About Montijo - presentation, information, photos and recommendations
1. Ferry - This is the first thing you should do in Montijo, because it’s a glorious ride across the Tagus.
The journey time to the Terreiro do Paço is approximately 30 minutes via a fast catamaran, and there are 22 crossings a day, either on the hour or half hour.
You’ll envy the people who get to make this crossing every day as the Alfama and Baia quarters hove into view.
There are photo opportunities at all angles, towards the immense Vasco da Gama and 25 de Abril Bridge or back at the statue of the Christ the King on the left bank at Lamada.
2. Ponte Vasco da Gama - The definition of a megaproject, the Vasco da Gama bridge is the longest in Europe if you include its viaducts.
It adds up to 12.3 kilometres It was begun in 1995 and opened for Lisbon’s Expo ’98, costing just over $1 billion.
When it was completed it transformed Lisbon, not just because it became a visual reference to the east over the Tagus, but because it helped funnel road traffic heading to the north or south of Portugal away from the city.
When you’re crossing you can’t even see to the other end of the structure, while the Lisbon cityscape is a wonder to behold, especially if you’re heading north.
3. Igreja Matriz de Montijo - The main monument on Praça da República, this church goes as far back as the start of the 1400s.
In the first decades of the 16th century it was remodelled in the Manueline style, and stonework from this phase can be seen in the vault of the main chapel, where the keystones have dainty flower motifs.
There were more changes ahead in the 1600s and 1700s, when the church’s second tower was added and the inside of the nave was coated with atapete (carpet-style) tiles, and then large tile panels that tell the story of the life of Mary, intervention of the Holy Spirit and the Eucharistic prefigurations.
4. Museu Municipal - If you need a reason to visit Montijo’s municipal museum it’s to see Casa Mora, the building that houses it.
This gorgeous palace was completed in 1875 for Domingos Tavares and Margarida Inácia dos Anjos who were a local power couple, owning big parcels of land in the area.
It has a long balcony reinforced by pretty corbels, and on the roof, enclosed by a balustrade, is a lantern with multicoloured glass.
The interior has a lavish, Beaux-Arts feel, with frescos and gilded stucco.
The galleries have archive photos of the town, tools for traditional local crafts and also an interesting little exhibition on tiles.
5. Praia Fluvial Samouco - In an unexpected spot there’s a beach right on the estuary.
It’s just a few moments up from Montijo and merits a visit even if you only want to savour the panoramas of Lisbon across the water and the Ponte Vasco da Gama meandering into the distance.
There’s a surprising range of amenities here, with parasols, sun loungers, wooden walkways crossing the sand, playground, swimming pool and table tennis tables.
Whether you want to wade into the Tagus is another matter, but the beach is fine for lounging in the sun and looking across to Lisbon.
Montijo | On the left bank of the Tagus, the town of Montijo is minutes from Lisbon, but with a character that will make the capital feel a lifetime away. Few tourists make it to Montijo; it’s just a placid, village-like community with bars where you can get a bico
for 50 cents
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