Page 110 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

108  THE LISBON C O AST

today is first of all a favoured Environs
suburb of Lisbon. It may At Boca do Inferno (Mouth
sometimes seem more defined of Hell), about 1.5 km (1 mile)
by its ceaseless construction west on the coast road, the sea
boom than by any historic or rushes into clefts and caves in
even touristic qualities, but the the rocks making an ominous
beautiful, windswept coastline booming sound and sending
beyond the town has been left up spectacular spray in rough
relatively undeveloped. weather. The place is almost
The Museu Condes de Castro obscured by a roadside market
Guimarães is perhaps the best and cafés but a small platform
place to get a taste of Cascais as gives a good view of the
it was just over a century ago. rocky arch with the sea below.
A castle-like villa on a small The magnificent sandy
creek by a headland, its grounds beach of Guincho, 10 km
Outdoor café in the popular holiday resort are today part of a park. (6 miles) further west, is backed
of Cascais Across the road from the by sand dunes with clumps
museum is the marina, one of of umbrella pines and a cycle
7 Cascais the most emblematic develop- path. A small fort (now a luxury
ments in Cascais. With its small hotel) stands perched on the
* 27,800. @ £ n Largo Cidade
de Vitória (912 034 214). ( 1st & 3rd shopping centre, restaurants rocks above the sea. Atlantic
Sun of the month. and cafés, it is a weekend breakers rolling in make this
magnet for today’s car-borne a paradise for experienced
Having been a holiday Cascais residents and tourists. windsurfers and surfers, but
resort for well over a century, The Casa das Histórias, beware of the strong currents.
Cascais possesses a certain designed by Eduardo Souto
illustriousness that younger de Moura, was established
resorts lack. Its history is most by the artist Paula Rego to
clearly visible in the villas along exhibit her works, which range
the coast, built as summer from paintings and drawings
residences by wealthy Lisboetas to illustrations and lithographs.
during the late 19th century,
after King Luís I had moved E Museu Condes de
his summer activities to the Castro Guimarães
17th-century fortress here. Avenida Rei Humberto de Itália.
The sandy, sheltered bay Tel 214 815 304. Museum: Open Spectacular view of the weatherbeaten
around which the modern 10am–1pm, 2–5pm Tue–Sun. Library: coastline at Boca do Inferno, near Cascais
suburb has sprawled was a Casa da Horta de Santa Clara. Open
fishing harbour in prehistoric 2–6pm Mon, 10am–6pm Tue–Fri,
times. Fishing still goes on, and 10am–1pm & 2–6pm Sat. Closed Sun, 8 Estoril
was recently given a municipal public hols. * 24,000. @ £ n Largo Cidade
boost with the decision to E Casa das Histórias de Vitória, Cascais (912 034 214).
build a quay for the landing Avenida da República 300. Tel 214
and initial auctioning of the 826 970. Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun Despite once being the
fishermen’s catch. But Cascais (to 7pm in summer). & haunt of exiled royalty fleeing
European republicanism, the
lovely resort town of Estoril
does not rest on its historical
laurels. Today it is a tourist and
business resort, and a place
for comfortable retirement.
As such, it relies equally on
its historical reputation and on
the natural attractiveness it has
always possessed. There are also
a number of good golf courses.
What separates Estoril from
Cascais, besides a pleasant beach
promenade of 3 km (2 miles)
and a mansion-covered ridge
known as Monte Estoril, is its
sense of place. The heart of Estoril
is immediately accessible from
Sandy beach and promenade along the bay of Estoril the train station. On one side of

108-109_EW_Lisbon.indd 108 17/10/16 11:34 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm