Palácio da Rainha

The Queen's Palace was built by order of Queen Maria I, who was also responsible for opening the Vala Nova or Vala Real. The Vala Real connects to the Tagus and is part of a network of canals that drained the cultivated fields of Azambuja and Santarém, and also served as a stopover on the river route that linked Lisbon to Constância. The palace thus served as an inn and controlled the traffic of passengers and goods that circulated through the Vala Real, and has been abandoned since the beginning of the 20th century.

Careful not to get trapped here if you are trying to ride through. Its a warren of canals, and farms that can block your path along the river. Very pretty if you have time to kill. Picnic spots created along the canal with plenty of space.