The Portas do Sol garden occupies the site of the old Moorish citadel at the highest point of Santarém's old town. The views from here are among the best in central Portugal: the Tagus plain stretches south toward Lisbon, the river shines below, and on a clear day the horizon extends 50km across the Ribatejo flatlands.
The garden itself is well-maintained, with shaded walkways, a café, and the remains of the medieval castle walls incorporated into its edge. A statue of Afonso Henriques marks the spot where Portuguese forces broke through in 1147. The name — "Gates of the Sun" — refers to the original Moorish gate that once stood here. This is the obvious first stop on arrival in Santarém, both for orientation and for the view.