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Setubal has always been referred to as The Other Side by the natives of Lisbon. This is because Setubal is found on the southern shore of the Tagus River and therefore having been ignored for many years because of its difficult access. But all this changed in 1966 when the large hanging bridge was finished and named the 25th of April. The region where Setubal is located is called the peninsula of Arrabida, always having been known as a fishing village with a large industry of canning fish, fertilizers, salt marshes and Moscatel wine. According to the legend, Setubal was founded by Tubal, son of Cain. It is said that the Phoenicians and Greeks brought their grapevines to this area after having realised that the climate and soil were very similar to that of their own country.
Manuelina reflected in all Portugal
Today, Setubal is an industrial city. However, there are many interesting places to visit in and around there. The pride of this city is the Church of Jesus. The architecture “Manuelina” with twisted columns and a late Gothic, unrelated and non-uniform style is prominent all throughout this church. A real innovation to look for is the stone decoration. Its exuberance reflects the optimism and the richness of its time. Inspired by the journeys made to the New World, it is orderly and impressive, uniting natural maritime themes with Arab elements and heraldry motifs. Maybe the most characteristic feature of Manuelina is the tiny carvings surrounding the doorways and windows around semi-circular arches instead of the pointed ones pertaining to the Gothic style. The Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra and in Loios in Evora are other clear examples. The Manuelina architecture also adopted and made some modifications in the Arab arch called Moresque. In the National Palace in Sintra, restored during the reign of Manuel I, some Moorish peculiarities were used such as tiles and windows divided in two by a central column.
Setubal points to glory
Setubal is the main departing port to get to the Troia peninsula. From the harbour, ocean liners leave on a frequent basis, making the route in 20 minutes. If we continue to travel south, we will have the pleasure of coming to the southern coast of Portugal called the Coast of the Light where Albufeira is found in the Algarve region. Or if you wish to go over the hanging bridge into Lisbon from Setubal, after a few days of sightseeing, take a quick drive in your rented car to Sintra, Estoril and Cascais and then make your way to Santarem in the Ribatejo region on the Tagus River bank.
So much fascinating living history awaits you in every nook and cranny of this small but amazing place such as Setubal, Portugal.
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