Castelo de Palmela facts for kids
The Castelo de Palmela is a very old and important castle in Portugal. It is considered a National Monument, which means it's a special historical site.
This impressive castle is found in the village of Palmela, which is also its own parish and county. Palmela is located in the Setúbal district of Portugal.
The castle sits on the Setúbal Peninsula, on the eastern side of the Arrábida mountain range. It is positioned between the wide rivers of the River Tagus and Sado River, close to where the Sado River meets the sea. The area is part of the beautiful Costa Azul (Blue Coast) and the Arrábida Natural Park.
History
Early Times
People have lived in the area around Palmela Castle for a very long time. We know this from many old tools and remains found from the Neolithic period, which was thousands of years ago.
Some historians believe a settlement was first built here around 310 BC. It was later made stronger by the Romans in 106 AD. A Roman leader named Áulio Cornelius helped build up the defenses.
Archaeological studies show that people continued to live at this site without interruption. After the Romans, the Visigoths lived there. Later, Muslims took over the area. They built the first strong castle between the 8th and 9th centuries. They made it much bigger between the 10th and 12th centuries.
