Sesimbra Castle

The castle sits on a hill about two hundred metres above Sesimbra, on a site fortified since before the Muslim period and rebuilt repeatedly - taken by Afonso Henriques in 1165, lost, retaken in 1200, held by the Order of Santiago, and reworked in the eighteenth century after the earthquake. The walls form a circuit with towers that can be walked most of the way round, giving the town and its bay directly below, the Arrábida ridge east and the Atlantic west. Inside the enceinte are the church of Nossa Senhora do Castelo, rebuilt in the sixteenth century with an azulejo interior and a cemetery, and the ruins of the medieval settlement that stood here before the population moved down to the shore. Entry is free, which is unusual for a castle of this size, and it is far quieter than the beach town below.

What you actually see

• The wall circuit - towers and rampart walkable most of the way round.
• The church - Nossa Senhora do Castelo with an azulejo interior and cemetery.
• The old settlement - ruins of the town that stood inside the walls before moving down.
• The view - Sesimbra bay below, Arrábida east and the Atlantic west.

When to go

Year-round. One to two hours. Late afternoon for light over the bay. Free entry, unlike most Portuguese castles.

Honest expectations

The road up is steep and narrow with limited parking. Wall walks have uneven stone and sections without railings. Very exposed to wind. Facilities amount to a small café that keeps irregular hours.

Nearby

Sesimbra town and its bay are below; Cabo Espichel is west along the coast.