Arrábida Convent, by arranged visit

What it is

The convent of Nossa Senhora da Arrábida is a Franciscan complex spread across the southern slope of the mountains, above Portinho and facing the sea. It was founded in 1542 by Friar Martinho de Santa Maria, a Castilian Franciscan, on land granted to him by João de Lencastre, first Duke of Aveiro. The first four friars lived for two years in cells dug into the rock, beside the Memória chapel, before the convent was built.

After the dissolution of the religious orders in 1834 the place suffered looting and abandonment. The House of Palmela bought it in 1863 and in 1990 it passed to the Fundação Oriente, which preserves it and organises the visits. It is not an open-door monument: you can only enter with a guided visit and a reservation.

What you see

The complex has two parts, at different heights:

• The Convento Novo, halfway up the slope: the main building where the community lived, with Portinho bay at your feet.
• The Convento Velho, at the top of the mountains: four chapels, a group of small huts with the mysteries of the Passion and some cells opened in the rock. It is the oldest and most austere part, and is reached on foot through the scrub.

What impresses is the scale: tiny cells designed for a life of poverty and silence, in one of the most open landscapes on the Portuguese coast.

How it is visited

Visits are guided, in Portuguese or English, and normally take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. There are two historical itineraries: one through the Convento Novo, suitable for all ages, and another through the Convento Velho, for over-12s, which is scheduled on specific dates. The Fundação Oriente advertised visits to the Convento Velho on Saturday 12 December 2026 and, in 2027, on Saturdays 16 January, 20 February, 6 March, 10 April and 29 May and Sunday 27 June. It also organises themed visits, exploration games and workshops for families.

The foundation does not publish the times or the price of each visit on its website. Check the visit programme at foriente.pt and book by phone (+351 213 585 200) or by email ([email protected]) in advance, because places are few.

How long

Allow about an hour for the visit to the Convento Novo. The one to the Convento Velho needs more time and legs, because of the climb through the scrub. The foundation does not publish the durations: confirm them when booking.

How to get there

The convent is on the ER 379-1, the high road of the mountains, between Setúbal and Azeitão, above Portinho da Arrábida. You get there by car; confirm the meeting point and where to leave the car when booking. There is no public transport that stops at the door.

In summer, the road down to the beaches is restricted from 7:00 to 20:00 from the Pinheiro junction, but the high road stays open.

Who it is for

For those looking for history, silence and landscape rather than a museum. The visit to the Convento Novo works with older children, especially the workshops for families that the foundation organises; the one to the Convento Velho is only from age 12. There are stairs, uneven floors and slopes: it is not wheelchair accessible.