Arrábida Natural Park

Arrábida is a true international scientific relic. It stretches east from Setúbal city, consisting of a rectangle parallel to the sea, whose vertexes are the surroundings of Setúbal, Palmela (Louro mountain), Santana and the surroundings of Sesimbra (Risco mountain). Apart from Arrábida, the park covers the mountains of Risco, São Luís, Gaiteiros, São Francisco and Louro, where the rock crests tear apart the lavish Mediterranean vegetation. In the mountain slope, overlooking the sea, small fine-grained beaches are to be seen. An uneven relief and a limestone soil led to the development and preservation of Mediterranean vegetation – the maquis. Magnificent exemplars of strawberry trees, rose peppers, Italian buckthorns, heather and lilies of the valley can be observed in Solitário, Coberta and Vidal woods. This delicate natural heritage is preserved by several reserves: strict, botanical, geological and landscape reserves. Pedra da Anicha is the main highlight of Arrábida. This 60m long spot is located 100m away from the coast in Portinho da Arrábida Beach. Its great biological diversity is due to the sandy foundations. In this natural park, you will also find the Oceanographic Museum, located in 17th century Santa Maria da Arrábida Fortress, which presents a collection of Luís Gonzaga do Nascimento, born in Setúbal, with aquariums of fauna and flora species of these waters.

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