The little country town of Santiago do Cacém occupies a commanding spot on a hill crowned by a castle in the southern part of the Serra de Grândola, 20km/12.5mi northwest of the port of Sines. With its two pousadas it is a convenient place to stop over from the Algarve to Lisbon when driving.
The town is dominated by its Castelo, the old Templar castle, which can be reached by road. There is a pleasant walk round the outside of the walls, with views as far afield as Cabo de Sines. The parish church cemetery is within the walls, shaded by lovely cypresses.
The parish church, the Igreja Matriz, alongside the castle, is originally 13th C. with later alterations including the facade, which is 18th C. while the side portal is still Romanesque and Gothic. The church contains a 14th C. relief of St Tiago, who was killed during a Moorish attack on the town.
The remains of the Roman settlement of Miróbriga, with temple ruins and a stretch of Roman road, are more than 1km/0.75mi east of the town, near the road to Beja.
The baths are the best preserved area in Miróbriga with two buildings, possibly set up for male and female use.
Address: Miróbriga, Signposted off N121, Miróbriga , Portugal
Hours:
9am-12:30pm, 2pm-5:30pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), May Day / Labor Day (May 1), Republic Day - Portugal (October 5), All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Easter - Christian
Tips: Sundays and holidays before 14:00: free admission.
The municipal museum on the lawned Praça do Municipio contains local archeological discoveries from Miróbriga and an interesting collection of old coins.
Address: Municipal Museum, Largo do Municipio, Santiago do Cacém , Portugal
Hours:
10am-12pm, 2pm-5pm; Sun:12pm-12pm, 2pm-6pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25), May Day / Labor Day (May 1), National Day - Portugal (June 10), Assumption Day - Christian (August 15), Republic Day - Portugal (October 5), All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), Independence Day - Portugal (December 1), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Good Friday - Christian, Corpus Christi - Christian
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Castelo, Santiago do Cacem
