5 Best Things to do in Sesimbra

The North African Moors, mainly originating from Morocco, occupied southern and central Portugal from 8^th until 12^th/13^th centuries.  It was they who first built a fortress above the picturesque fishing village of Sesimbra in the 10^th century. 

In 1165 troops believed to have been led by King Afonso Henriques, with the help of Frankish Crusaders captured the castle, which was later re-built and underwent significant works of restoration in the early 20^th century. 

Set among the pine covered hills of the Serra da Arrabida this complex of 16th century building was originally a Franciscan monastery. The site covers around 25 hectares and contains a number of buildings, shrines and woodland.

The Serra da Arrábida Natural Park (Parque Natural da Arrábida) covers an area of over 100 square kilometres and is only about a 30 minute drive south from the capital city of Lisbon. It was given protected status as a national park in 1976 to preserve its natural beauty. Whilst the park and its beaches are popular with day trippers from the city, few tourists are aware of its existence. The landscape was once used as a backdrop to the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service during the scene when Bond’s newlywed wife is killed in a drive-by shooting.

There's been a lighthouse to warn ships of the treacherous waters around Cape Espichel  since 1430.  The fully automated structure that we see today was built in 1730 and rises 32 metres above ground level and the tall cliffs of the cape.  It is said to be visible for almost 40 kilometres out to sea and emits a loud siren when conditions are foggy. 

The oldest part of the lighthouse is the white, hexagonal tower, the buildings surrounding it being much later additions. 

The cape of Cabo Espichel is a windswept, rocky headland at the south-western tip of the land across the Tejo, around 40 kilometres south of Lisbon.  This is a wild, desolate spot, where giant waves crash against sheer, towering cliffs.  It is a place to appreciate the raw beauty of nature and is often a great place to come to watch the sunset, although visitors need to beware of the dangerous drops and the powerful gusts of wind.