Estoril is a prestigious seaside resort
of Portugal with an exclusive and stylish feel on Lisbon´s coast linked
to old traditions born a long time ago when that stupendous coastal site
started to host the highest spheres related to Kings and international nobility
and today it continues to be a great place, ideal to enjoy unforgettable
holidays along a coastline so loved for its stunning and striking scenery.
Part of the municipality of Cascais with which
form an attractive a very demanded bipolar destination thanks to a mild climate
all year, a high quality of Hotels, several hospitality facilities and a great
offer in terms of International events. Estoril is undoubtedly a site which
always kept a fashionable and trendy air able to conquer the taste of every
tourist. (I wrote a post about Cascais in the case you are interested)
The proximity of the Capital of the country, the
magnificent sandy beaches and the approximately 300 days of sunshine a year
are overall a great incentive to find an oasis of relaxation enjoying comfort
but also fun, sports and cultural activities thanks to a rich and ample
calendar of relevant events.
Since a long time ago Estoril attracted prominent
people and some of the most important European royalties and that seaside
resort increased its fame with the establishment of the largest
Casino in Europe, prestigious Golf courses which elevated that
destination as that which conquered a multitude of people so glad to return
there with immense pleasure.
The presence of the Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais
is definitely a further opportunity for interesting and beautiful excursions
discovering the splendid landscapes in an area also packed by wonderful natural
attractions and an environment which bewitch many visitors for its varied
vegetation, picturesque corners and extraordinary viewpoints overlooking a
superb coast.
The local boundaries include several smaller
localities in its surroundings such as São Pedro do Estoril, São João do
Estoril, Santo António do Estoril and Monte Estoril and along the local
coastline you can always breathe a very captivating air highlighted by the soft
and mild Atlantic breeze, delighted by a spectacular oceanic horizon which gave
that place an unique and fascinating image.
All year you can find there something to do, water
sports, shopping, cultural and historic tourism, the proximity of the wonderful
Lisbon is a superb incentive, visiting other local seaside towns or starting
great routes in a suggestive and charming interior are all great chances which perfectly
fill holidays simply wonderful with a multitude of proposals during a stay with
an endless list of activities.
Probably best known for its Casino, the resort is also
famous for its high quality of life ranked as one of the most expensive
places to live in Portugal and in the entire Iberian Peninsula.
What is really impressive is that such place has
always transmitted something of special and all people landing there has always
something to take home as pleasant memories or that deep desire to return for a
special reason once again.
Originally born as a modest small village devoted to
fishing with natives who spent weeks sailing across the Ocean to obtain the
catch to survive, that activity was for long time the main former resource for
the local economy since centuries ago.
Despite it continues to be pretty active it was
replaced in the ranking by another industry as tourism since some decades ago
which became the main local economical hub transforming it as one of the most
demanded seaside resorts of the entire country.
It is impressive how in the course of its history that
place changed face, the glorious past welcoming aristocrats, Sovereigns and
artists consecrated the resort as a Top destination and in more recent times it
also started to be protagonist as seat of several famed events.
Motor sports competitions, prestigious golf
tournaments of international level, concerts and shows calling Jet Setters, tourists,
several figures linked to sport and entertainment elevating that place as a
national icon.
Estoril is always a place with an extraordinary and
eternal appeal conquering every visitor in a simple walk and all that has
contributed more and more to attracts people who chose that Portuguese resort
as a favourite haven just like in its former legendary past.
The great development also supported and
launched other niches of tourism which found in that destination a more than
suitable habitat to develop a large range of projects and plans focused on the
organisation of Congresses Conferences, International meetings,
Travel Incentive and other activities related to shopping trips, Spa and
wellness stays and all that always
found perfect combinations totally satisfying all the most demanding tourists.
With its official 25,000 inhabitants that famous
Portuguese centre boasts a beautiful and
elegant maritime promenade, an amazing park packed by tropical and
Mediterranean plants, a very cosmopolitan aspect combined by the presence of a
wide variety of excellent restaurants, chic bars, trendy clubs and eternally
highlighted by a vibrant nightlife.
