Azeitão

The Azeitão village, which is located in the Serra da Arrábida Nature Reserve, is home to several distinctive settlements, like Vila Fresca and Vila Nogueira, which took the names of the quintas (country houses/estates) they grew up around.

Vila Fresca de Azeitão developed around the Quinta Fresca, the site of a palace built by King Dom Joao I in the fifteenth century that was subsequently known as the Palácio da Quinta da Bacalhoa after the nickname of one of its owners and has remained in use to this day.

The Quinta da Nogueira, owned by Dona Constança, the wife of King Pedro, served as the foundation for Vila Nogueira de Azeito (14th century). The hamlet expanded and was upgraded to town status, becoming the council’s seat in