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About this place
Grutas de Santo António is a show cave in the municipality of Porto de Mós, central Portugal, inside the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park. Its address is Pedra do Altar, Alvados. It is one of three caves open to visitors in the region, alongside Grutas de Alvados and Mira de Aire.
What is it?
Despite the plural name, visitors essentially see one enormous chamber. It covers roughly 6,000 square meters and measures about 80 m long, 50 m wide and 43 m high. Stalactites and stalagmites decorate the walls and ceiling, and the route winds among them along lit walkways.
How was the cave found?
The entrance was discovered on 2 June 1955. Two quarry workers at a spot called Pedra do Altar, chasing a bird, squeezed through a large opening in the rock and found themselves in an underground hall. The site was later developed for tourism.
What should you look for?
Among the best-known formations are a large stalagmite named after Our Lady of Fátima and another called the Cypress Tree. The real draw is the scale of the chamber, unusual among caves open to the public.
Why is this region so full of caves?
The Serras de Aire e Candeeiros are a limestone massif with underground rivers, sinkholes and more than 1,500 caves. The park was created in 1979 (Decree-Law 188/79), covers about 34,000 hectares and spans several municipalities, including Porto de Mós, Alcanena, Alcobaça and Ourém.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the visit take? Depending on the source, from about 30-35 minutes to around an hour; tours are guided.
Is it one cave or many? Visitors tour a single large chamber.
Can I combine it with other caves? Yes, Grutas de Alvados and Mira de Aire are nearby, so a full underground day is easy to plan.
What should I bring? It is cooler than outside and can be damp, so a light jacket and shoes with good grip help.
How far is it from Fátima? The cave lies in the same general area as Fátima, so it is often paired with a visit to the sanctuary.
Check opening hours and ticket prices on the official site before going, as they change by season.
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