Municipality of Odemira
Today I'm going to talk to you about Odemira. Not just about the town. But the municipality of which Odemira is the seat. This is the largest municipality in the country in terms of land area. There are around 1720 kms2 spread over 13 parishes (Relíquias, Sabóia, São Luís, São Martinho das Amoreiras, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Luzianes-Gare, Boavista dos Pinheiros, Longueira/Almograve, Colos, Santa Clara-a-Velha, São Salvador e Santa Maria, São Teotónio and Vale Santiago).
Unique Alentejo?
Do you know why the Municipality of Odemira is considered a "Unique Alentejo"? Because of the diversity of the parishes that make it up. Here you'll find rivers, beaches, plains and mountains. And the 55 kilometers of coastline that make up the municipality of Odemira belong to the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. The Natural Park stretches from Porto Côvo in the Alentejo to Burgau in the Algarve.
An invitation you can't refuse
At the invitation of the Municipality of Odemira and as part of the FEI-TUR - Turismo Desportivo e de Natureza (Sports and Nature Tourism Event), I went for a weekend to rediscover Odemira.
It wouldn't be possible to see the whole county in just two days, which is why the program included some of the county's key points, with the aim of making us want to see more.
I can't wait to get back and explore more of this Alentejo, which is undoubtedly so unique and which I love. Don't forget my Alentejo "rib". For those who don't know, my paternal family is from Ferreira do Alentejo.
The Arrival
My suggestion is to arrive on a Friday evening. Perfect for relaxing, having dinner and resting after the road trip. And the next day you'll wake up in the Alentejo, ready to set off on your discovery.
More than a roadmap
As I've already said, it would be impossible to get to know the whole municipality in two days. So Marlene, from the Odemira municipality's communications department, drew up an itinerary that allowed us to enjoy the places and landscapes as we got to know their history and culture. In a calm and pleasant way, rather than visiting more parishes just to "get the point across". This is a suggested tour for those who want to get away from the most touristy and well-known spots in the municipality.
Itinerary for 2 days
What to Visit - Inland
Santa Clara Dam - Parish of Santa Clara a velha
The Santa Clara Dam is one of the largest dams in Europe. It was built in 1969 and is fed by the River Mira, one of the least polluted rivers in Europe, and the water travels around 84.9 km through its channels.
There are several options for activities when visiting the Dam.
- River Beach - In the reservoir formed by the dam there is a river beach with a floating platform.
- Boat trip - You can opt for a boat trip. There are faster boats for those who like an adrenaline rush. And boats for a calmer ride. This may or may not include lunch and you will be accompanied by an experienced guide who will tell you all about the history of the dam. If the weather is inviting, you can also take a dip in the dam.
- Kayaks - Single or double kayaks are available. With or without a monitor, depending on your experience. This is a different way of touring the dam, as it allows you to visit places that are not accessible by boat.
- Sport Fishing for Achigã and Carp - Achigã fishing is done using the practice of "catch and release" (the fish are returned to the river). In order to maintain the sustainability of the environment.
Boat trips, kayaks and sport fishing are all done with the company Bass Catch in Santa Clara.
If you've been following me around here for a while, you'll know that if one of the activities on offer is a boat trip, that's probably the one I'll choose. We started the tour at the pier and learned that some of the houses that existed here before the dam was built are still visible.
We reach the other shore, where we climb up to the "Bass Catch in Santa Clara" support house. A delicious snack is waiting for us. We ate, relaxed a bit and took photos. Now to go back, we change boats and those who came on the fast boats now go on the "calmer" boats.
What to Visit - Litoral do Concelho
Corporal Sardão
Cape Sardão is the westernmost point of the Alentejo coast.
- Cape Sardão Lighthouse – Did you know that the Cabo Sardão Lighthouse has a special feature? It was built upside down, i.e. it faces the land instead of the sea. Why? I don't know, nor have I been able to find an answer. If anyone knows, please let me know. The lighthouse was built in 1915 and is still in operation today.
- Fishermen's Trail - The fishermen's trail belongs to the Rota Vicentina. Did you know about the Rota Vicentina? I didn't. It's a network of hiking trails in the southwest of Portugal. This is a coastal trail, always by the sea. It covers 125 kms.
Barca entrance - Zambujeira do Mar
Of the four artisanal fishing ports in the municipality of Odemira, we visited Entrada da Barca in Zambujeira do Mar. It's a picturesque, small, artisanal fishing port.
This fishing port was created by taking advantage of the natural cove that has formed in this location. It is also considered a port of refuge for recreational boating.
This is where we find the fish that reaches the region's restaurants. Among them Sargo, Robalo, Pargo and Dourada. There are no crowds at the weekend. But during the week, around 11 a.m., you can watch the boats arrive.
