|
Cascais is a coastal town 18
miles west of Lisbon, with about 35,000 residents. It is
a cosmopolitan suburb of the Portuguese capital and one
of the richest municipalities in Portugal. The former
fishing village gained fame as a resort for Portugal's
royal family in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
It is located in the Estoril Coast (named after Estoril, a civil parish), in
the Greater Lisbon subregion.
Due to Portugal's neutrality in World War II and the
town's elegance and royal past, Cascais became home to
many of the exiled royal families of Europe, including
those of Spain, Italy, and Bulgaria.
Nowadays, Cascais and its surroundings are a famous
vacation spot for the Portuguese and foreigners, aiming
at both the "jet-set" and normal tourism, who seek to
enjoy its beaches.
Cascais is easily reached from Lisbon by car, (A5
Lisboa-Cascais highway, in 20 minutes), or by frequent inexpensive
commuter trains (a 25 minutes ride).
It has the ruins of a castle, an art and sea museum, as
well as parks and the charming cobbled streets of the
historic centre. The town has many good restaurants of
varying cost. It is a fine base to use for those
visiting Lisbon and its environs who prefer to stay
outside of the city yet in an equally urban and
sophisticated environment.
And also very beautifull wild beaches. There are also
great pools by the beach. And really lots of cultural
activities such as Sintra (world heritage village with
plenty of museums, parks, palaces to visit). Cascais is
surrounded by popular beaches, such as Guincho Beach to
the west, and the lush Sintra mountains to the north.
Some of its shoreline is cliff-y, attracting tourists
for its seascapes and other natural sights such as the
Boca do Inferno. It is also becoming a popular golf
destination, with over 10 golf courses nearby. Surfing,
sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing are also popular
in the region around Cascais due to favourable weather,
wind, and sea conditions. In 2007, Cascais was the
official host of the ISAF World Championship in sailing
for dinghies and racing yachts.
There's lots of street action, lots of markets, small
shops, pubs, etc..
The municipality also hosts international tennis and
motorcycling events and hosted for many years the FIA F1
Portugal Grand Prix. The famous Estoril Casino is one of
the largest in Europe. Near the casino is the "Hotel
Palácio" (Palace Hotel), a 5-star hotel where scenes of
the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"
were shot. |