Historic documents related to the origin of the name
Estoril attested that such denomination derives etymologically from the word sterile
or uninhabited.
The territory was not originally very populated for the
reason that the main economic source was fishing and the former settlement had
not other developed sources or activities linked to agriculture remaining for a
long time a very tiny centre.
Visited by the Phoenicians the first signals of
a prosperous development came in two different periods, the
first during the Roman colonisation and the second in occasion of the
Moorish occupation.
The Romans once landed in that land of the Iberian
Peninsula started to create a very active centre mainly dedicated to the
navigation and they used the settlement as one of their most important maritime
mercantile docks linked to Lisbon in the period in which the campaigns of the
Imperial Rome culminated after the establishment of its territorial domain.
The current site was included in a very active maritime
network consisting in main and secondary harbours arranged in proximity of the
current Capital of Portugal and integrated in that large territory which was
named Hispania Lusitania, an Imperial
province which extended from the northern course of the Douro river until the Algarve and which
had as capital Emerita Augusta, the
current Spanish centre of Merida located
in Extremadura.
According to archaeological excavations which took
place some years ago were discovered some relevant artifacts of
that civilisation which have enriched the heritage not only of Estoril but also
of the entire region with the found of artifacts dating back the 1st century.
Extremely considerable were the found of some
remnants of beautiful Roman Patrician villas which certified the high
historic value of an ancient and notable residential area during the Roman
Empire attesting the settlement of very important dynasty probably direct
descendants of the Gens Octavia,
linked to the Emperor Gaius Iulius
Caesar Octavianus Augustus.
After the fall of that Imperial power the land lived
pretty gray times without leaders who could not continue the flourishing
activities of those predecessors also due to a period of incursions by Vandals and pirates who ravaged the local coastline.
The landing of the Moorish in that famous
campaign towards the Iberian Peninsula started in the 8th century was the birth
of a new golden era generating a renaissance in terms of a flourishing artistic
and a wealthy economy.
Those new rulers consolidated the settlement as an
important port and hub for their activities along the Atlantic coast and they
also used that settlement also as point of trades and communication between
that Lisbon´s coast and Southern Spain.
Through the regions of Alentejo and
Extremadura were developed important roads linking some important centres
such as Evora, the mentioned Merida,
Badajoz, Zafra and also reaching Seville in Andalusia.
Including the fishing activity had a notable success with a great increase especially concentrated in cod, sardines and seafood catch, a pioneer business which became the main sources of the former centre for a long period.
Including the fishing activity had a notable success with a great increase especially concentrated in cod, sardines and seafood catch, a pioneer business which became the main sources of the former centre for a long period.
The year 1147 was a date of total change with the famous Reconquista, the reconquest of the territory by the Catholic Kings who started to re develop the country with a new system organised in a territorial subdivision in sort of counties and the birth of new artistic movements.
During and after the Spanish occupation the former
town always lived its history tied for obvious geographical reasons to the
nearby metropolis of Lisbon until the independence obtained in each case
maintaining always its local identity.
The boom of other activities came in the
following centuries which made the fortune of Portugal such as navigation, discoveries and colonisations with transoceanic expeditions in a period in which
the Portuguese navigators became among the most famous in the history sailing
all around the Oceans and in every Continent.
The country thanks to those golden ages and a very
prosperous life with the conquest of new domains in Africa, Asia and South
America developed in many localities of the country also solid military
infrastructures with defencive walled systems and fortresses which are today a
relevant part of the historic patrimony of the Nation, many of them declared
National Monuments and including present and visible in Estoril.
A culminating period in the local history occurred in
the early 20th century when a businessman called Fausto Cardoso da
Figuereido obtained the concession to operate the game in the Casino of
Estoril.
The idea of that character was concentrated to create
a place of relevance as a centre with an important venue to attract visitors
and transforming that place in an exclusive, stylish and lively resort but the
beginning of the 1st World War
led to considerable delays in its construction.
