Sightseeing in Cascais - what to see. Complete travel guide

Cascais is a popular beach resort that is also known as the favorite place of rest of the Portuguese royal family. Once this place was nothing but a small fishing village. It was seriously harmed from earthquake in 1755, so the majority of buildings were rebuilt. This is how a railway and electricity appeared on the territory of Cascais. This gave a powerful stimulus to the development of this region.

Nowadays the coastal line is occupied by magnificent beaches. The biggest one is named Guincho. This is a true paradise for surfing lovers, because here you will find high and powerful waves. Torre and Ribeira beaches are no less popular. Naturally, the majority of hotels, restaurants, discos and bars are also located in the beach zone. This helps making the rest here diversified and enjoyable. Tourists, who enjoy water attractions, can visit Marine Club that is opened daily.

When sunbathing and beach rest become a bit boring to you, take a walk on cozy streets of Cascais. Houses here are small, but their design is truly unforgettable. They are decorated with carved balconies and ancient tiled roofs. These houses were built in the beginning of the century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Fort remains the most famous historical sight of the region. The building of the fort started in the 16th century. Today this building is used to keep the collection of a military museum. One more interesting culture spot of the city is the Municipal Museum. It keeps the collection of archeological findings and pieces of art. Here also often take place musical concerts. On the territory of the city are located several ancient churches, the building of which took place in the 16th century. While walking along the coastal line you can reach a rocky cliff. Because of permanent strong waves a cave appeared in one of the rocks. The cave is named Boca-do-inferno and this is a popular sight among tourists.

There are many magnificent palaces in the city. One of the most famous and beautiful is Palacio dos Conde de Castro Guimaraes. Within the walls of this palace today, is an incredibly interesting museum, it stores a collection of 25,000 books, which is considered one of the largest in Portugal. Among these books there are real rarities, which are more than 500 years old. In this museum, there is also a rich collection of archaeological finds found in nearby caves.

In the immediate vicinity of the resort is the world-famous cliff of Boca do Inferno, which tourists like to visit during the storm. The shape of this cliff is such that the waves beating against it contribute to the creation of an unusual noise, which resembles the growling of a wild beast. For many years, the locals considered this place mystical and made legend about the fact that near the cliff is the entrance to the underworld. Only recently was the mystery of this picturesque place solved.

The city has many beautiful places for walking. One of the most comfortable and attractive is the Palmela Park, founded relatively recently. In this park, many beautiful plants have been planted and unusual landscape compositions designed. At the height of the tourist season, music concerts in the open air and other entertainment events are held regularly in this park.

The resort has very interesting religious attractions, including the beautiful Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city. In 1755 when a major earthquake happened, it remained practically intact. Now in the walls of the church there are many religious artifacts and values.

It is also worth mentioning the Convent Piedade, which was founded in the middle of the 17th century. For many years, this monastery housed the world's first official school of philosophy. In the middle of the 19th century, the ancient monastery was in complete desolation. Not so long ago, the historical buildings have been completely restored and several new buildings built. The monastery was converted into a cultural center. It often hosts seminars on art, as well as events dedicated to the history and traditions of the region. Lovers of outdoor recreation will like a walk along a vast picturesque garden, located on the territory of the ancient monastery.