Arrábida Nature Park

Arrábida Nature Park and Maritime Park Professor Luis Saldanha are one of the most beautiful and fascinating natural regions of Mediterranean influence, and remains almost untouched in its natural equilibrium. For many years the area now occupied by the Arrabida Natural Park was an important hunting reserve with a diversified fauna, which, amongst other species, included wolves, wild boar and deer, the latter having disappeared by the beginning of the 20th century. The most representative and characteristic biotopes for the land fauna are limestone cliffs and rocky outcrops, caves, scrubland, thickets, bushes, copses, corkwoods, pine forest, meadows and small watercourses. Arrabida’s marine ecosystems are of the greatest national and international importance too. The cultural references of the Park witness occupation from prehistoric times, through those of the Phoenicians and Romans to the Arabs. We will visit the medieval castles of Sesimbra and Palmela and the sixteenth century Fortress of S. Felipe and spend the night in the Convent of Arrábida.