Praia da Nazaré, Atlantic beach in Nazaré, Portugal.
Praia da Nazaré is a crescent-shaped sandy beach on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, sheltered on one side by steep cliffs that rise sharply above the shore. The wide sandy bay runs along the town of Nazaré, with colorful umbrellas and small beach huts lined up in front of the pale cliff face.
According to tradition, a monk brought a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary from Nazareth to the cliffs above the beach in the 4th century, giving the place its name. The fishing village that grew below the cliffs became one of the most active fishing ports on the Portuguese coast for many centuries.
Fisherwomen in Nazaré still wear traditional seven-layered skirts and can be spotted walking along the shore. On Saturday afternoons, the Arte Xávega fishing method is practiced on the beach, where nets are pulled in from the water by hand or with the help of oxen.
A funicular connects the beach to the hilltop neighborhood of Sítio and is worth using for the views over the bay. The shore can be quite windy even in summer, so it is a good idea to bring an extra layer and expect cold water throughout the year.
Directly off the shore lies one of the deepest underwater canyons in the world, known as the Nazaré Canyon, which channels enormous amounts of water toward the coast. In winter, this creates waves that can reach heights that draw big wave surfers from many countries to compete and train here.
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