Santarém
The city of Santarem sits high on a plateau above the river Tagus. Legends abound here. One tells of the body of St. James passing through this town on the way to internment in Compostela. There are roads from here north to Santiago de Compostela. Another is the tale of city’s namesake, Saint Irene.
One of the few structures in the city that date back to Pedro’s day is the Fountain of the Fig Tree. The fountain sits down a long set of stone steps below the main plaza.
Key scenes of the novel are set in Santarém. This town was a favorite of Pedro’s father and grandfather. Below is a plaza adjacent to the location of a palace that was here in the 14th century but no longer exists.
As you walk the streets notice the influence of three cultures dating back to Roman occupation, followed by the Moors, and lastly the Christians. Each culture left traces from the organization of the city to its buildings. We stayed in the quiet and elegant Casa da Alcáçova with gorgeous views across the plains below. This small hotel is next door to the original castle grounds and a winding walk from the large center plaza outside the Convento de San Francisco.
The best of the legends told in Santarém involves our hero, Pedro.
