Top 4 Castles around Sines

During the summer months, it's possible to visit the island. Unfortunately, access to the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Queimada is not possible. There's a sign in front of the fortress stating its opening hours.

The Fort of Santo Alberto do Pessegueiro, also known as the Fort of Pessegueiro Island or the Fort of Ilha de Fora, is located on the Alentejo coast, on the island of Pessegueiro, in the parish of Porto Covo, municipality of Sines, district of Setúbal, in Portugal. It crossed fires, on the mainland, with another maritime fort: the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Queimada do Pessegueiro, also known as the Fort of Praia do Pessegueiro or the Fort of Ilha de Dentro, in a dominant position over Pessegueiro beach. Both were part of a larger project to defend the Costa Vicentina, which included an artificial port sheltered by a stone breakwater that would connect the island of Pessegueiro to the bordering islet of Penedo do Cavalo and this islet to the mainland. They are currently located in the area of the Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina Natural Park.

You have a beautiful view of the beach from above

As one of Portugal’s busiest fishing harbors during the middle ages, the inhabitants of Sines decided to build a castle to defend their ships and the town against enemy navies and pirates. The castle dates back to the 15th century and still stands in its entirety. Although it was built smaller than average to adapt to the landscape it was built on, the castle boasts a large history, including being home to Estêvão da Gama, father of Vasco da Gama.

Sines Castle is a medieval fortress built on a cliff that has been occupied since the Paleolithic period. It was very useful for defense and is now one of the best viewpoints over the bay. In the 14th century, the small bourgeois village of Sines demanded administrative autonomy from King Dom Pedro I in relation to Santiago do Cacém. The monarch, interested in the strategic importance of the land in protecting this coastal area from pirates, granted Sines a charter. But on one condition: the construction of a defensive fence. The castle was built during the first half of the 15th century. Its area is relatively small, half a hectare, which may be explained by the fact that at the time the castle was built, the village already occupied an area too large to be completely surrounded. The most famous mayor of Sines was Estêvão da Gama, father of Vasco da Gama, who carried out works on the fortress. Assuming that Estêvão already occupied this position in 1469, the probable year of the navigator's birth, this must be the birthplace of Vasco da Gama. The castle underwent restoration work, completed in November 2008, at the same time as the inauguration of the Sines Museum and Vasco da Gama's House. It has been a Monument of Public Interest since 1933 (decree no. 22737 of 24 June)

With good access, Sines is an excellent place to live and visit... Vasco da Gama beach is a cove protected from winds and sea currents, excellent for families with children...

Castle with spectacular views over Vasco da Gama Beach...

Beautiful castle complex above the city with a great view of the area.