Despite that in 1916 the first stone was laid and that
project by that entrepreneur and his business partner Augusto Carreira de
Sousa became a reality after that event starting to mutate that provincial
site to an exclusive top destination and the town started to live another cycle
of golden ages elevating that venue as one of the most famed in Europe.
After intense and hard works ended that building and that centre which always lived in
the shade the Portuguese capital was also protagonist of a new change in
terms of communications with plans to develop a road connecting in the best way
the Casino to Lisbon.
In 1940
that coastal artery was totally finished and Estoril started to receive artists,
aristocrats and intellectuals some of them escaping from their countries for
political reasons.
Portugal was a
neutral country during the 2nd World and Estoril became a
very busy centre often seat of secret meetings, a sort of special
meeting place frequented by spies, secret agents and also transformed in
residence of people in exile just like Tangier in a remote
comparison with that North African city. (If you are interested I wrote
a post about that place)
As that centre of Maghreb also Estoril started to be a
very cosmopolitan reality and for a period a pretty sophisticated seaside town
with a notable appealing charm.
During and after the 2nd World War but also in
occasion of the Spanish Civil War in the 30s several important figures reached
that destination such as the Infante
Juan of Spain, the Count of Barcelona Juan Bourbon father of Juan Carlos I of Spain,
the Italian King Umberto II of Savoy but also Royal figures from East
Europe such as Carol II of Romania
and the Hungarian Monarch Miklós Horthy.
Also the former Portuguese dictator António
de Oliveira Salazar became an important and usual guest of Estoril and
that political leader decided to build the N6 motorway which also ended
in Estoril with the well
known artery named Avenida Marginal to link Lisbon to Estoril very
quickly without problems of traffic and long queues and that new connection permitted
a very fast trip by car.
Before that construction the access was nothing
more than a dirt road in which the traffic could only circulate at a very low speed
while that modern roadway permitted Salazar to travel faster with fewer stops
and in that way it was not possible for him to be recognised easily during
his transit across different municipalities.
The core of the resort is mainly arranged behind the
previously cited Avenida Marginal which runs from east to west flanking
the beautiful harbour and immediately you can see Jardim do Estoril the
Garden of Estoril, a huge green lung flanked on its right side by the avenue
Avenida Clotilde.
In that area are situated some luxury Hotels and also
starts Avenida Aida which is one of the main arteries directly leading
to the Casino which is bordered by two lively squares such as Praça
Almeida Garret and Praça Jose Teodoro dos Santos which are with the
nearest street Rua Lisboa the focal points and heart of that Portuguese
seaside resort.
Jardim do Estoril is the right
place in which you can start the visit. It is a magnificent green park
characterised by a rich number of palms, exotic and Mediterranean plants, an
authentic jewel which worth to be visited simply for its fabulous layout and those
species of varied lush vegetation with species coming from different continents
you can admire there.
With a splendid and strategic position two step
from the coast that paradise packed give that place an enchanting image and it
is also a fascinating hallway to introduce in the best way the beauty and the
charm of the resort.
In an enjoyable walk you can reach the popular and famed Estoril Casino which is
well known to have the record to be the
first Casino opened in Europe.
That structure is a masterpiece in its kind
facing a beautiful gardened area which is as a shining frame to enter in an
exclusive site.
That impressive structure can host approximately
1,200 people, it is a classical Venue but also with other features and
its activity is also devoted to host events, meetings, concerts and
entertainments of extreme relevance.
The Casino has a
magnificent Auditorium with a capacity of over 300 people,
the rooms are elegantly furnished, modern and providing all the most
sophisticated audiovisual and lights equipments, large and spacious halls
and perfect spaces to organise the most varied events with also wonderful
comfortable lounges.
The environment offers high quality bars with a wide
range of trendy drinks and cocktails, selected fine wines and liquors ready to
satisfy the most exigent clientele and as particular highlight worth to be
mentioned the Black and
Silver room.
You can find in that superb complex a wide variety of
tables games and over 1,100 slot machines, roulette and black jack among others.
Another charming and stylish hall is the Panoramic room with a splendid
view on the gardens and it is also a fantastic place to admire at night the play of light of its beautiful
fountains.
