Attractions and Places To See around Forte Da Casa - Top 20

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The Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve (RNET) is located in an area of high natural richness and diversity. Covering approximately 14,415 hectares, it is integrated into the largest wetland area in Portugal – the Tagus Estuary, including estuarine waters, sandbanks, salt pans, agricultural land, and cork oak forests. The connectivity of these habitats ensures the presence of a great diversity of living beings, such as mollusks, crustaceans, and small amphibians. It is also a nursery for various species of marine fish and a very important ecosystem for migratory fish. The estuary is also of great importance to aquatic birds, being one of the places with the most wintering birds in Europe.

Constantino Palha Municipal Park is one of the main tourist attractions in Vila Franca de Xira, located next to the train station and the Tagus River. It occupies an area of 400 meters in front of the river and is considered the most charismatic garden in the city. Highlights: - Bandstand: a 19th-century bandstand is one of the park's main attractions, where cultural events frequently take place. - Lakes: the lakes are a characteristic element of the garden, adding a touch of serenity to the environment. - Playground: a fun area for children, making it a popular destination for families. - Cafeteria: offers a cozy place to relax and enjoy the river view. - Paths: the winding paths allow visitors to take pleasant walks through the garden, enjoying nature and the view of the Tagus River.

By naming this bridge after him, the capital of Portugal honors one of the country's greatest sailors and explorers: Vasco da Gama, born around 1469 in Sines (now the district of Setubal). He was of noble birth and a member of the "Order of the Knights of Our Lord Jesus Christ," and enjoyed the trust of King Manuel I. At the end of the 15th century, several European states strove to find a sea route to India (his contemporary Christopher Columbus, for example, had sailed west on behalf of the Spanish royal family and, without even realizing it, discovered America in 1492). Vasco da Gama, on the other hand, opted for the southern route: in 1498, he circumnavigated the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and successfully continued on to India, where he became its second viceroy. Even 500 years after his death (1524), his name is by no means forgotten and lives on in this modern 20th-century building.

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Inaugurated on October 22, 2016, the bronze sculpture by artist António Antunes is a tribute to the writer, diplomat and journalist from Vila-Franquense, Álvaro Guerra, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of his birth. The bust is located on the pier of Vila Franca de Xira, at the beginning of the riverfront near the Fábrica das Palavras. Álvaro Guerra was born on October 19, 1936 and died in 2002. With a large body of work, he began his literary career in 1967 with the novel "Os Mastins". In the 1980s he became known for the publication of the so-called "Café Trilogy", in which, based on conversations that took place in the city's cafés, he reported important phases of the country's history. In another field, the book "Crónicas Jugoslavas", awarded by the Portuguese Writers' Association with the Grand Prize of Chronicle, is the result of his experience as a diplomat and an essential figure of Portuguese culture. The work is located along the central and coastal Portuguese Way.

Located next to the Constantino Palha Municipal Garden, a bronze sculpture was installed next to the pier, in the riverside area of Vila Franca de Xira, in honor of the jorna workers. The work of the sculptor João Duarte was inaugurated in July 2013. This sculpture saves the memory of the men and women who gathered on the pier looking for work (la jorna which means a day of work). The farmers or their foremen arrived by boat and hired a good part of the labor for the fields of Lezíria or for the factories of the municipality.

Inaugurated on October 22, 2016, the bronze sculpture by artist António Antunes is a tribute to the writer, diplomat and journalist from Vila-Franquense, Álvaro Guerra, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of his birth. The bust is located on the pier of Vila Franca de Xira, at the beginning of the riverfront near the Fábrica das Palavras. Álvaro Guerra was born on October 19, 1936 and died in 2002. With a large body of work, he began his literary career in 1967 with the novel "Os Mastins". In the 1980s he became known for the publication of the so-called "Café Trilogy", in which, based on conversations that took place in the city's cafés, he reported important phases of the country's history. In another field, the book "Crónicas Jugoslavas", awarded by the Portuguese Writers' Association with the Grand Prize of Chronicles, is the result of his experience as a diplomat and an essential figure of Portuguese culture. The work is located along the central and coastal Portuguese Way.