From São Luís to Alcube Valley

A long trail within the Arrábida Natural Park that follows the northern slopes of the Serra de São Luís Ridge, descends into the Vale do Alcube Valley, reaches the Serra de São Francisco Ridge, continues down to the Vale de Barris Valley, and crosses the Serra dos Gaiteiros Ridge.

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At the summit of the Serra de São Luís stands the highest point in the municipality of Palmela, reaching an altitude of 395 metres. Here, several inactive quarries remain as silent witnesses to the region’s stone-extraction industry.

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The Vale do Alcube, one of Arrábida’s most emblematic sites for its landscape and natural setting, offers kilometres of paths immersed in nature. The Ribeira do Alcube Stream begins its course here, framed by centuries-old trees and bordered by small farms and extensive vineyards.

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From this valley, one can behold the Serra de São Francisco, whose crest ends at Alto das Necessidades, home to the 18th-century Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Necessidades, where the Cruz de Vendas (Cross of Vendas) is kept.

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Along the trail, hikers encounter traces of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Brotas and the archaeological site of Alcaria da Portela. Passing by the Fonte do Sol windmill, one of Palmela’s eighteen windmills, recalls the importance of these intricate mechanisms in shaping the region’s agricultural history.

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The route ends near Biovilla, a cooperative dedicated to sustainable development, an ideal place to rest and recharge.