Santarem is a medium sized provincial town about 40 minutes drive from our Quinta dos Pernobes. It is well worth the trip there, although you would not think so while entering this city. The suburbs are (as in many Portuguese cities) full of not very nice apartment buildings, interspersed with large supermarkets and other superstores.
But once you enter the old city center and have parked the car, you quickly walk through the old town with many small streets, beautiful views and beautiful churches. Santarem is located on a hill in an otherwise flat landscape, so you have a nice view of the surroundings in many places.
Be sure to visit the Jardim Portas do Sol, a small city park that overlooks the Tagus River and the surrounding area. This park has a small modern cafe for a cup of coffee, but you can also do that at one of the many other places in the old center.
