North Portugal Tourism Guide - Nazare

Accommodation Nazare - Silver Coast from Caldas to Nazare

On the northern side of the Lagoa de Obidos is the vast undeveloped, sandy beach of Foz do Arelho, 8 kilometres from Caldas. This is another Blue Flag beach that has disabled access and is much quieter outside the July-mid-September season. There are plenty of cafes, bars and seafood restaurants along the promenade. If you feel like being more active the windsurfing and sailing lagoon nearby can fulfill that urge. If you're driving yourself, the route northwest from Caldas taking the N360, is a beautiful cliff top coastal route preferable to the busy main road that takes you north.

Sao Martinho do Porto is the main resort along the coast between Peniche and Nazare. It is a bit more developed than other resorts along this stretch of the Silver Coast, but it is fairly low key with an easy-going atmosphere. As it lies in a natural bay its shelter makes it a popular choice for families with white sands sloping into calm, shallow water. In fact, it's one of the warmest places to swim on the west coast. This is very much a tourist resort that provides many activities to keep you amused. Sailing, surfing, parapenting, hang-gliding, canoeing, mountain biking, walking, rock climbing and golf are all available here. Check their website for more information and contacts. There is another beach on the open coast north of the bay that can be less crowded in peak season, but as it's exposed to the Atlantic breakers it can be a dangerous place to swim. There is a tourist information office at the far end of the seafront on Avenida Marginal. Tel: 351 262 989 110.

Nazare Tourist Guide

Nazare was once a picturesque seaside village which has today grown into a busy seaside resort. The town itself was first established up on the cliffs at Sitio above today's resort which would have been underwater. You can take the funicular up the 110 metre rock face (7.15 am-2 am daily) for the viewpoint at the top, Promontorio do Sitio, where it is said that Dom Fuas Roupinho, when out hunting, was led to the cliff by a vision of Nossa Senhora da Nazare. This is said to have led to the original settlement of Nazare and the church which took the place of the hermitage that was established was thus named. The great Portuguese explored Vasco de Gama is said to have made the pilgrimage to the site.

The 17th century Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Nazare is decorated with attractive Dutch azulejos and is central to the romaria on 8 September and the following weekend that includes processions, bullfights and folk dances. There is also Sitio bullring which stages bullfights on Saturday night - not to everyone's taste.

Despite its popular seaside status there are still elements of traditional ways of life with the brightly painted fishing boats moored at the beach and you'll see women in traditional black dress under which are the "Seven Skirts of Nazare", seven layers of brightly coloured petticoats. They are said to represent the days of the week or the colours of the rainbow but seems to have arisen from fishermen's wives trying to keep themselves warm in winter. These days the women are often busy mending nets or hawking fruit and nuts on the beach to the visitors. Although there has been more modern development of the resort for accommodation, the traditional narrow streets of the fishing area still remain giving the visitor an idea of how the picturesque resort once looked. This area is now dominated by restaurants and cafes.

Naturally it's the beaches that tourists flock here for. The main beach is a vast stretch of white sand that has Blue Flag status and disabled access. Although many of the beaches along this stretch of coastline can be pretty dangerous for swimming, the main beach at Nazare is patrolled by lifeguards and the bay offers a degree of sheltered swimming. The main promenade, Avenida da Republica that borders the beach is lined with some excellent seafood restaurants and bars. To the south between Sao Martinho do Porto and around the village of Gralha there are several quieter small coves. To the north Praia Norte is a popular spot for nude sunbathing. Naturism in Portugal is pretty freely accepted although full naturist beaches tend to be separate from main beaches.