| TORRES
VEDRAS |
Nestling on the south-western edge of Serra de Montejunto, Torres
Vedras was a royal residence from the mid-13th to the early
16th century.
Previously inhabited by Celts, Visigoths, Romans and the Moors,
the town is best known for its light, refreshing wines and the
Lines of Torres Vedras, a network of fortified defences built
by the Duke of Wellington in 1809 to repel Napoleon's troops
during the Peninsula War. When complete, over 600 guns and 152
masonry forts lay along two lines stretching from the sea to
the River Tagus. The French troops eventually retreated to Spain
in 1811.
What to see. Traces of trenches and bastions are still
visible near the restored fort of São Vicente in the
north of the town. In the centrally-located Largo de São
Pedro, winged dragons enliven the Manueline portal of the church
of São Pedro, which was rebuilt in the 16th century.
The interior features interesting 18th-century azulejo glazed
tiles and the tomb of João Lopes Perestelo, who accompanied
Vasco da Gama on his epic pioneering voyage to India in 1497.
The monastery church of the Convento de Graça contains
an impressive 17th-century gilded altarpiece, while the main
building houses a museum displaying Peninsular War memorabilia.
Nearby. At Varatojo, 4 km west of Torres Vedras, the
old convent of Santo António is worth seeing for its
Gothic cloister and sacristy lined with 17th-century azulejo
glazed tiles. 3 km east lies the prehistoric fortifications
of Castro do Zambujal. The spa waters of Vimeiro, a few kilometres
north-west of Torres Vedras, are recommended for kidney diseases,
digestive problems and some skin ailments. |
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
