Setúbal

A historic fishing and canning port at the mouth of the Sado estuary, south of Lisbon, long associated with sardines and the fertile fishing grounds of the Setúbal coast. The town was one of the early centres of Portuguese canning, and its factories built their reputation on the abundant sardine catches landed here. Producers including Belmar, Nazarena, and Valflor continue the tradition, packing sardines, mackerel, and horse mackerel in olive oil and sauces. Setúbal is also famous for its choco, the local cuttlefish, and its broader maritime culture tied to the Sado.