On this walk we'll be travelling through an area of great beauty and countless points of interest, passing Praia Grande, dinosaur footprints, the Roman village of Santo André de Almoçageme and the ancient Roman temple of Alto da Vigia, as well as the magnificent landscapes of the coastline, using rural paths and trails along the cliffs by the sea. Another event not to be missed!

Praia Grande

Praia Grande is the largest beach in Sintra and one of the biggest international surfing and bodyboarding destinations. This beach is part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. In addition to its bathing attractions, this beach is also very attractive due to the presence of Cretaceous dinosaur footprints marked on the beach's rocks. These footprints are around 110 million years old and comprise a set of 66 bipedal animal footprints.

St Andrew's Roman Villa

It is the westernmost “villa” of the Roman Empire. It consists of several rooms with floors decorated with different coloured mosaics. The structure was probably built and occupied between the 2nd and 6th centuries of our era. It is the largest collection of Roman mosaics found in the Lisbon district, having been discovered during excavations carried out in 1980. More recent work and a preservation project have added value to these structures. During the excavations at the “Villa”, a vast collection was also found, including fine ceramics imported from Gaul, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. In addition to the main building, there are other smaller constructions to support agricultural activity.

Alto da Vigia Archaeological Site

In 2008, the remains of an Islamic convent or “ribat” were found on the Sintra coast during the excavation of the remains of a Roman sanctuary dedicated to the sun, the moon and the ocean. The excavation revealed some Roman inscriptions and allowed other stone fragments to be collected - such as Roman aras, altar-shaped votive monuments with inscriptions in Latin and Greek, now kept in the Sintra Town Hall museum. The “ribat” found is the second in the country, similar to the one excavated in Aljezur around 15 years ago. This convent, which was occupied between the 8th and 12th centuries, was made up of several buildings, one of which had a mirhab, a niche facing Mecca to guide prayers, identical to the oratory in the cells of Christian hermits. In the Islamic construction, Roman tombstones were reused, some whole, others only partially broken, but pink replicas were placed in their place. Nothing is known about the religious warrior who led this ribat, but this occupation took place during an important historical episode, when Viking ships sacked the coast of Sintra in the 12th century.“.

- Praia Grande - Dinosaur footprints - Praia da Adraga - Almoçageme - Vila Romana de Santo André - Ribeira de Colares - Alto da Vígia archaeological site - Praia Pequena - Natural landscapes -