Discover Glória

Glória brings together several themes that can be clearly distinguished when planning a trip: its proximity to Serra d’Ossa, megalithic remains, the history of Canal and an insight into wine production at Quinta do Carmo. The locations range from a church on a gentle rise to sites beside riverbanks. This lets you consider cultural history, the landscape and a wine visit that requires advance booking as separate highlights.

Church and landscape

The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Glória stands on a gentle rise in the immediate vicinity of Serra d’Ossa. Its location connects the church with a clearly defined landscape. This provides a distinct starting point for exploring the sights in Glória, alongside the megalithic remains and the history of Canal.

Megalithic remains and their context

The megalithic group of Serra d’Ossa dates to the Late Neolithic and the Chalcolithic. In the area of the former Freguesia Canal, north of Serra d’Ossa and within the Freguesia Glória, lies one of the two most important megalithic concentrations in Estremoz. The dating and regional significance provide different points of reference: the periods place the group in time, while the concentration indicates the importance of an area. Together, these details provide a temporal and geographical context for Glória’s megalithic heritage.

Two antas, different landscape settings

The Anta da Figueira is located on flat ground beside the Ribeira do Castelo, near Monte da Azenha. A fig tree grows inside its burial chamber. By contrast, the Anta da Herdade das Entre Águas lies in Serra d’Ossa, on Herdade das Entre Águas, on the south bank of the Ribeira do Canal. The settings are clearly distinct: Figueira is associated with flat riverbank terrain and the fig tree, while Entre Águas is associated with the estate, the Serra and the south bank. These landscape features make it easy to distinguish the two megalithic sites.

Canal and the Pelourinho

The Pelourinho de Canal stands in a central square in Canal, which is now part of the Freguesia Glória. It is the last surviving trace of Canal’s former relative administrative autonomy. Its status was similar to that of a Concelho, although Canal was never actually a Concelho. The architectural form is also distinctive: the Pelourinho has a broad, tall platform paved with stone slabs and sides finished with whitewash. Here, Canal’s former status meets a striking architectural description, giving the square a historical focus distinct from that of the megalithic sites.

Visiting Quinta do Carmo

Quinta do Carmo offers a visit to the winemaking and production centre for the Alentejo wines of the Bacalhôa group. Guided visits are available by reservation only and last an average of one hour. Allow time to make the required reservation and check in advance which dates are available. The visit complements the archaeological and administrative themes with an insight into winemaking and production.

Discover more destinations: Veiros, Estremoz, Arcos, Bajolo, São Lourenço de Mamporcão.

Go to the main travel overview: Estremoz.