The place where he was born explorer who opened the call for the Portuguese spice route and created an alternative to the Silk Road, is turned to the sea which undoubtedly influenced the young Basque to link their lives to navigation business, rather than heed the wishes maternal follow an ecclesiastical career. From an early age, Basque da Gama was able to commit myself to the seafaring life, participating in several expeditions to the African coast and giving them a great capacity test.
In the historical center of Sines, which was appreciated by Romans, Visigoths, Vandals and Arabs, can follow the footsteps of the early years of the Basque range. Mayor Warden, son of Sines, Estevão da Gama was born in the castle at the top of the village, where he now holds the festival of 'world music', something very appropriate for a city that gave the world one of its greatest discoverers. In one of the towers of the castle is set up a small museum dedicated to the navigator.
Along the wall is a monument dedicated to the browser and close is the Mother Church, where he was baptized and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Chambers, the patron saint of fishermen, the surfer who felt a special devotion. Other attractions include the Church of San Salvador, the Holy Spirit, or the Hermitage of San Sebastian. Highlight his statues, walls and gardens that surround the city center. You can also visit the Archaeological Museum, where archaeological remains are kept in the region, illustrating the human occupation of the region since the Paleolithic period, highlighting the "Tesouro do Gaio" (seventh century BC) and the engraved stones of the Basilica Visigoth (seventh century AD).
Sea Land
From the top of Sines can admire the panoramic view of the fishing port on the beautiful beach, from which comes every day to fish, since this activity is still important in the city, although, currently, is the commercial port one of the most important in Europe, which generates much of the economy of Sines, with petrochemical, metallurgy, etc ...
From here you can start a tour of the Alentejo coast, well maintained and in the wild, mostly to find some of its spectacular beaches. From Sines to Cabo de San Vicente develops the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina, the stretch of coastline of Europe's best preserved, with several species of unique fauna and flora, thus being visited by many zoologists and botanists from all around the world. The landscape is marked by steep cliffs, symbols of the park, created by erosion of wind and sea were given various shapes and colors over time.
One can observe many species of birds, such as rare osprey, but the most interesting are the white storks, because this is the only place where they nest on sea cliffs. Another curiosity are the otters, as this is also the only place in Portugal and one of the last in Europe, where you can find these animals in marine habitat.
The beaches are frequently visited by surfers, are among the best in the country, the range is enormous, being large and small sandy beaches between cliffs and rocks. If you prefer a place with atmosphere, must go to Vila Nova de Milfontes at the mouth of the River Mira.You can choose between the ocean beaches or river, or take a canoe ride along its banks.
Here are happening beaches like Playa Grande de Porto Covo surrounded by large rocks that protect it and bathed in a sea of clean water and sometimes choppy that are very popular with surfers or beach Pessegueiro Island, located off the island which gives its name and found the remains of a very old occupation as a fish-salting factory from Roman times, during the summer, several boats provide tours to the island, crossing the channel was used as a port of refuge by the Romans and Carthaginians, and now offers excellent conditions for water sports like windsurfing, kayaking and scuba diving. This quaint little island where King Philip II of Spain (I of Portugal) thought to unite the continent, also retains the remains of real sleep in the ruins of two forts, one on the island and another on the coast. Finally Torpes São Beach, which is one of the best for surfing on the Portuguese coast, and has a large sandy area, which stand some rocks, and is bathed by a sea with a temperature higher than its neighbors. Very different is the small beach Zambujeira, nestling between beautiful cliffs, where you can walk the trails used by fishermen to find the Fountain of the Amores.
People with taste
Very near the coast are also charming villages, with environment and personality. This is the case of Vila Nova de Milfontes at the mouth of the River Mira, a friendly population that owes much of its growing tourism development in recent years. Among his assets, in the historical center, stands the fortress, built between 1599 and 1602 for defense against pirate attacks, the Mother Church and Sardão Cape Lighthouse, built at the beginning of the century.
Further north on the right bank of the River Sado and extending over a gentle rise, Alcacer do Sal has been inhabited since ancient times. Evidence of this, the archaeological remains of the Neolithic, and the footprints of Greeks, Phoenicians and other peoples of the Mediterranean basin were attracted by its strategic location along the path of water is the river Sado, which provided transport of goods in inland areas to other parts of the Mediterranean.
Although it has lost its military and commercial importance, Alcacer do Sal keeps intact its remarkable beauty. From the castle you can see, on the south side, the curve of the river Sado, which runs a smooth green plain, the prelude to the vast Alentejo plain. Recently restored to house one of the Pousadas de Portugal, now has the name of the Christian conqueror, D. Afonso II. From here you can see, towards the four cardinal points, magnificent views over the river and the fields, the most appropriate stage to imagine the immense and varied movement that was recorded in the River. A walking tour of Alcacer do Sal reveals the most charming of this city, with its small streets, terraced climb to the castle.
Back to the Basque hometown of Gama, on the inside but a step in the coastal village where the original Santiago do Cacém, a quiet village with ancient origins during the Roman period was crossing point on the road linking Lisbon to the Algarve, which contributed to its development. Situated on a hill, stands atop the Castle, with its cube-shaped towers and crenellated watchtower around the walls. The castle has annexed the main church founded in the thirteenth century by the Knights of the Order of Santiago, at that time preserved the Roman-gothic southern portal. Nearby are the ruins of Miróbriga, a major agricultural center and thermal time of the Romans. The archaeological site includes a town that lies in its perimeter a racetrack, residence houses (some with murals) and a well-defined acropolis which stresses the forum and the rich set thermal.
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