Tróia Peninsula, Sandy peninsula along the Sado Estuary, Portugal
Tróia Peninsula is a long sandbar stretching between the Atlantic Ocean and the Sado Estuary, shaped by sand dunes and pine forests. The coastline features wide beaches on one side and faces the river landscape on the other, creating two distinct environments.
The Romans built a major settlement called Cetobriga on this peninsula, dedicated to fish processing with baths and salting tanks that remain visible today. This was an important production center for preserved fish that supplied the empire.
The fishing village of Carrasqueira displays traditional ways of living through its thatched reed huts and wooden stilted structures along the waterfront. You can see how local people have worked with the sea for generations in this quiet settlement.
The peninsula is reached by ferry from Setúbal, with separate boats for pedestrians and vehicles making the crossing easy. The journey takes about 45 minutes from Lisbon, and beaches are accessible year-round though conditions vary by season.
A resident population of bottlenose dolphins lives in the waters around the peninsula and can be spotted during boat trips from the marina. These marine mammals are especially active during warmer months and are a regular feature of the local seascape.
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