Quinta da Bacalhôa

At the foot of the Arrábida hills, near Azeitão, the Quinta da Bacalhôa combines a Renaissance palace, a historic garden and working vineyards. Its lakes, hedges and tiles — some of the oldest azulejos in Portugal — make it one of the most complete estates of its kind in the country.

History and character

Built in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the quinta belonged to the Brás de Albuquerque family and later passed through noble houses before becoming part of a great wine estate. Its garden, with parterres, fountains and a lake, was designed in the Italian manner, and its palace rooms hold remarkable tile panels of the sixteenth century.

What to see

• The palace, with its sixteenth-century azulejo panels.
• The formal garden, its clipped hedges and the lake.
• The vineyards and the wine cellars of the estate.
• The setting between the hills of Arrábida and the Sado plain.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn are the finest seasons, when the garden is green and the vineyards show their colours. Visits to the quinta are usually combined with the estate’s wines; the conditions are set by the estate, so check before travelling.

Nearby

The quinta lies between the Parque Natural da Arrábida and the Sado estuary, a short drive from Setúbal and its fish market.

Visiting

The quinta is at Vila Fresca de Azeitão, in the municipality of Setúbal, reached by road from Lisbon or Setúbal. Visits and wine experiences follow the estate’s schedule; check the official page before your visit.

Information: bacalhoa.pt.

Image credit: Palácio e Quinta da Bacalhoa, Azeitão, by M Teresa Sousa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.