Tróia combines Roman heritage with a landscape shaped by the tides and a range of activities on the water. The Roman Ruins, the trail through the Caldeira and pine forest, and the opportunities for beach activities and water sports offer different focuses for a stay.

Roman fish processing and centuries of settlement

The Roman Ruins of Tróia were inhabited until the 6th century. The site includes the largest industrial fish-salting centre in the Roman Empire. The archaeological complex comprises 25 fish-processing workshops with a total of 182 basins (cetárias). The dates and industrial function answer different questions: how long the site was inhabited and which activity shaped its layout. Visitors interested in economic and everyday history can focus on fish salting.

The Caldeira, pine forest and bottlenose dolphins

The Caldeira Lagoon fills and empties twice a day with the tides. It and the surrounding pine forest contain habitats of European conservation priority and are part of the Natura 2000 site “Estuário do Sado”. A walking trail runs through the Caldeira and the surrounding pine forest. The changing tides and the trail offer different focuses: one concerns the rhythm of the lagoon, while the other passes through both of the named landscape features. Tróia is also home to one of the few resident groups of bottlenose dolphins in Europe. The population in the Sado is the only estuary-dwelling population in Portugal. These two points refer to different geographic scales: the resident group is considered at a European level, while the Sado population is described as the only estuary-dwelling group in Portugal. The Caldeira is shaped by the tides; at Bico das Lulas, the sea is very calm.

Beach activities and water sports with different focuses

The beach stretching for more than 60 kilometres between Tróia and Sines is shaped by northwesterly winds and surf. Praia do Bico das Lulas has fine sand and a very calm sea with hardly any waves; the beach also has designated, equipped areas for volleyball, football and rugby. Praia de Troia-mar has a sailing and windsurfing school. These offer different focuses when choosing an activity: Bico das Lulas combines calm seas with designated areas for several sports, while Troia-mar is the specific location named for sailing and windsurfing. Troia Marina offers boat rentals for exploring remote beaches. Marina de Tróia can accommodate around 180 boats.

Getting there and accommodation to suit your travel plans

Tróia is connected to Setúbal by a regular ferry service. If you are travelling via Setúbal, the ferry is a specific part of your travel plans; check the timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Zambujal de Cima, Trafaria, Palhais, Portinho Da Arrábida, Porto Covo, Comporta, Sesimbra, Almada.

For the broader travel overview: Setubal.