The little hill town of Palmela, in the Serra de Sao Luís, an eastern outlier of the Serra da Arrábida, has several festivals in September and October. The town owes its name to the Roman praetor of Lusitania province, Aulio Cornelio Palma. In 1995 Volkswagen and Ford opened a joint factory near Palmela
to manufacture stretch limousines. At present it employs 3,000 workers.
Townscape
Palmela is a simple hilltown with no particular sights other than its castle. However, a walk round the town should take in the 18th C. church of Sao Pedro on the Largo do Município, below the castle, with fine azulejo pictures of scenes from the life of St Peter. The hall in the 17th C. town hall diagonally opposite is adorned with portraits of Portuguese kings.