From Castro da Cola, in Ourique, come legends of apparitions of treasure and enchanted Moors, and the marks left by humans from time immemorial are scattered around the surrounding landscape.

In between discovering ancient settlements and funerary monuments, follow the archaeological circuit of Castro da Cola and travel from the Neolithic Age via the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages in the space of a few hours.

An itinerary including fifteen of the thirty known archaeological sites in the region has been designed so that you can visualise how our ancestors used to live.

These sites include antas, Iron Age necropolises and settlements of the same period and a Chalcolithic village.

Agriculture, hunting and fishing are among the many activities that determined the permanent occupation of this fertile land, dominated by the River Mira.

In this unique area for discovering our history, take the chance to visit the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Cola. This receives many pilgrims, who go there every year in fulfilment of their vows.