The Local

The Location

A place. A thousand sensations.

Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the south and west, the Estoril Coast spreads from Carcavelos to the northern bounds of the Municipality of Cascais

The Estoril Coast has always had a wonderful climate and a superb natural environment. There are traces of mankind dating back to the Palaeolithic period. Well before even this time, dinosaurs lived here and their footprints remain in several places.

The Estoril Coast is widely regarded as the Portuguese Riviera. Its climate is exceptionally pleasant, with no extreme conditions. Winters are temperate and summers are mild. Autumn is extraordinary, just like a second spring.

At the middle of the Estoril Coast is the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, offering an amazing variety of environments and landscapes, including Europe’s most westerly point, the Cabo da Roca. A few steps away from Lisbon, the Region is served by the capital’s international airport, as well as by the Municipal Aerodrome of Tires and by excellent roadways and railways.

A wide range of wonderful experiences awaits the visitor to the Estoril Coast. Furthermore, Lisbon is only about half an hour away by car or train. One of the oldest and most fascinating capital cities in Europe, it has everything a city can provide: a unique atmosphere, good shopping, entertainment of all types and a wealth of cultural activities.

If you drive out west of Lisbon, you will notice a mountain rising up majestically, casting a shadow of romantic mystery over the town of Sintra, nestling in the foothills to the north of it.

Sintra’s rich cultural heritage includes the Moorish Castle, Pena National Palace, the Sintra National Palace, and many other buildings of historical interest which, together with the mountains and the Sintra - Cascais Natural Park, are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

North of Sintra lies an unspoilt area of traditional farms and villages. As expected in rural Portugal, the cooking is delicious, with a range of local specialities including the famous Negrais suckling pig.

The town of Mafra lies at the northern edge of the region. The huge walls of the vast 17th century National Palace and Convent of Mafra seem to rise up out of nowhere. An enormous church with famous bells and an exquisite library are among its many attractions. The grounds, formerly the royal hunting grounds, are now a wildlife reserve where deer graze in freedom. Visitors can learn about the ancient art of falconry, and participate in orienteering and other adventure sports.

What makes the Estoril Coast such an exciting and unique destination is its great variety of environments and its contrasting landscapes, just outside your door.

 

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