Estremadura is a historic province (or natural region) of Portugal,
established in the Middle Ages and extinct in the 19th century, and its name
derives from the Latin Extrema Durii (extremes of the Douro), as it
designates the territories acquired following the Christian Reconquest, to
the south of the Douro (such is also the etymological origin of the name of
the Spanish region of Estremadura); with the progression of the reconquest
to the south, the notion of Estremadura, as a frontier land, was also
widening, in such a way that, in the 15th century, Estremadura roughly
corresponded to the districts of Lisbon, Setúbal, Santarém and Leiria .
Throughout history, Extremadura's boundaries have changed many times. In
the 19th century, when it ceased to have administrative significance, its
boundaries roughly corresponded to the current districts of Lisbon and
Setúbal, and the southern part of the district of Leiria.
Alcobaça: Nestled in the fertile valleys of central Portugal,
Alcobaça is renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cistercian
monastery, founded in 1153 by King Afonso Henriques to commemorate his
victory over the Moors at Santarém. This Gothic masterpiece, one of
Europe's largest churches, houses the ornate tombs of star-crossed
lovers King Pedro I and Inês de Castro, symbolizing Portugal's most
tragic romance. The town's agricultural heritage, once cultivated by
monks, thrives today with renowned orchards and traditional sweets like
cornucópias. Visitors can explore the Wine Museum, showcasing centuries
of viticulture, or relax in the scenic Baía de São Martinho do Porto
nearby.
Alcochete: Positioned on the south bank of the Tagus River,
Alcochete's history traces back to Roman times as a key trading post,
later flourishing under the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages.
Birthplace of King Manuel I in 1469, the town features the 16th-century
Church of São João Baptista with intricate Manueline details and azulejo
panels. Its economy, rooted in salt production and fishing, is
celebrated at the annual Festa do Barrete Verde e das Salinas, honoring
bullfighting traditions. The Reserva Natural do Estuário do Tejo nearby
offers birdwatching trails amid wetlands, while the Freeport Lisboa
Fashion Outlet provides modern shopping in a historic riverside setting.
Almada: Overlooking the Tagus River opposite Lisbon, Almada's roots
extend to prehistoric times, with Roman influences evident in its
ancient shipyards. The iconic Cristo Rei statue, erected in 1959 to
thank God for sparing Portugal during World War II, towers 110 meters
high, offering panoramic views from its 75-meter pedestal. The town's
maritime history shines at the Fragata D. Fernando II e Glória museum
ship and the Casa da Cerca cultural center, blending contemporary art
with botanical gardens. Costa da Caparica beaches provide a relaxing
escape, while the Boca do Vento elevator connects clifftop vistas to
riverside gardens.
Amiais de Baixo: A serene rural parish in Santarém
district, Amiais de Baixo's history dates to the 15th century, evolving
from woodcutting and brickmaking communities. The Nascente da Ribeira da
Fórnea spring, a vital water source for centuries, features prehistoric
engravings and Bronze Age ruins nearby. The Grutas de Mira de Aire,
Portugal's largest cave system discovered in 1947, offers underground
tours through stunning geological formations. Hiking trails along the
Amiais stream reveal traditional architecture, while annual festivals
celebrate local folklore and agriculture in this off-the-beaten-path
gem.
Barreiro: An industrial powerhouse on the Tagus's south bank,
Barreiro's transformation began in the 19th century with factories like
Companhia União Fabril. The Industrial Museum of the Tagus Bay preserves
this legacy through interactive exhibits in a former fishing warehouse.
Alfredo da Silva Park honors the industrialist who shaped the town,
while the Municipal Museum showcases archaeology from Paleolithic to
Roman eras. Riverside promenades offer views of Lisbon, and annual
festivals celebrate the town's bullfighting and salt production
heritage.
Caldas da Rainha: Founded in 1484 by Queen Leonor after
discovering the healing thermal springs, Caldas da Rainha became
Portugal's premier spa town. The world's oldest thermal hospital,
Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor, dates to 1485 and still offers
treatments. Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro's ceramics factory, now a museum,
celebrates the town's artistic legacy with whimsical pieces. Parque Dom
Carlos I provides Belle Époque charm with boating lakes and pavilions,
while the daily Praça da Fruta market, Portugal's only open-air produce
market since the 15th century, bustles with fresh goods.
