Loures: Travel and tourism

Traditionally known for its fertile fields, abundant water and pure and healthy atmosphere, the region suffered a radical change over the last decades due to the rapid expansion of urban neighbourhoods around Lisbon.

In spite of this, the county's natural and architectural patrimony offers several sites of undeniable interest, among monuments, religious temples and rural constructions, ranging from country manors and farm-houses to typical windmills, oil-presses and wine-cellars.

The main attraction is, undoubtedly, the Quinta do Conventinho estate, exhibiting magnificent gardens with ancient fountains, a chapel and a 16th-century convent after which it is named. The estate lodges the Municipal Museum, including archaeological and ethnographic displays, furniture from the 19th and 20th centuries and collections associated to the rural world.

The county's architectural legacy also includes the Correio-Mor Palace and Estate (18th century), the Mother Church (16th century) and stone cross (15th century) of Loures, the Baroque palace of Mitra, at Santo Antão do Tojal, and several fine manor-houses, such as Quinta de Valflores (16th century), at Santa Iria de Azóia.

The region's rural landscape is equally characterized by the existence of many windmills, of which Moinho da Apelação has been recently restored and is now operating as a bread manufacture and bakery open to visitors.

In terms of local gastronomy, the pão-de-ló (a kind of sponge cake) of Loures is famous, but the region offers other typical dishes such as arroz de cabidela (rice with chicken giblets), favas saloias (stewed broad beans with sausages) and coelho à caçador (rabbit in wine sauce).

The white wine of Bucelas also deserves a special mention: produced since Roman times, it drew the attention of the Marquis of Pombal, who imported different varieties of grapes from the Rhine region in the 18th century to improve its quality and exquisite flavour.