Nazaré resort, Portugal: attractions, surfing, relaxation

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The small fishing village of Nazare (Portugal) is located between the beautiful cities of Lisbon and Porto. Among other Portuguese outskirts, it is distinguished by two important circumstances: the first is that the locals consider the Virgin Mary to be the patroness of the village, and the second is that Nazar has the largest waves in the world. There is no winter here, so this place can be visited all year round.

Nazaré Resort

This old fishing village is the main one in Portugal. Its inhabitants sacredly keep ancient traditions: they dress according to the old fashion and sing folk songs. On this ocean coast, you can witness how fishing families lived many years ago. The women of Nazare still wear seven skirts each, and the main occupation of fishermen and fisherwomen on the shore is mending nets and drying fish on special wire grills.

At the same time, Nazare is considered the most famous among the seaside resorts in Portugal. Incredibly beautiful and clean beach stretches for a distance of 1 km. Along it is equipped with an embankment. Hereall conditions for a comfortable and memorable stay.

The town of Nazare (Portugal) is divided into two parts: upper and lower. The lower part is a picturesque promenade, a beach and many cozy restaurants where guests are offered dishes of national cuisine. There is also an abundance of souvenir shops where tourists can buy gifts for their loved ones. By the way, souvenirs here are much cheaper than in the upper part of the city. The main attractions are located in the upper part of the village.

What to see?

So, what are the attractions in Nazare (Portugal)? There are not as many of them as fans of excursions would like, but still there is something to see. The main architectural monument here is the small chapel of Capela da Memória. It was built in honor of the Virgin Mary, whom the locals consider their patroness. Pilgrims from all over Europe visit the chapel all year round. Opposite the chapel is the Church of Our Lady, built at the end of the 14th century.

There are several museums in the town where you can get acquainted with the history of Nazaré, the history of fishing and the national costume. In the museum dedicated to religion, you can see paintings, statues and some historical documents. The main museum of the town is the Fisherman's House. It has all the attributes of fishing and the home life of fishermen.

Fort Sau Miguel Arcanjo is also of interest to tourists. It was erected at the end of the 16th century in order to protect the city from attacks by Algerians and pirates. Enjoypicturesque views can be from the cliff Cityu. For this, a spacious observation deck is equipped here. Tourists can get to the rock on a modernized funicular, this means of transportation in Nazar is considered the most famous. The height of the rock is 318 meters, from here an amazing view of the lower part of Nazare opens.

Surfing

The unique Nazare Canyon (Portugal) stretches along the coast for 170 km. The waves here can reach a height of 30 meters. Surfers from all over the world come to this small village to take part in the annual world competitions. Waves that break out of the depths of the Atlantic Ocean can easily swallow a surfer at the slightest mistake. But this does not stop the athletes. In 2013, Garrett McNamara (Hawaiian surfer) set a world record: he conquered a wave over 30 meters.

How to get there

Nazaré (Portugal) is located in the district of Leiria. You can get here from Lisbon or Porto by regular bus. A bus ticket costs about 12 euros - this is the cheapest option to get to the fishing village. The bus stops at Nazare Station, which is a short walk from the city's main promenade and the Atlantic Ocean.