| CASCAIS |
With its small picturesque beaches and
peaceful fishing-boat-bobbing waters, Cascais is far removed
from the hustle and bustle of nearby Lisbon.
Once a small village, the town has grown in size and popularity
in recent years to become one of the most attractive resorts
on the capital's coastline. It is a sophisticated place with
many elegant shops and a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. A wide
variety of bars, cafés and restaurants cater for the
throngs of summer holidaymakers, who fill up the town's main
square by night after circulating through the narrow lanes and
upmarket shopping arcades during the evening.
What to see. Cascais' 16th century parish church has
carved and gilded woodwork round the altar and walls panelled
with Portuguese azulejo glazed tiles. There are also paintings
by some of Portugal's most famous artists, most notably Josefa
de Óbidos. Located close to the sea, the Cascais Municipal
Museum housed in the Palace of the Counts of Castro Guimarães
features rare Indo-Portuguese-style furniture, a library with
over 25,000 books (including some 17th century editions and
a 1505 illuminated manuscript) and a small zoo. The Cascais
Sea Museum illustrates the town's close association with the
Atlantic Ocean with a vast range of related exhibits including
old maps, articles of fishermen's clothing, model boats and
pieces of treasure salvaged from ships wrecked in the surrounding
waters. The 16th-century Fort of Cascais known as the Cidadela
was built to protect the Bay of Cascais. It is part of a whole
line of fortresses along the Tagus estuary which were built
to protect Lisbon from being invaded. There is a beautiful view
from the fortress and a small open-air artillery museum.
Nearby. Boca do Inferno (Mouth of Hell) 3 km west of
Cascais is an unusual crater-shaped rock formation constantly
under attack from the pounding Atlantic waves. Further along
the coast is the magnificent sandy beach of Guincho, a favoured
spot among surfers and windsurfers from all over the world. |
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
