Lisbon coast: Estoril and Sesimbra
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Estoril coast
Roca cape the place where Sintra Mountain ends, abruptly in the ocean. It's Roca cape, the westernmost point of
continental Europe, the place where the land ends and the sea begins. This is the closest point to America in the European
continent, where, 140 meters high we have a nice view of the ocean and a part of the Portuguese coast, with its granite
outline of the mountain. This was called the magnificent cape by the Romans, the place where primordial people came to
listen to the whistle of the setting sun.
Guincho beach There dozens and dozens of kilometers of nice beaches near Lisbon and we start by one that is close by to
Roca cape, Guincho, beach. A desert beach in the past, is now crowded by those searching for waves and strong wind with
the beautiful mountain as background.
Ericeira beach Further north there is Ericeira. This is a place where the strong breeze fills your lungs with fresh air, plenty
of iodine. It was also the place where Manuel II, the last king of Portugal, embarked, leaving Portugal to exile.
It's a beautiful seaside resort. It's also a busy fishing harbor, where fishermen are always on the go, and it's quite a show to
watch this brave men going and returning from the ocean, facing the waves when the sea is rough, in their small boats, like
many other fishermen in Portugal. Even near the capital, there plenty of small fishing boats, with some characteristics that
come from those used by Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians, maritime people stopping here on the Portuguese coast,
thousands of years ago. The rocky formation of the Coast gives us stunning scenes and is like a crawl for several kinds of
seafood and shellfish.
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Estoril coast is close to Lisbon and is one of the most famous seaside resorts in Portugal. Here, fishermen also mingle with bathers in a harmony that fits
with the tranquility of the bay. Estoril bay was advertised in the beginning of the 20-century as the Sunny Coast, because it is said to have 300 days of
sunshine per year. It's a microclimate of Portugal, with a mild temperature all year round and with plenty of iodine. There was a train connection with
Paris in the past and tourists could come here directly from different countries in Europe. It became a fancy place in the world and is still a famous one. It
was also where many deported kings from different countries came to spend their exiles. Together with many other refugees, this place has been a very
well located safe dreamland for many families.
But it developed in the end of the 19-century when sea bathing became fashionable. The court came to the beach but it was different then. Ladies went to
one beach and gentlemen to another. And they were not almost naked. Most of the bathers belonged to the court. Noble families built a number of exotic
palaces near the beaches, matching the landscape. Lots of them exist today and they are a décor of the coastline.
Arrabida coast
Sesimbra If we go further south we have hundreds of kilometers of nice and warm beaches. But we keep close to Lisbon to see another typical one called
Sesimbra. It's also an ancient fishing harbor and a little bigger fishing boats are always busy. Here we find swordfish, a real specialty of the region. This is
also close to another mountain we have to the south of Lisbon. Arrabida Mountain, also with magnificent vegetation, has a gorgeous seaside resort. When
we take a look at some of the beaches here, we realize that the water is so clear that we can often see the bottom of the ocean. That's because of special
seaweed that releases the water from impurities and we can swim in crystal clear water.
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