VISTAS! Cascais – nature by the med wins award

Rare mix of nature, history and culture destination wins award

VISTAS award winner from Portugal

Cascais (Portugal) offers visitors a rare mix of nature, history and culture, wonderful beaches and luxury facilities. It received a QualityCoast Award 2013. Promoting soft mobility, Cascais offers tourists to rent bicycles free-of-charge. Two innovative nature restoration projects greatly enhance the rich coastal biodiversity of the area, supporting excellent education and information facilities.

Located 30 kilometres west of Lisbon and delimited by the Atlantic Ocean home_cascaisto the south and west, Cascais is a popular and pleasant vacation spot for tourists that has managed to retain much of its original charm. Cascais offers visitors a mix of historical culture, wonderful beaches, natural areas and a vast array of biodiversity to explore and enjoy.

Cascais was initially a fishing town, but today it is the outdoor terraces, the restaurants and the shops that bring the bay and the historic centre alive.

On your first stroll around town you will get a feel for its connection to the sea and the relaxed mood of the Cascais residents. The 19th and early 20th century mansions are currently cultural and leisure venues which provide more information on the history of this town. They include the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum, the Casa de Santa Maria, the Santa Marta Lighthouse and the King Carlos – Sea Museum. Close to the latter, you’re bound to come across the Casa das Histórias de Paula Rego (Paula Rego House of Stories), a modern building with a very peculiar design, definitely worth a visit, which houses a number of the works of this Portuguese artist.

Naturally, the proximity to the Atlantic has always contributed to keeping the traditions of fishing and nautical sports, especially sailing, alive. The conditions of the Cascais Marina, the calm sea, the climate, the beaches and the heritage are more than enough reasons for it to be a place of choice for many seamen who spend their holidays here and for holding frequent regattas, whether for recreation or competition

Cascais has been hard at work on its sustainable tourism:

Quality of life, economic growth and environmental issues are highly considered in Cascais. And the town has been hard at work on its sustainable [email protected]

The implementation of the 2012 Sustainable Strategy and the creation of the Agenda 21 Office DOWNLOAD: are two good examples that demonstrate the importance placed by the local Council on sustainable development.

Situated within the Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais, The Eco-Park of Pisão   offers interpretative tours to assist visitors who want to learn more about the natural, cultural and historical heritage of this locality.

Bicycles can be hired for free at various points around town. Through the BiCas scheme the municipal council aims to promote the use of public transport and soft mobility.

The Environmental Interpretation Center of Pedra do Sal (CIAPS), considered the first "Zero Energy Building" in Portugal, provides education and information resources about the rich coastal biodiversity of the area

Further information:

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