Azeitão

Azeitão is an administrative area south of Lisbon formed by merging two former parishes, spreading across hilly land. Vineyards and olive groves shape the landscape, while small villages and residential neighborhoods sit scattered between the fields.

The area took its current shape from a 2013 administrative reform that merged two separate parishes into one. Winemaking and cheese production have roots stretching back generations, establishing the region's traditional economy.

Local cheesemakers still follow time-honored techniques that shape how the region's cheese tastes and smells. These traditions run deep in daily life and bring visitors who want to see how things are made the old way.

The area sits about an hour south of Lisbon and is easily reached by car or public transport. Visitors find a good mix of rural surroundings and modern conveniences like shops and restaurants.

A local museum displays the history of shepherding and cheese craftsmanship, two trades that have shaped the area for centuries. Visitors can see the tools and methods still used when making the region's cheese.