Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Sun, Sand, Peace, Quiet and good food |
| Disadvantages: |
Busy at the weekend |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
From Lisbon, cross the April 25th bridge over the Tagus and travel south on the road towards Setúbal. After about 40 km. and on one of the westernmost points of Europe, lies the Arrábida national park. From the mountains of the Serra da Arrábida you can take in breath-taking views along the Atlantic coast, with rugged cliffs, deep, unpolluted water and lush vegetation; and there, between the ocean and the mountains, sits the small town of Sesimbra in a natural bay which shelters it from the ravages of the Atlantic winds and tides. Because of it’s position it enjoys a mild, mediterranean micro-climate and is a favourite beach resort for Lisbonites at weekends.
A few km to the west is the dramatic clifftop of Cape Espichel and the Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Cabo, built at the turn of the 17th Century as a sanctuary and has often used as a film location due to its unusual architectural design. To the east is the Serra da Arrábida, once again, a virtually unspoilt nature reserve area with its beaches and shallow water. Even with the changes of the modern world, it can still be compared with any location in Europe for beauty and tranquillity.
Overlooking the town of Sesimbra is a C13th castle, but its history predates that by centuries. Archaeological finds prove that the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times by Celts, Phoenicians, Romans and the Moors (but not at the same time!) Its modern (?) history starts in 1190, when the moorish castle was captured by D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. It changed hands several times before the town was finally regained by King Sancho I in 1200, who gave it a charter in 1201. It was officially recognised as a town by King Dinis in 1323 and by the time of the Portuguese Discoveries, its seafaring tradition was already well established. The towns pilots were famous and much sought after to guide vessels to the far corners of the known world … and beyond.
Surprisingly, it is still a fishing town, although it has grown considerably as a result of tourism since the late 60’s (when the bridge over the Tagus was built). In the 1950s it attracted deep-sea fishing enthusiasts, particularly for Tuna and Swordfish … and these remain a speciality dish in the area. It’s narrow, steep streets lead down to a beach of golden sand guarded by a C17th fort – which was built as a defence against pirates (i.e. the English!) But you can forget all that history in one of the many restaurants that have a reputation based on their daily, fresh fish and draw the crowds from Lisbon as much as sun and sand ….. and believe me, the Portuguese know their fish!
Today, Sesimbra is still one of the main fishing ports on this part of the coast and is the place to look for fresh seafood and fish – walk along the coast road and look at the brightly coloured fishing boats in the fishing dock - but don’t overlook the soft sandy beach for sun and the crystal warm water for the fun of the seaside!
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