Golegã

Golegã, in the plains of the Ribatejo, is the horse town of Portugal. Its fields and stables are the home of the Lusitano horse, and each November the town celebrates the Feira Nacional do Cavalo — one of the great equestrian festivals of Europe, with parades, bullfights on horseback and nights of music in the old arena.

The town of the horse

The life of Golegã has been tied to the horse for centuries: the fertile plains around the town, with their fields and levees, were the land of the great stud farms, and the fair grew from the markets of the Ribatejo into the national festival of the Lusitano and the campinos, the herders of the plains. The town also keeps the Casa-Estúdio Carlos Relvas, the studio of one of the great pioneers of Portuguese photography.

What to see

• The Feira Nacional do Cavalo, in November, with horses and riders from all over.
• The Casa-Estúdio Carlos Relvas, an architectural jewel of photography.
• The town and its arena, between the old streets and the fields.
• The plains of the Ribatejo, with their levees and farms.

Visiting

Golegã lies in the Ribatejo, within easy reach of Santarém and the A13 motorway. The great fair takes place each November, with the programme published by the municipality; outside the fair weeks, the town is quiet, and the Casa-Estúdio can be visited by appointment through the official information.

Nearby

The old city of Santarém and the historic Tomar are close neighbours in the plains north of Lisbon.

Information: cm-golega.pt.

Image credit: Feira Nacional do Cavalo, Golegã, by Waugsberg, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.