Cascais Portugal

Cascais, which is found on the Portuguese Sun Coast (Costa do Sol), together with Estoril and Sintra, but is familiarly called by the local people as the Margin. It is a marvelous excursion of about 29 kilometres along the north bank of the Tagus River until the Atlantic Ocean. An amusing way to do this tour could be in the electric train which leaves the Cais do Sodre station in Lisbon and runs along the coast until arriving at Cascais, having passed by Estoril.

In spring, the route is lined with wild flowers. An unhurried yellow tram goes from the Commerce Square ( plaza do Comercio) to the vacation resort of Cruz Quebrada. This is an area of stone grandstands, built to accommodate international football matches. Another entertainment is enjoying a bullfight in the biggest bullring in Portugal. Or take advantage of being near the ocean and stop at the Marina and go for a cruise in the bay of Cascais. At the naval club there, you can practice water skiing, windsurf and sailing.

At one of the most fancy hotels, which was built for the Royal Family in the 19th c., you can taste exquisite seafood. Or make a short trip to the Museum Castro Guimaraes, wrapped up in an exotic garden where you can appreciate shining silver pieces, tiles, paintings and Portuguese furniture from the 17th c.

The nucleus of this city grew around the fortress standing on a protruding rock formation. This fortress was built in the 17th c., making up the main pillar of a series of defense plans to protect the city. Part of this building is used for military purposes nowadays and the other part as the vacation home for high dignities. Much of the old home town atmosphere is still preserved in the part where the fishing village is and in the centre. The rest of the town has been built up but has respected this rustic air. And right in the middle of the town, next to the Garden of Visconde da Luz, are a group of caves, joined between them, all of which were used by the natives in the Neolithic period as a necropolis.

About 1 kilometre outside of Cascais, driving along the coastal road heading towards Sintra, you can see the Boca do Inferno (the mouth of hell) a spectacular cliff, with deep caves and hollow cavities going down 20 meters and connecting to the sea. There are a series of other towns such as Dafundo with old mansions of great beauty and interest, some having been made into hotels. Here you can also see the Vasco da Gama aquarium which includes the fascinating world of tortoises, goose barnacles, and all other kinds of fish. Onto Caxias which is famous for its lookout points from the 18th c. and its fort-prison stuck into the side of the hillside. Oeiras has a beautiful park, modern block of flats for rent and an austere castle from the 16th c.

After having done all this, take a picnic basket and head towards the Guincho beach, sit back and let nature turn noise into music; only at Cascais.