That spectacular place was the inspiration for the
first book of James Bond by British writer Ian Fleming, the famed Casino Royale, a
fantastic work which had later a great success with the movie starring
David Niven and Peter Sellers produced in 1967 and in 2006
with another one by Martin Campbell starring Daniel Craig.
The former fishing harbour of Estoril which was once a
humble site frequented by the first local fishermen quickly became an elegant
and cosmopolitan and famous port.
Apart that
prestigious escalation it also has historic events to narrate especially when
it was protagonist as important stage of famed navigators such as Vasco da
Gama and Christopher Columbus who sailed and landed from and to its
quays.
A legend linked to the navigation closely related to
Estoril harbour tells that a local sailor called Alfonso Sanches
started the cross of the Atlantic Ocean from the current resort and seems he
landed on the American coasts before the famous navigator from Genoa.
During his return he stopped before in the island of Madeira in the temporary
abode of Columbus in which he probably left the logbook to the Genoese explorer used for his trip.
From the port you can enjoy a very satisfactory view
of the bay and on one side you can see the dock place for fishing boats, the
marina and a castle.
The harbour is also a very busy meeting point by
locals and tourists, a very lively area and in its proximity you can find some
fine restaurants and bars to have a cool drink or a meal.
Of extreme and relevant historic importance is Forte
de São Teodósio also known as Forte Cadaveira located in Avenida
Marginal and erected outside the river Cadaveira overlooking the
beach.
It was originally inserted in the line of the main
defencive system of the Tagus River at
the time of the War of Independence.
Its name is a tribute to the Prince Teodósio,
eldest son of King John IV and it is still known as Forte Assubida,
a fortification of the Portuguese Navy which provided a quadrangular space
with a battery of artillery facing on the side the Atlantic.
That construction was classified as a Building of
National Interest in Portugal in 1977 and in 2003 it moved under
municipality administration.
Another fort highly interesting and worth a visit is
the Forte Santo Antonio do Estoril also known as Forte Santo Antonio
da Barra or Antiga Fortaleza, the Old Fort located
overlooking the coastline in the village of São João do Estoril.
That construction is considered one the main fortifications
established in the area with the citadel
of Cascais and the Fortress of St.
Julian of Barra and it was erected to protect the Capital of the country.
That imposing building was developed on an irregular
polygonal plan with two exterior bastions with domed and cylindrical
watchtowers at the corners.
It was commissioned by Philip II of Spain to
the Italian military engineer and architect Giovanni Vincenzo Casale
to improve the defencive system of Lisbon and its surroundings in 1586.
Casale was also in charge of the works to expand the
famous Belém Tower of Lisbon and
that fortress was classified as a Monument of National Interest of Portugal
in 1977.
The former fort was smaller than that one you can see
today, it was replaced with a new image later by a new bigger one adapted in a
square plan with bastions established at the corners and it consists in a
walled complex along the inner faces of the bastions and it provided a battery
of artillery.
The fort was surrounded by a moat outside with scarp and
a counter-covered road and inside were erected the barracks hosting the troops
and including was elevated a Chapel.
Later at the time of the War of Independence when
the Portuguese Crown undertook a comprehensive reform of the land, the
fortifications along the coast or in its proximity as that stronghold had a
modernisation and expansion works.
In the following decades with the loss of their
strategic roles many of them suffered a gradual abandonment and in the late 19th century the major
part of them were practically disabled.
Since 1915
the premises are being used as a summer
camp Institute of Women's Education and Labour organisations while in the
mid 20th century were executed new works which provided services and
facilities and adapted as a summer
residence of the President.
If you love art is a visit to Verdades-Faria Museum,
an exhibition established in 1917
by George O'Neil a famous writer. In 1942 the building was bought by Mantero Belard and devoted
to support art, artists and artistic movements in Portugal.
Following his death it was donated to Cascais
Council under the name of Verdades Faria and eventually housed the Regional
Portuguese Music Museum which hosts an important collection of musical
instruments related to popular music and assembled by Michel Giacometti.
