Cascais, Coastal municipality in Portuguese Riviera, Portugal
Cascais is a municipality on the Portuguese coast west of Lisbon, part of what is called the Riviera. The municipality stretches along the shoreline with several bays, a marina, and rocks jutting into the sea, while hills and residential neighborhoods lie inland.
A royal family chose this spot as a summer residence in the 19th century, which attracted many wealthy families from across Europe. In the 20th century, aristocrats and artists fleeing the Second World War settled here.
The name comes from the Latin word cascale, meaning small waterfalls or rock formations. Local fishermen still use the traditional harbor for their work, and visitors come early in the morning to buy fresh catch.
A walking path along the coast connects most beaches and allows visitors to explore different bays on foot. On weekends and in summer, more people come, so starting early helps avoid crowds.
On the rocks near the coast, a lighthouse shines at night, guiding ships for more than a century. Some beaches have caves that become walkable at low tide and offer a direct view of the rock formations.
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