Grândola village has 6 800 inhabitants, the municipality has a total of 13 822 inhabitants. It is a town and municipality in the Setúbal District of Portugal. The municipality includes the town of Grândola, the peninsula of Tróia (located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Sado River), and the summer resort of Melides. It also features the Serra de Grândola mountain range and a coastline that is partly in the Comporta region. Grândola is divided into four parishes: Azinheira dos Barros e São Mamede do Sádão, Carvalhal, Melides, and Grândola e Santa Margarida da Serra.
Vila de Melides
Vila de Melides is a small coastal village of Grândola, in the district of Setúbal, which brings together natural spaces, cultural heritage and prehistoric remains. The Lagoa de Melides is one of the most prominent points in the region, boasting important habitats on its 26 hectares and being, along with the coastline and its beaches, one of the greatest tourist appeals in the region.
On the south shore of the lagoon we find the Bird Observatory of Lagoa de Melides, a few steps from the Camping de Melides. For bathing, in this region, we find several beaches, including the
- Praia da Aberta Nova, a beach with a wild aspect and limited by dunes;
- the Praia de Melides, which stands out for being the most famous in the region and for its location between the lagoon and the ocean; and
- Praia da Sesmaria, with its serene waters and extensive white sand. The natural world of Vila de Melides is also expressed in the mirror of drinking water known as Fonte dos Olhos, an old washhouse modified in 1960 to supply the village, framed in a local picnic park.
Finally, in the town of Melides, located in Herdade das Casas Velhas in Vale Figueira, we can still find prehistoric remains such as the Necropolis of Cistas das Casas Velhas, a place classified as a Property of Public Interest , dating from the Bronze Age and constituting an old necropolis with 35 graves. The remains discovered in the local excavations are currently on display at the Museum of Archeology and Ethnography of Setúbal.
Christian Louboutin has opened a five-star hotel in Melides, while Prince Harry and Meghan recently bought a house on the beautiful Alentejo coast between Comporta and Melides. Paris Hilton is another big name who now owns a home in the exclusive Costa Terra Golf & Ocean Club in Melides.
The region has also attracted stars like George Clooney, Elon Musk, and Sharon Stone, making it one of Portugal’s most desirable places to live or visit. With stunning beaches, peaceful surroundings, and luxurious developments, the Alentejo coast is quickly becoming a hotspot for those seeking beauty and exclusivity.