The resort is considered a paradise for surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing
and due to that the local Institutions and Tourism Organisations developed a
niche absolutely considerable for all what is linked to those waters sports
offering services and facilities which totally satisfy the demanding requests
of a multitude of lovers of those activities.
The Coast of Cascais-Estoril is a great spot of
Portugal in terms of incoming tourism industry also for its striking
beaches very famed since the period of the classy aristocratic times when those
magnificent sandy stretches became symbols of Lisbon´s coast.
Praia da Tamariz is one of the
great local highlights, it is a stunning beach located beyond the railway
station, a splendid long sandy stretch considered an iconic symbol of the resort.
Very loved for its scenic position beneath a low
height in which is situated the fortress it boasts a constant blue flag and it
is 190,0 metres long and very loved by a multitude of people because
immediately behind it starts that magnificent maritime promenade.
That popular superb stretch of bright sands is ideal
place to enjoy sunbaths, swimming and particularly appreciated for its easy
access with the chance to enjoy a cool drink or an excellent dinner in several
cosy bars and fine restaurants in its vicinity.
Praia da Poça is probably
the most beautiful local beach providing all kinds of facilities and with a
very easy access and with great opportunities to enjoy water sports. Thanks to
its golden sand, clear and emerald waters it is a great place for all people
who love sunny relaxing holidays and at the same time enjoying several
activities.
As Praia do Tamariz is situated in the centre of
the resort pretty close to the Casino. A special feature despite it is not very
long with a length of approximately 160,
0 metres is its formation consisting in a sandy scenic arch forming a
beautiful natural bay.
Another one very famous and suggested is Praia de
Carcavelos which is not far from the centre and it is well
known for its beautiful golden sands and with a longitude of 1350, 0 metres.
Very appreciated by windsurfers, it boasts a constant
blue flag, clean waters, it is a constant attraction for its panoramic views
and in its proximity you can find some restaurants offering typical cuisine.
Simply great is also Praia da Parede. The
water lining that beach is rich in iodine and it is very famous to
have excellent therapeutic qualities especially ideal for people with
bone diseases.
Loved by locals and families it is very appreciated
for its soft light sands and it is approximately 130, 0 metres long, not
extremely wide because it was reduced for the construction of Avenida Marginal
in the 40s which stole part of its former surface.
Praia do Guincho is a further
one very famous to be a stunning destination the most enthusiastic
windsurfer and kite surfers for the winds entering in a natural fabulous bay.
It is a long magnificent sandy line of 800,
0 metres, very wide and it hosted International
competitions including the World Cup. That beach was also set of some scenes of movies among them
James Bond and due to its fame it is very popular and pretty busy during summer season and
highlighted by a scenic promontory on its eastern side.
In proximity of Sao Pedro, Sao Joao and Sao António de Estoril the beaches have more cliffs but there are small sandy bays at the bottom of the aristocratic palaces and the stylish villas which were since long time ago a pleasant refuge for exiled Kings. Praia da Adraga is a very relaxing and recommended small beach surrounded by stones. Quiet and uncrowned it is pretty close to Cabo da Roca and Praia do Guincho and frequently chosen by water sports lovers with perfect waves for surfing in its immediate vicinity.
From Estoril you can enjoy many scenic routes visiting marvellous places such as the famed Boca do Infierno, the Mouth of Hell situated in Cascais and Oitavos a famous site well known for its fossil dunes.
Other wonderful places which for their marvellous images worth to be visited are the beautiful scenic promontories of Cabo Raso and Cabo da Roca along the coast with a a stunning natural heritage and the splendid hilltop enclave of Monte Estoril.
Those places are also often promoted by the local Tourism Institutions for the splendid panoramic views they offer, the secret of the charm of those sites is the contrasts of tonalities made by their vegetation, soil, rocks, the blue Atlantic waters under a clean sky and the reflections of the sun lights at sunset or in a shimmering sunrise are something of unique creating an eternal magnificent fan of colours.
The nearest Sierra de Sintra is something unique in its kind, highlighted by wild landscapes and magnificent views a very short distance from the coast. That mountainous area offers stupendous panoramic views and many opportunities to admire spectacular vegetation composed by different species of plants.
