Coast line and mountain Sintra-Cascais

This is a testimony of a peaceful walk along the coast and the mountain of the municipalities of Sintra and Cascais. With a pleasant temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, we left the city of Agualva-Cacém in the municipality of Sintra to Azenhas do Mar beach, about 24 kilometers away.

The route map

Azenhas do Mar beach is part of the coast of the slopes of Sintra. As we walk along its beautiful viewpoint we were delighted by the fantastic view of the surrounding environment.

The low tide with the calm sea has exposed the imposing and beautiful cliffs more visibly as well as the oceanic pool in a picturesque setting with the white houses on top of one of the cliffs.

The village of Azenhas do Mar has grown up around the 1930s with the expansion of the tram line that in the past connected to the village of Sintra.

Viewpoint of Azenhas do Mar beach panoramic The beautiful rocks along the Azenhas do Mar beach

Freedom at the top of the cliff Around the viewpoint of Azenhas do Mar beach

One of the first smiles in the morning at Azenhas do Mar beach viewpoint The picturesque setting of the oceanic pool and the village at the top

The sea and the oceanic pool of Azenhas do Mar beach

The sea at the bottom On the stairs leading to the beach of Azenhas do Mar

At Azenhas do Mar beaach with a huge cliff behind Curiosities of the marine environment?

Some bivalves at the Azenhas do Mar beach

Back to Azenhas do Mar beach viewpoint for refreshing drinks

After a coffe and some refreshing drinks, we have visited the Maçãs (apples) and Grande Rodizío beaches respectively two and four kilometers from Azenhas do Mar beach.

Maçãs beach is attractive for surfing and it is said that in old days apples were transported to the beach area through a stream and hence the name of Maçãs (apples) beach.

View of Maçãs beach streets and the sea at the bottom

About Grande Rodízio beach it has a wide sandy area and it is very popular in the summer

At Grande Rodízio beach

About three kilometers from Grande Rodízio beach we have visited the Almoçageme local market of fresh fruits and vegetables and also some handicrafts.

At local market of Almoçageme

We then progressed our way further to Convent of the Capuchos in the Mountain of Sintra of about seven kilometers.

Paths towards Convent of the Capuchos At the area of Cruzeiros of the Convent of the Capuchos

The Convent of the Capuchos was founded by D. Álvaro de Castro in 1560 of the Order of Fransciscans and ceased to be their home in 1834. It is a monument of simple construction with reduced spaces inspired by the Fransciscan spiritual and fraternity philosophy.

However the area around it is very beautiful and calm with the immense vegetation and the huge granitic rocks of the Sintra Mountain. It is considered a World Heritage Site.

A passage in the Cruzeiros area

At Terreiro da Fonte of the Convent of the Capuchos

A little further ahead it is the Portaria which is the entrance of the convent.

At the Portaria. Behind is the Alpendre with the symbols of poverty, obedience and chastity

View of the entrance of Chapel of Passion 18th century tiles at in the Passion chapel

From the Portaria going up some stairs gives access to eight tiny cells of the friars who lived there as well as the refectory and Casa das Águas (Water Houses) that was the convent’s bathroom.

Stairs to access the cells The cell corridor

View of the entrance of three cells Detail of doors line with cork

At kitchen with a long stone At Casa das Águas (bathroom)

When we left the compartments of the convent, we have noticed the great contrast of the dark interior with the light in the exterior where the Cloister area is located. It is a beautiful space that was intended for meetings between the Franciscan community.

The Cloister with the compartments of the convent behind At the area of the Cloister. Behind the church

We also went around the convent a little. There, the primitive nature of Sintra Mountain stands out and between ups and downs tracks led us to the grotto of Friar Honório.

Challenging highs at Convent of the Capuchos Still a little more?

The grotto of Frei Horório

We have walked a little further and we have seen the former farm of the Convent of the Capuchos where tables are available to eat and rest before leaving the convent.

View from the convent to the beaches of the coast of Sintra This time with smiles coming down the stairs on the way to the former farm of the convent

View of the former farm of the Convent of the Capuchos

The ups and downs path, around the Convent of the Capuchos as well as its labyrinthine interior…it was necessary to restore energy! That’s what we did. We then went to lunch to at the Refúgio da Roca restaurant, in the village of Azóia near Cape of Roca, about ten kilometers from the Convent of the Capuchos. The chosen dishes were grilled cuttlefish, spare ribs, secretos of meat pork and cod fish on the tile. Everything was delicious.

Grilled cuttlefish

Spare ribs

Secretos of meat pork Cod fish on the tile

The well-deserved lunch

As we were at Cape of Roca we couldn’t fail to visit the westernmost geographical point of continental Europe with a fantastic panoramic view. From the Refúgio da Roca restaurant to the panoramic view of Cape of Roca it is about two kilometers.

It is a place that inspires peace and tranquility. It has a beautiful natural landscape with imposing cliffs and with the sea getting lost in the horizon of the blue sky.

At the entrance to the panoramic view of Cape of Roca there is a beautiful and oldest lighthouse in Portugal.

Lighthouse of Cape of Roca

Panoramic view of Cape of Roca with the sea getting lost in the horizon of the blue sky Behind the lighthouse of Cape of Roca

The picturesque rocks of Cape of Roca Another panoramic view of Cape of Roca landscape

The monument that marks the westernmost geographical point of the continental Europe is in the central part of the panoramic view. It is one of the writings “where the land ends and the sea begins” by the poet the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões.

Monument of the location of the westernmost geographical point of the continental Europe Writings of the poet Luís de Camões

To complement the beauty of Cape of Roca part of the Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais stands out.

Along the paths of the Natural Park Sintra-Cascais

View of the Natural Park Sintra-Cascais

Before visiting the village of Cascais the last place in our tour, we passed by the beautiful Guincho beach about twelve kilometers of Cape of Roca. It is a popular beach and internationally known by surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers.

At Guincho beach

The rough sea at Guincho beach

We then left for Cascais about ten kilometers from Guincho beach. We have visited the Mouth of Hell caves where the force of sea waves has shaped the beautiful rocks landscape over time.

The caves of the Mouth of Hell A panoramic view of the bridge connecting the upper with the lower part of the sea at Mouth of the Hell

Viewpoint of the Mouth of the Hell Surface of a carbonated rock in Mouth of the Hell

And then to end our tour we went further to the center of the magical village of Cascais where we still had time on the way to take a photo to the Palace Museum of the Count of Guimarães with its Moorish influence arches. From the Mouth of Hell to center of Cascais it is about two kilometers.

Palace Museum of the Count of Guimarães in Cascais

The magical village of Cascais presents a very beautiful setting in particular the Cascais bay with its emblematic fortress. Also the palm trees along the bay give that special and unique charm to Cascais bay.

An art exhibition at Cascais bay The beach of Cascais bay

The beautiful palm trees at Cascais bay Lateral part of the wall of Cascais fortress

The good mood at Cascais bay

The coast and the Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais continue to surprise for their natural beauty landscape as well as lead us to the historic Franciscan Convent of the Capuchos surrounded by the tranquility and peace of the primitive Sintra Mountain.

We hope that the testimony of pleasure and joy that we feel in this tour will help our readers and travel lovers to better discover those places.

References parques de Sintra

Thanks to Manuel Manero for blogging recommendations

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