Webcam Cascais. Panorama of the coast
Cascais has been called the city of fishermen and kings. In the 1870s, a small fishing village, supplying fresh seafood to the Portuguese capital, was transformed into a holiday residence for the royal family. Since then the prestigious resort has grown with luxurious castles and villas, prospering and attracting the Portuguese aristocracy and foreign visitors. The city is full of majestic architecture of the XIX century, beautiful parks and free museums. One of the world's most famous regattas, the America's Cup, is held here.
In the center of Cascais is its historic Old Town with access to the fishing harbor. Here, in the narrow streets steeped in the spirit of old Portugal, stand stately 19th century buildings such as the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa, which was formerly the residence of King Umberto II, who was expelled from Italy.
There are family restaurants and cozy eateries in the center and along the waterfront, with open-air attics offering freshly caught traditional local fish, crabs, lamprey, lobster, and other sea creatures. There's even a Polvo Vadio restaurant in Cascais specializing in octopus dishes.
The coastline of Cascais in Portugal can be divided into two parts.
In the northern part there are wild, windy beaches with high waves, ideal for surfing. For example the beach of Praia do Guincho which is over a kilometer long and has become a sort of Mecca for surfers. This beach is situated 6km north of Cascais in the beautiful Serra de Sintra National Park and is a lovely shaded promenade on a hot day.
On the eastern part of the Cascais coast there are cozy beaches for families, such as Praia de São Pedro and Carcavelos. The beaches are sandy, clean and have a smooth entrance to the water. Directly in the center of the city there is a beach and Praia da Rainha. This is the "Royal Beach" - hidden in a small cove surrounded by rocks, the most popular within the city. Was once a personal beach of the Queen of Portugal.
The beaches of Praia de Duquesa and Praia da Conceição connect Cascais with the neighboring resort of Estoril, have a well-developed infrastructure, abundant in restaurants, cafes and stores. Well suited for holidays with children.
In Estoril, near the famous casino, stretches to the crowded beach of Praia do Tamariz with a fortress Forte da Cruz, a large number of catering establishments, discos and clubs. But near Cape Roca there is a small secluded beach called Ursa.
