night. On occasion, the sovereign donated all ecclesiastical law of the village to the Knights Templar.

“In the name of the Holy Trinity, Father. Son and Holy Spirit. I, Alfonso, by the grace of God, King of Portugal, beginning my journey to the castle, called Santarém, I proposed in my heart, and I vote, that God by his hand mercy granted, would offer all ecclesiastical law and the riders and most religious of Solomon’s Temple, residing in Jerusalem in defensão of the Holy Sepulchre, some of whom accompanied me in this company. And because the Lord made me so great mercy that deducted prosperous end my desire, so I, Afonso, aforesaid king, with my wife the Queen Mafalda, make donation to the nominated riders of all ecclesiastical law of Santarém, so the have and have thus they and their successors forever, so do not entremeta it any secular or ecclesiastical person.

Made this scripture in April of 1185 was in 1147 of the Christian era.

In terms of historiography, an important documentary source on the robbery Santarém is the manuscript “De expugnatione Scalabis”, written by monks of the Monastery of Santa Cruz Coimbra to mark the achievement of the sovereign.

The town and its castle were in the path of the Almohad caliph onslaught of Abu Ya’qub Yusuf I, being attacked in 1171. The Muslim forces at the time, were dispersed by the troops of Fernando II of Leon, son of D. Afonso Henriques which at the time was in Santarém. A new Muslim attack materializes in 1181, lying in the city the Prince Sancho, and the assailants retreated before a counteroffensive of defenders.

The defenses of Santarém were severely damaged by the earthquake in 1531.

It is next to the Tower of Calabash, in the historic city center and is one of its most emblematic monuments. This temple, probably the best example of Romanesque art in the South (ie in the area south of the Borders region), dates from the twelfth century and belonged to the Knights Hospitaller.

In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the church implemented a monastic complex located along the Alpram or Alporão door, which was called the Monastery of St. John’s Hospital, which is thought that one of the functions of the temple next door would have been to protect military access to the city by next spring and guard the entrance of Jews in the city, according to the rules established between Christians and that ethnic minority. The primitive set convent, left, next to the southern facade, some traces of a cloister and houses a small monastery.

The foundation of this temple is due, in fact, the Order of St. John’s Hospital, whose attachment to the village then occurred between 1159 and 1185. The exact period of construction of the church is unknown, although not remain doubt occurred in the past decades of the twelfth century.

Contrary to what the name implies, the stone soup is a soup with many ingredients, in which the “rock” is just the “pretext”. This designation is found in many western cultures and is based on a legend.

Stone Soup is also the title of a comic book, translated from an US edition entitled Stone Soup.

The Legend

A poor monk, who was on pilgrimage came to a house, and too proud to simply ask for food, asked the owners of the house to lend you a pot for him to prepare a soup – stone … and took from his knapsack a beautiful smooth stone and well washed. The hosts were curious and immediately let him enter the friar to the kitchen and gave him the pot. The friar put on a pot with only the stone, but then said he had to temper the soup … The landlady gave him the salt, but he suggested that it was better if it was a bit of sausage or bacon. And there was the grease to the next stone. So the monk asked if had not anything to thicken the soup, such as potatoes or beans that were left over from the previous meal … So thickened the soup “stone”. Joined carrots, over the meat was attached with the beans and, of course, resulted in excellent soup.
Ate the soup together and in the end the monk carefully removed the stone pot, washed it and returned to save it in your knapsack … for the next soup!

One of the best restaurants to eat this soup – O Toucinho

http://www.toucinho.com/

Address:

• Rua de Timor 20
• 2080-103 ALMEIRIM Almeirim, Santarem, Portugal

Characterized by the fertility of its soil, the abundance of pastures and the beauty of its countryside markedly, Golegã retains the traditional Portuguese architecture. According to several authors, the Golegã Village originated in the time of King Afonso Henriques and Sancho I, when a woman’s natural Galicia and lived in Santarém came settle down with an inn on this site. Golegã that already existed in the fifteenth century, it seems beyond doubt, and after having established it said Galician, having spent its name to Sale of the Galician, the Galician Varzim, Vila of the Galician language and later by corruption “Golegã”.

Horse Fair in Golegã

In 1571, begins the current Fair St. Martin Golegã today also National Horse Fair and International Fair Lusitano Horse. From 1833, and with the support of the Marquis of Pombal, the show began to take an important competitive nature, performing equestrian competitions and different races competitions. The best horse breeders were concentrated then in Golegã. In the mid-eighteenth century, had its beginning the Fair of Golegã, called until 1972 Fair St. Martin, the date from which came to be called the National Horse Fair. It is the National Horse Fair the most important and most Castiça of all fairs of its kind taking place in Portugal and worldwide. Here we present all breeders, with its beautiful specimens, which is why we transact in Golegã Thoroughbreds best created in the country, which are sold to many parts of the world, the most important national event Equestrian and the largest warehouse Commercial Lusitano, recognized worldwide.

Golegã became the capital of the horse. The day of St. Martin of Fair, which was traditionally the day November 11, went to be more beautiful and unique public equestrian show performs the free level between us. The testing program is very extensive and varied: Ralies, Raids, Equestrian Games, Championships, Carriages Marathon, Views, are some of the finest performances in Golegã take place in his presentation of the horse. And to complement party justifying the popular adage that “At Saint Martin taste the wine,” there are plenty of water-walking and the roasted chestnuts.

Erected a granite outcrop to 18 m above sea level, on a small island 310 m long by 75 m wide in the middle reaches of the Tagus river, just below its confluence with the river Zêzere, at the time of the Reconquista integrated call Tagus line, current Tourism Region of the Templars. Is one of the most representative examples of military architecture of the time, simultaneously evoking the early days of the kingdom of Portugal and the Templar Order, association that reinforces the aura of mystery and romance. With the extinction of the Temple Almourol castle becomes part of the heritage of the Order of Christ (which was the successor in Portugal of the Knights Templar).

The building was built in the early twentieth century, bears the signature of the architect Raul Lino and brings together important works of painting (Master Francisco Henriques, Josefa de Obidos), sculpture (Flemish School of the sixteenth century), furniture and ceramics, among other collections.

Closing days: Mondays, Holidays
Visiting hours: From April to September, from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00; October to March, from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00.
By appointment: Yes, for large groups. (Tel: 243 559 100)

More information:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Casa-dos-Patudos-Museu-de-Alpiar%C3%A7a/318070581554575?sk=timeline