Attractions and Places To See around Alenquer - Top 20

Constantino Palha Municipal Park is one of the main tourist attractions in Vila Franca de Xira, located next to the train station and the Tagus River. It occupies an area of 400 meters in front of the river and is considered the most charismatic garden in the city. Highlights: - Bandstand: a 19th-century bandstand is one of the park's main attractions, where cultural events frequently take place. - Lakes: the lakes are a characteristic element of the garden, adding a touch of serenity to the environment. - Playground: a fun area for children, making it a popular destination for families. - Cafeteria: offers a cozy place to relax and enjoy the river view. - Paths: the winding paths allow visitors to take pleasant walks through the garden, enjoying nature and the view of the Tagus River.

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The palace was built by the superintendent Diogo Inácio de Pina Manique (1733-1805), who held several positions during the time of the Marquis of Pombal. His connection to the town, which came to be called Manique do Intendente and was initially called Alcoentrinho, and which belonged to the Order of Christ, dates back to the time of his uncle, who established a manor in favor of his nephew in 1773. Thus began a very ambitious project, which envisaged the creation of a town with a rationalist architectural design and which included, in addition to the palace (whose construction remained unfinished), the Town Hall, the pillory, the Palace of Justice and the church. This plan did not go ahead due to Pina Manique's removal from the position of superintendent and his premature death.

At this location at the top of the Serra de Montejunto, also known as "Torre" due to the various antennas that were installed there, is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, which may have been built in the 13th century and remodelled and expanded during the 16th century and later. Inside, the altars covered with 17th century tiles and the altarpiece of the main altar, from the 18th century, stand out. Next to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, are the ruins of what is considered to be the first Dominican Convent in Portugal, built in the 12th century and abandoned after the extinction of the religious orders, and is currently in ruins. Also nearby are the ruins of the Royal Ice Factory, classified as a National Monument. Here, in the 18th century, the Dominican monks took advantage of the climatic and geological conditions and opened large tanks connected by narrow passages, one part for the production of ice and the other for its preparation, storage and conservation. The ice was later transported to Lisbon, to supply the court and the café at Terreiro do Paço, later known as Martinho da Arcada (Fernando Pessoa's Café)

Inaugurated on October 22, 2016, the bronze sculpture by artist António Antunes is a tribute to the writer, diplomat and journalist from Vila-Franquense, Álvaro Guerra, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of his birth. The bust is located on the pier of Vila Franca de Xira, at the beginning of the riverfront near the Fábrica das Palavras. Álvaro Guerra was born on October 19, 1936 and died in 2002. With a large body of work, he began his literary career in 1967 with the novel "Os Mastins". In the 1980s he became known for the publication of the so-called "Café Trilogy", in which, based on conversations that took place in the city's cafés, he reported important phases of the country's history. In another field, the book "Crónicas Jugoslavas", awarded by the Portuguese Writers' Association with the Grand Prize of Chronicle, is the result of his experience as a diplomat and an essential figure of Portuguese culture. The work is located along the central and coastal Portuguese Way.

Located next to the Constantino Palha Municipal Garden, a bronze sculpture was installed next to the pier, in the riverside area of Vila Franca de Xira, in honor of the jorna workers. The work of the sculptor João Duarte was inaugurated in July 2013. This sculpture saves the memory of the men and women who gathered on the pier looking for work (la jorna which means a day of work). The farmers or their foremen arrived by boat and hired a good part of the labor for the fields of Lezíria or for the factories of the municipality.

Inaugurated on October 22, 2016, the bronze sculpture by artist António Antunes is a tribute to the writer, diplomat and journalist from Vila-Franquense, Álvaro Guerra, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of his birth. The bust is located on the pier of Vila Franca de Xira, at the beginning of the riverfront near the Fábrica das Palavras. Álvaro Guerra was born on October 19, 1936 and died in 2002. With a large body of work, he began his literary career in 1967 with the novel "Os Mastins". In the 1980s he became known for the publication of the so-called "Café Trilogy", in which, based on conversations that took place in the city's cafés, he reported important phases of the country's history. In another field, the book "Crónicas Jugoslavas", awarded by the Portuguese Writers' Association with the Grand Prize of Chronicles, is the result of his experience as a diplomat and an essential figure of Portuguese culture. The work is located along the central and coastal Portuguese Way.

The Nossa Senhora das Neves Chapel, located at the top of the Serra de Montejunto, has been a place of pilgrimage since the medieval period, prior to the construction of the first Dominican monastery in the 13th century.