You can find along those heights different kind of shrubs and bushes, scattered olive groves, pines, verdant plateaus and from the summit of those hills different viewpoints overlooking the Atlantic.
The highest point reaches an altitude of 529, 0 metres and the formation of that land is of volcanic origin is highlighted by the presence of some rocks partially formed by basalt and quartz.
Linked to ancient legends since the ancient Roman times, it was nicknamed Lunae Mons, the mountains of the moon for the aspect of its soil and for some suggestive images which link its surface and formation resembling to those of that planet and that Sierra it is listed as Natural Patrimony by UNESCO.
In the proximity of the resort worth also a visit the artificial caves Alapraia also known as the Necropolis of Alapraia. They are caves which were discovered in the village of the same name and they are part of a vast historic local patrimony.
Estoril hosts several International events and one of them is the prestigious Estoril Tennis Tournament which is part of the ATP International Series.
The resort was also a notable destination for all motor sports lovers. Until 1996 that Portuguese centre hosted the F1 World championship and also it was a stage of Motorcycling World Championship. Since 2007 the Rally of Portugal came back in the calendar of the World Championship and the competition has one of its main highlight with a stage in the boundaries the resort.
The local delicious gastronomic specialities are also part of the local highlights delighting the visitors.
The cuisine of Estoril is mainly based on fish absolutely great and delectable just like the always fresh seafood boasting a sublime quality. Among the most typical plates worth to be mentioned the exquisite grilled sea bass and the emblematic Bacalhau, superb cod which is one of the great culinary delights prepared in several styles.
Another special plate is the famed Arroz de Marisco a tastefully seafood rice extremely appreciated and excellent is also the Aragosta grelhada, a supreme grilled lobster and very suggested is also the Caranguejo cozido consisting in a crab stew.
Very traditional are as in many other Portuguese resorts the Sardinhas, sardines which are considered a national pride, a divine product prepared in different styles but especially grilled and from that kind of fish is produced the famous sardines pâté which is often present as appetiser, starter and frequently served as snack spread on toasted bread.
About the most famous cakes do not miss to try the locals Trouxas da Malveira and Areias do Guincho. The coast of Lisbon has excellent vineyards and the local grapes thanks to the local mild climate with ideal temperatures and the Oceanic breeze provide perfect climatic conditions combined with an appropriate subsoil which permit the cultivation of excellent grapes producing fine wines as Carcavelos and Colares among others.
Very recommended to enjoy a great a meal, those wines of Portugal are very versatile with a sublime taste, highly palatable at the first sip and boasting a high reputation for their colour, body and texture.
Lisbon International Airport in Portela de Sacavém is located approximately 25 minutes away by A5 motorway and there is also a connection by train to Cascais and from the Railway Station by bus to that centre and Estoril.
Choosing a destination as Estoril is to find a little bit of everything a tourist needs, a wide range of facilities, excellent and comfortable Hotels which offer a very pleasant stay in a unique resort.
That splendid resort is the right place for spending unforgettable stays enjoying also the exclusive and stylish feel on Lisbon´s coast admiring all what there is around you which also created a sort of myth with the presence of famous characters.
The magnificent sunsets on that Atlantic Coast with the striking colours of the local landscapes highlighting a coastline absolutely superb are all features which will enchant you at first sight.
Estoril is as a treasure with a magnificent coffer ready to be opened and full of shining gems bewitching in a while all the most enthusiastic travellers.
That beautiful destination which combines fun, comfort, art, history, outdoor activities and relaxation in one of the best and most captivating coastal corners of the splendid Portugal is definitely a great and superb choice to for fabulous holidays delighting you and remembering that fascinating resort forever.
Francesco Mari
Recommended Hotels in Estoril
Hotel Saboia Estoril
Hotel Palacio Estoril Golf & Spa
Hotel Alvorada
Hotel Inglaterra
Hotel Sana Estoril
Hotel Lido
Amazonia Estoril Hotel
Useful links
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