Praia da Nazaré, Atlantic beach in Nazaré, Portugal.
Nazare Beach is a half-moon shaped cove with soft sand bordered by towering cliffs that drop steeply to the Atlantic. Colorful umbrellas and beach huts line the shore, creating bright spots against the gray-white cliff face behind them.
The settlement here traces back to the 4th century when a monk brought a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary from Nazareth to the cliffs above. This religious relic gave the place its name and shaped the region's identity for centuries to come.
Fisherwomen here wear traditional seven-layered skirts and practice Arte Xávega, an ancient fishing method still visible on Saturday afternoons along the shore. These customs are woven into daily life and reflect how locals maintain their bond with the ocean.
A funicular railway connects the beach to the hilltop village of Sítio, offering quick passage between the two levels. Keep in mind that this shore is windier than flat coastlines and the water stays cold year-round.
The seafloor here drops into one of the world's deepest underwater canyons, creating unusually tall waves during winter. This extreme environment attracts big wave surfers from around the globe who come to tackle some of the largest swells on Earth.
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