Guide to Route 2753: What to Do Along the Route Between Campo Grande, Loures, Lousa, and Milharado

Guide to Route 2753: What to Do Along the Route Between Campo Grande, Loures, Lousa, and Milharado

From Lisbon’s university district to the traditional saloio landscapes of Milharado, route 2753 passes through parks, museums, historic churches, art galleries, and traditional flavors.

Starting at Campo Grande (Metro) in Lisbon, the route travels through Olival Basto, Póvoa de Santo Adrião, Santo António dos Cavaleiros, and Frielas before reaching the center of Loures. This first stage is marked by the transition between the densely built city, major roadways, and the urban centers of the northern outskirts.

In the Loures region, the route passes through areas of cultural and recreational interest, including the Quinta do Conventinho area, the historic center, and Adão Barata Park. Afterward, the route takes on a more rural and winding character, passing through Lousa, Cabeço de Montachique, Vale de São Gião, and Póvoa da Galega before reaching Milharado, in the municipality of Mafra.

The route also makes it possible to combine different activities on the same day: an outdoor stroll in Campo Grande, a cultural visit in Loures, a gastronomic experience or local-history visit in Lousa, and a walk amid nature in the Montachique area.

Notice: the distances shown are approximate and estimated from the coordinates of the route and the listed stops, and may vary depending on the side of the road, the access route, and the exact boarding point. According to the data provided, route 2753 has 14 departures in the Campo Grande–Milharado direction on weekdays, 7 on Saturdays, and 7 on Sundays and public holidays; in the opposite direction, there are 4 departures on weekdays, 2 on Saturdays, and 2 on Sundays and public holidays. The fare and operator were not provided.

Campo Grande Garden

The starting point of route 2753 already offers one of the route’s best activities. Campo Grande Garden, also known as Dr. Mário Soares Garden, is a large green space in Lisbon, with lawns, trees, a lake, a children’s playground, a youth area, a fitness circuit, a picnic area, restaurants, and padel courts.

It is a good choice for starting the outing at a leisurely pace, especially before continuing to Loures. The garden serves as a transition between the busy Campo Grande station and Alvalade’s university landscape, offering space to walk, rest, or take an outdoor break.

• 📍 Location: Campo Grande, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Campo Grande (Metro) P15; approximately 0.8 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Urban park and recreation.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: Historic green area with a lake, sports facilities, a children’s playground, a dog park, and picnic areas.

Bordalo Pinheiro Museum

A few minutes from the beginning of the route is the museum dedicated to Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, one of the most prominent figures in Portuguese caricature, ceramics, and social criticism. The collection includes ceramics, drawings, paintings, publications, and materials related to the artist’s life and work.

The building, located in Campo Grande, also deserves attention: it was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century and received an Honorable Mention in the 1914 Valmor Prize. It is a compact and distinctive activity for those who want to discover one of Lisbon’s artistic facets before boarding for Loures.

• 📍 Location: Campo Grande, 382, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Campo Grande (Metro) P15; approximately 0.5 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Museum, art, and heritage.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: Collection specializing in the work of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, with an emphasis on ceramics and caricature.

Loures Municipal Museum – Quinta do Conventinho

Near the Mealhada stop, route 2753 passes close to one of Loures’s main cultural facilities. The Municipal Museum is housed at Quinta do Conventinho, a former Franciscan convent connected to local history and the municipality’s former rural way of life.

In addition to archaeological and ethnographic exhibitions, the site combines culture and recreation in an area with gardens, a chapel, a documentation center, a café, and routes through the historic complex. It is a particularly interesting stop for those who want to understand how the saloio region has changed over the centuries.

• 📍 Location: National Road 8, kilometer 4.3, Santo António dos Cavaleiros.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Mealhada (X) Qta Conventinho; approximately 0.4 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Museum, historic heritage, and recreation.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: Housed in a former Franciscan convent, it brings together exhibitions, gardens, a chapel, and references to Loures’s history.

Adão Barata Park

In the center of Loures, Adão Barata Park is one of the best options for an outdoor break. The site includes green areas, a multisport court, children’s playgrounds, a picnic area, parking, and restaurant facilities, serving as a meeting place for residents and visitors.

The park is near Rua da República and Rua Cidade Rio de Janeiro, in an area where the route also serves stops near City Hall and the garden. The combination of open spaces and cultural facilities makes the site suitable both for families and for those looking for an unhurried outing.

• 📍 Location: Rua da República and Rua Cidade Rio de Janeiro, Loures.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: R República 14 (School), R República 76 (City Hall), and R da República 138 (Garden); approximately 0.3 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Urban park, recreation, and gastronomy.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: Brings together green areas, sports facilities, children’s spaces, picnic areas, and cultural facilities in one zone.