Praia dos Alteirinhos (Sea Beach) - Vila Nova de Milfontes
Alteirinhos beach is one of the quietest in the region. It is sought after by those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the region's best-known beaches. One of the areas of the beach is classified as naturist.
On the way to the beach is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Sea. If you're looking for tranquillity, this is the beach for you.
Furnas Beach (River Beach) - Longueira/Almograve
For those looking for a river beach, Praia das Furnas is an excellent option. During low tide, small coves form that will delight photography lovers. It was voted "Best River Beach" in the "7 Wonders of Portugal Beaches" competition in 2012. Furnas Beach is actually divided into two. Furnas Rio and Furnas Mar. There are two beach-side restaurants, one at the starting point of Furnas Mar. And another at Furnas Rio, where I had dinner. Oasis (I recommend the octopus rice), with a fantastic view of the sunset.
Boat trip at the mouth of the River Mira - Vila Nova de Mil Fontes
And we're back on a boat trip. This time with River Emotions at the mouth of the River Mira. Of course, my choice was for the boat trip, but there are also other activities available, such as Stand Up Paddle or canoeing.
Where to eat
Restaurant Tasco do Largo – Vila Nova de Milfontes
O Sacas Restaurant – Zambujeira do Mar
Oasis Restaurant – Furnas Beach
ALENTO Restaurant – Located at the access to Furnas beach - near Vila Nova de Milfontes
Lunch at this restaurant was much more than a meal, it was a gastronomic experience. We tried the tasting menu in what was once an elementary school. It's among the best restaurants I've ever visited. Exceptional food and 5-star service.
Where to sleep
Naturarte Campo
I stayed at the Naturarte Campoin the parish of São Luís. I was immediately pleasantly surprised when I was told that breakfast was served from 9.30 am to 12 noon. Have you ever seen this schedule in any other accommodation? And the message is clear: it's an invitation to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city and everyday life. There's no rush here and it's time to rest.
Naturarte Campo consists of 10 double rooms. Two houses with capacity for 2 people. And a house with capacity for 4 people.
The rooms are individually decorated, with pieces of art and family furniture. Each room "belongs" to a member of the family. I stayed in Mano's room.
The rooms have a full private bathroom, air conditioning and a terrace with a table and chairs so you can relax or work (if even in such a setting you can't put down your computer). And Wi-Fi access throughout the accommodation.
Breakfast is homemade and reminiscent of grandma's house, a delight. Freshly scrambled eggs and freshly squeezed juice. The kindness and friendliness of the staff and owners should be highlighted.
Naturarte is concerned with responsible and sustainable tourism. Not neglecting the comfort of guests, with the least possible impact on nature and the environment. The use of fossil fuels is avoided as much as possible. To this end, there are solar panels and two photovoltaic energy production units. This takes advantage of the region's sunshine and reduces the ecological footprint. Water is also reused and instead of using grass, which requires a lot of water and maintenance, local plants are used. These are adapted to the region's climate and require less water, such as lavender.
Various sports activities, bicycles and picnic baskets are available. You can also visit the equestrian center and take riding lessons. These are available for adults and children. And also for people with motor difficulties. If you have a horse, you can also bring it along.
Naturarte Rio
We also visited the Naturarte Rio. It belongs to the same owners, but with a different concept.
It consists of 3 houses. One with capacity for 2 people and two with capacity for 4 people. This is the ideal place for those who want to be isolated and have no contact with the other guests or the staff. Breakfast is served in baskets, which are left at the door of each house.
Odemira At Your Fingertips
With Discover Odemira App available for IOS and Android, you can plan your route and find out more about the municipality and the places you want to visit. You can define routes, find out the distance between the places you want to visit, as well as addresses and timetables. You can keep a travel diary and have access to the events calendar, among other features.
The Municipality of Odemira provides free Wi-Fi at various locations in the municipality.
Video of the Santa Clara dam tour
______________________________________________________________________
What about you? Which places in this municipality do you already know? Let me know in the comments. I hope you enjoyed it. Have a nice walk. Happy travels. And see you next time!
My thanks to the Municipality of Odemira for the invitation, and to everyone who welcomed us so well.
Did you like the article? Save it to Pinterest!Pin It!
💡 Poupa tempo e dinheiro com estas ferramentas úteis para a tua viagem
Estas são as plataformas que uso e recomendo nas minhas viagens. Ao usares estes links, beneficias de descontos exclusivos e ajudas a manter este projeto — sem qualquer custo extra para ti.
I didn't know Odemira had so many good things to do and so much beautiful scenery!!!
Thanks for the tips!
And there was still so much to see and discover. It's definitely a county to visit many times. Thank you for your comment.