Ericeira:
Europe's first World Surfing Reserve since 2011, Ericeira blends fishing
heritage with modern surf culture along its dramatic coastline. The
historic center features whitewashed houses and the 16th-century Igreja
de São Pedro with ornate azulejos. Birthplace of King Manuel I, it
includes the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo overlooking giant waves.
Traditional festivals like Festa do Barrete Verde honor maritime
traditions, while the Museu da Ericeira details its evolution from Roman
settlement to global surf mecca.
Lisboa (Lisbon): Portugal's vibrant
capital since Roman times, Lisbon's seven hills host iconic landmarks
like the 11th-century São Jorge Castle, rebuilt after Moorish rule. The
16th-century Torre de Belém symbolizes the Age of Discoveries, while the
Jerónimos Monastery honors Vasco da Gama's voyages. Alfama's winding
streets preserve Moorish influences, and the 1755 earthquake-rebuilt
Baixa district features neoclassical architecture. Modern attractions
include the Oceanário de Lisboa aquarium and the MAAT contemporary
museum, blending ancient history with innovative culture.
Lourinhã:
Dubbed Portugal's "Dinosaur Capital," Lourinhã boasts the world's
largest collection of Upper Jurassic dinosaur fossils at Museu da
Lourinhã, founded in 1984. The Dino Parque features life-size models
across prehistoric trails. The 16th-century Igreja do Castelo and
Paimogo Fort highlight medieval history, while 12 kilometers of
coastline include Praia da Areia Branca beach. Aguardente DOC Lourinhã
brandy tastings showcase the region's viticultural heritage.
Mafra:
Dominated by the colossal 18th-century Mafra National Palace, a UNESCO
site blending Baroque grandeur with a vast library housing 36,000 rare
volumes, Mafra exemplifies royal extravagance funded by Brazilian gold.
The Tapada Nacional de Mafra, a 1,200-hectare former royal hunting
ground, now shelters deer and wild boar amid hiking trails. The Aldeia
Típica José Franco recreates traditional Portuguese village life with
miniature buildings and workshops.
Marinha Grande: Portugal's
glassmaking capital since the 18th century, Marinha Grande's history
intertwines with the vast Pinhal de Leiria pine forest planted by King
Dinis in the 13th century. The Museu do Vidro, housed in the
18th-century Palácio Stephens, displays centuries of crystal artistry.
The town's industrial evolution birthed a plastics sector, while beaches
like São Pedro de Moel offer coastal relaxation amid Belle Époque
architecture.
Nazaré: Famous for world-record-breaking waves,
Nazaré's fishing heritage dates to prehistoric times, evolving into a
surfing mecca. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré, a 14th-century
pilgrimage site, houses a miraculous statue linked to a knight's
legendary rescue. Traditional seven-layered skirts of fisherwomen and
the sun-dried fish museum preserve maritime culture, while the funicular
connects the beach to clifftop Sítio with panoramic views.
Óbidos: A
medieval jewel encircled by 14th-century walls, Óbidos was a traditional
queen's wedding gift from 1214 to the 19th century, earning it the "Town
of Queens" moniker. The 12th-century castle, now a luxury pousada,
dominates the skyline. Rua Direita bustles with shops selling ginjinha
liqueur in chocolate cups, while annual festivals like the Medieval
Market and Chocolate Festival animate the cobbled streets.
Peniche: A
rugged peninsula thrusting into the Atlantic, Peniche's history as a
fishing port dates to Roman times. The 16th-century Fortaleza de
Peniche, once a political prison, now houses a resistance museum.
World-class surf breaks like Supertubos attract international
competitions, while the Berlengas archipelago offers UNESCO-protected
seabird colonies and crystalline waters for diving.
Sacavém: A Tagus
riverside town with prehistoric roots, Sacavém flourished as a Roman
pottery center before becoming Portugal's faience powerhouse in the 19th
century. The Museu de Cerâmica de Sacavém, in a former factory, displays
exquisite azulejos and tableware. Ancient bridges and the 16th-century
Igreja Matriz reflect its strategic location, while modern street art in
Quinta do Mocho transforms social housing into Europe's largest open-air
gallery.
