The best road cycling routes around Margem

Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (Porto, 1919 – Lisbon, 2004) is one of the highest voices of the European twentieth century. The first woman to win the prestigious Camões Prize (1999), her poetry combines the light of the Mediterranean, classical myth, love for the sea, and a rigorous civil commitment against the dictatorship.

This tribute is a public art piece in corten steel titled "Voa", developed after a challenge launched by the municipality. The Concept: The sculpture cuts out the silhouettes, in positive and negative, of a flock of swallows in full flight. They appear united with each other, conveying a strong idea of freedom and ascent towards the sky. The Link to the Poetess: The piece was specifically designed to integrate a poem by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen focused on the values of freedom and justice, making the perfect counterpoint to the Court building located there. The choice of location and poem evokes Sophia's famous thought, so often cited in Ponte de Sor: "We see, we hear and we read, we cannot ignore".

When I arrived in Chancelaria, I had almost no water left and was very thirsty. I went back into the café ☕️ "O Palmeiro". I drank a peach Compal 🍑, which is a peach nectar juice 🍑. I asked for two bottles of cold water with ice 🧊, to put in the canisters. When I wanted to pay the bill, the café owner said he didn't want me to pay. He said that the fact of cycling in this heat entitled me to free cold drinks. He categorically refused for me to pay. It's the first time this has happened to me.

Located in the parish of Seda, in the heart of the Alentejo, the ruins of the walls that surrounded the ancient castle of Seda remain determined to preserve their ancient history. Without official evidence, some studies point to the existence of a castro of the Lusitanian tribe, occupied by Roman troops who would have erected a fortification there. The Roman presence in the region is well-known, and easily attested to by the Vila Formosa Bridge (1st and 2nd centuries), milestones, and the military road that would have connected Lisbon to Mérida. In 1160, King Afonso Henriques conquered the village, which at the time was called Arminho, from the Moors and donated the fortification to the Templars. This is the date that marked the beginning of the village's original enclosure. During the reign of King Afonso III, the village was handed over to the Order of Aviz and was later elevated to the status of a town, even serving as the municipal seat until 1836. The castle, however, gradually lost importance, and only a section of medieval wall, reinforced with turrets, has survived to this day. It has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1982.

The historic Castle of Belver (Castelo de Belver) is one of Portugal's most beautiful castles. It was built by the Order of the Hospitallers in the late 12th century early 13th century on the border between what was then Christian and Islamic Portugal - the River Tagus. The castle is on a hill on the northern bank of the river. The name comes from belo ver or "beautiful to see."

deserves a visit, has a nice view over the Tejo river

Belver is a Portuguese village and parish in the municipality of Gavião, with an area of 69.84 km² and 560 inhabitants (2021 census). It belonged to the Order of the Hospital, by donation from D. Sancho I, and was the seat of an independent municipality between 1518 and 1836. It was made up of the parishes of Belver and Comenda and had, in 1801, 1403 inhabitants. When the municipality was dissolved, the parish then moved to the municipality of Mação, where it remained integrated until 1898, when it passed to the then restored municipality of Gavião.

The Aquapolis Sul. It's a cafe in front of the Tagus river. We see the city of Abrantes. The view is beautiful. The place is very nice.