Alcácer do Sal

Alcácer do Sal is a small Portuguese town in the Setúbal district, set on the banks of the River Sado in the Alentejo region. Overlooked by its medieval castle, now converted into a pousada perched on a hill above the Sado valley, the town retains a historic centre of narrow streets and whitewashed houses typical of the Alentejo. Its origins date back to antiquity, with traces of Roman and Moorish occupation still visible in its architecture and layout. The River Sado, navigable out to the Atlantic Ocean, shapes the surrounding landscape, bordered by rice paddies and wetlands well suited to birdwatching, particularly within the Sado estuary nature reserve. The region is also noted for cork production, with the Alentejo being one of the world's leading cork-producing areas. The surrounding countryside offers farmland, cork oak forests and pine woods, ideal for walking and cycling. Local cuisine showcases seafood from the Sado alongside classic Alentejo specialities such as bread, olive oil and sheep's milk cheeses.