Setúbal: At the Sado Estuary's mouth, Setúbal's maritime
history spans Phoenician trading posts to modern ports. The 16th-century
Fortaleza de São Filipe offers bay views, while the Igreja de Jesus
exemplifies early Manueline architecture. The Mercado do Livramento,
Portugal's most famous market, bustles with fresh seafood, and nearby
Arrábida Natural Park shelters dolphin pods and pristine beaches.
Sintra: A UNESCO Cultural Landscape, Sintra's misty hills cradle
Romantic palaces like the colorful Pena Palace, a 19th-century royal
retreat blending Gothic and Manueline styles. The Moorish Castle's
8th-century ruins offer panoramic vistas, while Quinta da Regaleira's
enigmatic gardens feature initiation wells and underground tunnels. The
National Palace's conical chimneys crown the historic center, once a
Moorish alcazar.
Torres Vedras: Site of Wellington's 1810 Lines
during the Peninsular War, Torres Vedras features the 12th-century
Castelo with Romanesque Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo. The Museu
Municipal Leonel Trindade displays prehistoric artifacts, while the
Chafariz dos Canos fountain exemplifies 18th-century engineering. The
annual Carnival, dubbed "Portugal's most Portuguese," animates streets
with parades, preserving vibrant traditions.
Fossil Cliff Protected Landscape of Costa da Caparica: Spanning
approximately 13 kilometers along the Atlantic coastline from Cova do
Vapor to Lagoa de Albufeira in the Almada municipality, this area was
designated as a protected landscape around 1985 to preserve its
extraordinary natural assets. Geologically, it features a striking
succession of sedimentary strata dating back to the Pliocene epoch about
10 million years ago, representing one of Western Europe's premier
examples of fossil-rich cliffs formed by tectonic movements and erosion
that gradually retreated the sea. These layers abound with marine
invertebrate fossils, plant traces, and intricate erosional formations
like ravines and sculpted clifftops, offering a window into prehistoric
marine environments. Biodiversity thrives here, with flora including
stone pines, mastic trees, and coastal species adapted to sandy dunes,
while fauna encompasses birds of prey such as the short-toed snake eagle
and barn owl that nest in the cliffs. Strict regulations prohibit
collecting fossils, plants, or animals to maintain ecological balance.
Visitors can hike peaceful trails like the Atlantic Way, enjoy panoramic
ocean views from viewpoints such as the Convent of Capuchos belvedere,
or relax on adjacent popular beaches equipped with restaurants and bars,
making it ideal for nature enthusiasts and geologists.
Sintra-Cascais Natural Park: Encompassing about 145 square kilometers on
the Portuguese Riviera, this park was officially established in 1994,
building on protections initiated in 1981, to conserve the Serra de
Sintra mountain range and its extension to the Atlantic coast, including
continental Europe's westernmost point at Cabo da Roca. Historically,
the area has been shaped by royal influences, serving as a summer
retreat for Portuguese monarchs and nobility, with cultural landmarks
like the Castle of the Moors integrated into its landscape. Key features
include vertical cliffs rising 100 meters above sea level, consolidated
fossil dunes at Magoito and Oitavos, calcareous stone fields eroded by
waves near Cabo Raso, and a "living" cliff at Azenhas do Mar supporting
a picturesque village. The park's microclimate fosters lush vegetation,
with rural zones marked by dry stone walls protecting agricultural
fields for specialties like Colares wine. Biodiversity is exceptional,
hosting ecosystems from mountains to dunes and cliffs; flora includes
rich plant cover, while fauna features reptiles such as ocellated
lizards, Iberian emerald lizards, Moorish geckos, and various bird
species, alongside rewilding initiatives introducing natural grazers to
restore balances. Activities abound, from guided interpretive tours
promoting "biohappiness" and environmental education, to hiking proposed
trails visiting sites like the 16th-century Convent of the Capuchos or
Peninha Hermitage for panoramic views, mountain biking, horseback
riding, and exploring beaches such as Guincho, Adraga, or Praia
Grande—famous for dinosaur footprints—while supporting scientific
research and sustainable tourism.
