Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal is located inside a Medieval Castle in the town of Alcácer do Sal, just 1 hour from Lisbon. The Pousada sits comfortably upon a hill, with views of the tranquil waters of the Rio Sado.
During your stay, you can dine at the restaurant or, if you prefer something lighter, at the bar. Take a dip in our outdoor swimming pool surrounded by gardens. The rooms are decorated with warm colours and each has a TV with cable and free Wi-Fi.
SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES
Enjoy the
various activities in the area around Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal, including canoeing, fishing, hiking and horseback riding. Ask for help at our
24-hour reception.
Tantalise your taste buds at the
Sala das Colunas Restaurant with views of the town walls, offering the best of traditional Portuguese cuisine. If you prefer something lighter or just a drink, visit our
bar.
During the winter, relax in our
fireplace room and take the opportunity to read a book or visit the fantastic
cloister terrace. In summer take the opportunity to enjoy the
outdoor swimming pool as well as all the surrounding areas. You can
park your vehicle for free at the Pousada.
HISTORY
Atop the highest hill of the region stands the Alcácer do Sal Castle. Once nearly impenetrable, the imposing fortress which once had more than thirty 25 m towers, now houses the
Pousada D. Afonso II and the
Archaeological Crypt, an underground museum.
Surrounded by two ramparts, the Alcácer do Sal Castle is a rare example of
military constructions made of topsoil. Archaeological digs built in the vicinity of the fortress found remains from the
Neolithic, Iron Age and Roman and Arab occupations. Some of the finds can be seen at the museum currently housed in the castle.
The castle has always played a prominent role in the city’s life. Even its name –
Alcácer – comes from the word
“Al-Qasr”, the Arabic for
palace. For many years, the castle was the setting for conflicts between
Christians and Muslims, until 1217, when it was taken over by
D. Afonso II.
Held by the Portuguese crown, the medieval castle was
renovated and expanded, then with a larger and more imposing structure than today. During the 15th century, it gradually lost the military functions it had throughout the Middle Ages. In 1573
Rui Salema, a nobleman from the house of the House of Prince Luís, founded the
Nossa Senhora de Aracaeli Convent within the fortress, in the "same space as the former Orderm de Santiago da Espada palace".
The
Poor Clares took that space for over 300 years, until the dissolution of the monasteries
gradually put an end to the convent’s community. Starting in the 19th century, when the building was abandoned, the building fell into disrepair, until the
1990s, when extensive restoration work was carried out on the convent and the castle.
In 1998, the old convent was transformed into a Pousada and ten years later, the
Archaeological Crypt of the Alcácer do Sal Castle was opened.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CRYPT
Located underneath the
Aracaeli convent now housing the Pousada D. Afonso II, the
Archaeological Crypt offers a true journey back in time, with over 27 centuries of history. The restored area of the Convent contained
medieval walls in Christian times, following the reconquest, partially supported on Roman walls, which were, in turn, built on top of the more ancient structures dating back to the
Iron Age. All the ruins bear witness to its historical periods, from the oldest built in the 7th century B. C., to the latest, from the 19th century.
This set of structures features a find from a building which, given its dimensions, resembles a
shrine, used in the Iron Age and Roman Times (4th century B.C. and 2nd century A.D.). One of the cells of this shrine was identified by an
altar with oil lamps and
ceramic plates with a small pond, from where a
tabela defixionis was removed, i.e. a small plate with spells.
Summer hours
July and August: 9:30 am–1:00 pm, last entry at 12:30 pm; 3:00–6:30 pm, last entry at 6:00 pm.
Winter hours
9 am–12:30 pm, last entry at 12:00 pm; 2:00–5:30 pm, last entry at 5:00 pm.
NOTE: The last entry is always half an hour before closing time.
The Crypt is open Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays, May Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday
Free entry to the Crypt on:
a) Municipal Holiday (24 June);
b) International Day of Families (15 May);
c) Events related to Museums and Cultural Heritage, namely:
• National Day of Historical Centres (28 March);
• International Day for Monuments and Sites (18 April);
• International Museum Day (18 May);
• European Heritage Days (movable date – last weekend of September).
DESTINATION AND LOCATION
If you bring the family, visit the
Estuário do Sado and look for the dolphins or visit
Badoca Park, for a safari of various exotic animals.
Less than 30 km away, you will find one of the most closely guarded secrets of the dazzling Portuguese coast: the Comporta, Carvalhal and Pego beaches.
The closest train station is in the town of
Grândola, about 20 km from the Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal, and the city of
Setúbal is 40 minutes away by car. The closest airport is Lisbon International, 90 km away. The Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal is an Historic Hotel with 32 rooms and 3 suites.