Vieira da Silva Municipal Gallery

Adão Barata Park is also home to the Vieira da Silva Municipal Gallery, housed in the former Macau Pavilion. The space hosts visual arts exhibitions, artist projects, and initiatives by leading institutions, with programming that may include guided tours, educational activities, and workshops.

It is a convenient option for those who want to add contemporary art to their visit to Loures. Since the gallery shares the site with the park, the visit can be combined with a walk, a snack, or some time resting outdoors.

• 📍 Location: Rua Alfredo Duarte Pinto, Adão Barata Park, Loures.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: R República 14 (School), R República 76 (City Hall), and R da República 138 (Garden); approximately 0.3 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Art gallery and cultural programming.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: Combines visual arts exhibitions, cultural mediation activities, and the facilities of an urban park.

Church of Santa Maria de Loures

For those who prefer history and architecture, central Loures offers the Church of Santa Maria, a temple classified as a National Monument. The church was built in the 16th century on the remains of a medieval temple and underwent changes throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

The interior includes three naves, decorative paintings, gilded woodcarved altarpieces, inlaid marble, and artistic elements associated with Portuguese religious tradition. The visit can be combined with a walk through the central area, near City Hall, the garden, and Adão Barata Park.

• 📍 Location: Largo da Igreja, Loures.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: R República 76 (City Hall) or R da República 138 (Garden); approximately 0.6 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Historic church and national heritage.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: National Monument dating from the 16th century, with an interior distinguished by gilded woodcarving, tiles, paintings, and marble.

Cabeço de Montachique Municipal Park

In the Cabeço de Montachique area, the route comes close to one of the largest green spaces in the municipality of Loures. The municipal park covers a forested area of approximately 32 hectares and offers facilities for sports, recreation, and contact with nature.

There are tennis courts, a multisport court, a fitness circuit, orienteering, a children’s playground, picnic areas, and activities such as tree climbing and zip-lining. The site also preserves heritage elements associated with the Lines of Torres Vedras, as well as remnants of former structures connected to the area’s rural and geological landscape.

• 📍 Location: Rua Parque Municipal, Fanhões.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: R Dr Catanho de Menezes (X) Lg 25 de Abril and R 1º de Maio 21 (Cabeço Montachique); approximately 1.0 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Forest park, sports, and recreation.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: Large green area with sports, adventure activities, picnicking, and historical references to the Lines of Torres Vedras.

Parish Church of São Pedro de Lousa

The Lousa section contains one of the historic sites closest to the route itself. The Parish Church of São Pedro stands on Rua dos Heróis do Ultramar, beside EN 8, practically along the axis served by route 2753’s stops.

The church preserves a Manueline-style side door dated 1546. Inside, highlights include the 18th-century tile panels in the chancel, two paintings from the same period, and the image of Saint Quitéria. It is a quick stop, but one of strong heritage interest for anyone visiting the locality.

• 📍 Location: Rua dos Heróis do Ultramar, beside EN 8, Lousa.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: R Herois Ultramar 132 and R Herois Ultramar 224; approximately 0.1 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Church and historic heritage.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: Manueline side door, 18th-century tiles, and classification as a Property of Public Interest.

Saloio Memory Space and Tété Shop

To discover a more everyday and gastronomic dimension of the area, the Saloio Memory Space, located at Tété’s facilities in Carcavelos de Lousa, preserves traditions, objects, and ways of life associated with saloio culture.

Admission to the memory space is free, but must be scheduled in advance. The experience may also include an optional factory visit and a stop at the brand’s shop, where dairy products are sold. It is an activity that connects intangible heritage, local production, and the flavors of the region.

• 📍 Location: Rua Principal, 102, Carcavelos, Lousa.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Lousa section via EN 8, between the R Herois Ultramar and EN 374-2 stops; approximately 1.5 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Local history, gastronomy, and regional production.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: Presents saloio traditions within a dairy company and makes it possible to combine culture with regional products.

Route 2753 is an option for turning a journey between Lisbon, Loures, and Milharado into an exploration itinerary. The best way to make use of it depends on the direction and day of travel: in the outbound direction, more departures are available, while return service is more limited. It is therefore worth planning the stops in advance, especially for activities in Lousa, Cabeço de Montachique, and Milharado, and confirming any visiting conditions directly with each location.

Sources

• Campo Grande Garden – Lisbon City Council
• Bordalo Pinheiro Museum – Lisbon City Council
• Loures Municipal Museum – Quinta do Conventinho
• Adão Barata Park – Loures City Council
• Vieira da Silva Municipal Gallery
• Church of Santa Maria de Loures
• Cabeço de Montachique Municipal Park
• Religious Heritage of Loures and the Church of São Pedro de Lousa
• Saloio Memory Space – Tété