Berlengas Nature Reserve: This
pristine archipelago off the coast of Peniche, designated a nature
reserve to protect its minimally altered ecosystems, boasts a history of
limited human impact, with early Franciscan monastic presence giving way
to conservation-focused management. The islands feature dramatic rock
formations, tropical-like weather, and crystal-clear turquoise waters,
creating a haven for unique biodiversity. Flora exceeds 100 species,
including vibrant yellow marigolds, poppies, armerias, and silenes
adapted to the rocky terrain. Fauna highlights include a diverse avian
population, with the Airo (a penguin-like puffin relative) as the
reserve's symbol, alongside peregrine falcons, crested cormorants,
yellow-legged gulls, and migratory rarities like albatrosses; mammals
are scarce, limited to introduced black rats (which threaten bird
nesting) and rabbits, while reptiles feature Carbonell's geckos and rare
ocellated lizards. The surrounding 10-hectare marine reserve teems with
over 70 fish species like mackerel and sardines, plus invertebrates such
as octopuses, starfish, and anemones, and occasional cetaceans including
dolphins and pilot whales. Conservation efforts emphasize restricted
access—visitors must stay on designated trails to avoid disturbing
fragile habitats—while addressing invasive species and promoting
sustainable activities like birdwatching from lighthouse plateaus,
snorkeling at sites like Praia do Carreiro do Mosteiro to spot gilthead
bream, and boat tours for cetacean sightings.
Tagus Estuary
Natural Reserve: Situated on the south bank of the Tagus River near
Alcochete, just outside Lisbon, this reserve—Portugal's largest wetland
complex—was established to protect expansive tidal mudflats, marshes,
and salt pans that fluctuate with the river's rhythms. Its origins tie
to historical salt production, once dubbed "white gold" for its economic
value, though most pans are now disused, allowing natural reclamation.
Habitats encompass vast intertidal zones that serve as critical
stopovers for migratory birds, fostering a rich avian biodiversity;
thousands of flamingos arrive in autumn for a spectacular pink display,
joined by resident and transient species like common stilts, spotted
redshanks, pied avocets, egrets, and eagles. The area's ecological
significance lies in its role as a feeding and breeding ground amid
urban proximity. Human activities blend tradition with recreation,
including remnants of salt harvesting and opportunities for walking
trails along the riverside, birdwatching, and exploring the south bank's
serene landscapes, all while emphasizing conservation to balance
wildlife needs with minimal disturbance.
In the administrative reform that took place in 1936,
a Province of Estremadura was again created. This new province, however,
encompassed only a fraction of the territory of the former homonymous
region. Part of the territory of former Estremadura was incorporated
into the new provinces of Ribatejo and Beira Litoral. On the other hand,
the new Estremadura included part of the current District of Setúbal
that traditionally belonged to the former province of Alentejo.
However, the 1936 provinces had practically no practical attribution,
and disappeared from the administrative vocabulary (although not from
the daily vocabulary of the Portuguese) with the entry into force of the
1976 Constitution.
It was bordered to the northeast by Beira
Litoral, to the east by Ribatejo and Alto Alentejo, to the south by
Baixo Alentejo and the Atlantic Ocean and to the west by the Atlantic.
It was then made up of 29 municipalities, comprising almost the
entire District of Lisbon and parts of the districts of Leiria and
Setúbal. It had its headquarters in the city of Lisbon.
District
of Leiria: Alcobaça, Bombarral, Caldas da Rainha, Marinha Grande,
Nazaré, Óbidos, Peniche, Porto de Mós.
District of Lisbon: Alenquer,
Arruda dos Vinhos, Cadaval, Cascais, Lisbon, Loures, Lourinhã, Mafra,
Oeiras, Sintra, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Torres Vedras.
District of
Setúbal: Alcochete, Almada, Barreiro, Moita, Montijo, Palmela, Seixal,
Sesimbra, Setúbal.
If the province in question still existed
today, it would probably have 31 municipalities, since two new
municipalities have since been created in the Lisbon district area:
Amadora (created in 1979, by division of Oeiras)
Odivelas
(created in 1998, by division of Loures)
Currently, the province
in question would be divided into the regions of Lisbon, Center and
Alentejo. The municipality of Azambuja would belong to Alentejo,
integrated in the sub-region of Lezíria do Tejo; the whole of the
Setúbal Peninsula sub-region and, almost entirely, Greater Lisbon
belonged to the Lisbon region (the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira
was located in Ribatejo); finally, the entire West sub-region belonged
to the Center region, as well as two municipalities in Pinhal Litoral
(Marinha Grande and Porto de Mós).