Arrábida: Where mountains embrace sea

Standing at the top of the mountain, the São Filipe Fort looks down on Setúbal with imposing serenity. Built in the 16th century, it was the guardian of the bay and the Sado estuary for centuries. Inside, the small chapel covered in tiles surprises with its delicacy - it is said to have been erected at the exact spot indicated by a mysterious apparition, repeated over several nights. The walls hold stories of kings, soldiers and secrets, including the rumor of a tunnel linking the fort to the sea. But what is most striking is the view: the blue of the Atlantic, the green of Arrábida and the city below, bathed in light. The wind blows hard, but time seems to stand still.

Between the blue of the Atlantic and the green of the mountains, the Arrábida Convent seems suspended between heaven and earth. Founded in the 16th century by a friar who chose to live here in solitude and prayer, the convent was carved out of the rock itself, embraced by nature. Legend has it that a divine light guided him to the place - and that it has since become a haven of peace. The silence is almost sacred, the air smells of pine and sea air, and the view seems endless. Later, the Duke of Aveiro had the New Convent built, expanding the space without robbing it of its soul. Today, Arrábida remains a unique place: serene, pure and inspiring - where time slows down and nature speaks softly, but says it all.

Arrábida is that piece of paradise that seems to have been painted by hand: the sea in shades of turquoise, the mountains covered in green and the sun casting golden reflections on the hillsides. Every bend in the road reveals a new landscape - and it's impossible not to stop and admire it. This natural park is home to secret beaches, trails with dreamy views and a rare tranquillity that is hard to find so close to Lisbon. Here, the weather slows down, the air seems cleaner and life takes on a different rhythm. It's the perfect destination for those who like authentic nature, unexpected dives and that good feeling of freedom that only the sea and the mountains together can give.

*Meals, tastings and entrance fees to monuments not included.

Sesimbra lives between the sea and the mountains, with an authenticity that you feel as soon as you arrive. The blue of the Atlantic dominates the landscape, and high up, Sesimbra Castle has watched over the town for almost a thousand years - the only Portuguese medieval castle with a direct view of the sea. Tradition has it that during the reconquest, a miraculous apparition protected the inhabitants, making this place sacred ever since. In the streets, the smell of the sea mixes with the sound of seagulls and the laughter of fishermen who continue to go out at dawn, just like their ancestors. Sesimbra is made up of strength and calm, of stories and light - a town with a soul, where the sea dictates the rhythm and time always seems right.

The trip ends, but a little piece of it remains to be taken away - made up of memories and Portugal.

On this route, we have carefully included a surprise place chosen by us for this day.