Visit

• Figueira da Foz
  

  In Figueira da Foz, the wide and blue sea has the mystery of colourful sails and stories with names of fishes.

  And there are also the colourful umbrellas, boats laid down in the sun and fishermen weaving lines of wisdom.

  And there are the round shaped dunes. And there are cliffs with strange forms given by the winds. From the sea we receive the secrets of other lands: there are sepia and blue-coloured Delft china tiles perhaps unloaded from a shipwreck, back in the days when the oceans seemed to be infinitely more mysterious and far-reaching..

  The sea yields up its tales of pirates, of trading and of invasions: the old military fortifications have withstood the beating of the tides: the fort of Santa Catarina stands as a proud reminder of the days when danger came from the sea.

  There are vestiges of human occupation right from the earliest days of pre-history but it was the sea that brought wealth to Figueira da Foz. A wealth that was needed to settle people here, with which churches and convents, palaces and theatres were built. Nevertheless, the sea remained a great enigma, a force to which prayers were offered and devotions made.

  The natural history of this coastal region, carved out in previous ages, is prodigiously rich. But the sea is still hard at work in the creation of a fabulous scenery, wich we call Cape Mondego.

  

• Serra da Boa Viagem

  Around 258 meters high, Serra da Boa Viagem is occupied by a wide forest, areas for leisure, playground and equipment for sport. But, if you prefer, you can just go and discover its forest and geomorphology.

  Besides the majesty of the mountain, it's impossible not to see the magnificent cliffs near Cabo Mondego.

  Following up till Miradouro da Vela (a belvedere), we can see the Morraceira Island, the perfect geometry of the salt pans in the estuary of the

  Mondego River, and also the bay from Buarcos till Figueira da Foz. Further up, seen from the Miradouro da Bandeira (another belvedere), the beauty of the Cabo Mondego is impressing.

  The International Union of Geological Sciences has already recognized its geological value and the discovery of around fifty Dinosaur's footprints have given this place an added value.

  

• Salt Plans

  The estuary is an extraordinary work done by the sea in the mouth of a River. The low tides create the "Morraceiras" - lands extended between two branches of the same river.

  These lands, that have successively belonged to the Monastery of Santa Cruz, to the University of Coimbra, and to the Casa de Tavarede, have been initially devoted to the agriculture, but the salt exploitation went on flourishing and its exportation in the 16th century shows that it was the main activity in the Morraceira Island.

  Ilha da Morraceira takes the shape of the salt and the salt pans. And, in spite of the evolution, we can still find the marina squares filled with saline workers. But the estuary is a wonderful complex of life, much more seducing than all that our eyes can reach.

  The halophyte vegetation and the numerous birds that live in the marshland are just a few of the delicate surprises that delight our eyes. Its colonies of macro-invertebrates nourish many species of fishes and birds like the flamingo and the seagull.

  

• Buarcos Forteresse

  It was part of the defensive system of the coast, probably built during the reign of King João I. There are also references to works promoted by D. Pedro, Duke of Coimbra and much later, during the reign of D. João III, new works must have been made in the fort.

  The Fort of Buarcos has been often attacked by pirates, namely by the Dutch, English and Algerian.

  In the beginning of the 17th century the fort suffered a strong attack by the English who destroyed many of the buildings that existed in Buarcos, which has inevitably marked its historical profile.

  The Fortress of Buarcos has suffered a great reconstruction during the reigns of the Phillips (kings of Spain and Portugal), and later in the 18th and 20th centuries.

  

• Fortress of Santa Catarina

  It was part of a set of defensive fortifications, together with the Fortress of Buarcos and the Fortlet of Palheiros. It dates probably from the end of the 16th century. In the 19th century it was commented that it "was built upon huge rocks, against which the waves hit furiously."

  It has a triangular plan, being the Chapel devoted to Santa Catarina, and the small barracks and the lighthouse in the interior yard.

  The Fortress has been occupied by the French troops during the I Invasion.

  Here, the French have suffered a hard attack led by the students of Coimbra and by the people, commanded by Bernardo António Zagalo who took over and occupied the fortress on the 27th June 1808. Thirty three days later, the troops commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley were landing in Figueira.

  

• Atlantic Promenade

  The Atlantic promenade is a place you cannot miss: on foot, by bike, on a skateboard or on roller skates, this is the place where everybody meets!

  Facing the sea, under the sun, or under the moon, it is the best place to go on long walks. There are small benches where you can read, date, or just watch the ocean.

  

• Figueira Casino

  The Theatro - Circo Saraiva de Carvalho was inaugurated in September 1884. It has presented many foreign operas and the most important international lyric singers.

  In the beginning of the 20th century the building became a Casino.

  After, in the 90's, the Casino got new remodellations: the Hall is today a space for exhibitions. In the Restaurant- Bar you can have dinner or a drink while you listen to the live music. Considered a space of leisure, the Casino has also multifunction rooms and an auditorium for meetings and work. The "Salão Nobre" is an elegant Saloon, where we can find a connection between modernity and history. This original space, that reminds us of the 20's, welcomes today wonderful shows of light, colour and sound.

  

• Sotto Mayor Palace

  French style Palace, surrounded by a magnificent garden. It has been built by Joaquim Sotto Mayor in the beginning of the 20th century, according to a project of Gaston Landeck.

  Inside, we can find furniture and decoration designed by several different Portuguese authors from that period.

  

• Dr. Santos Rocha Municipal Museum

  Founded in 1894, it received the name of Santos Rocha, one of its greatest collaborators who spent part of his life studying the archaeology of Figueira da Foz and who would become its first director.

  Today, it shelters several important collections: Contemporary Sculpture, Religious Sculpture, Numismatics, Indian-Portuguese, African and Oriental Arts, Archaeology and Epigraphy, Ceramics and Glass, Painting, Weapons, Modern Sculpture, Clothes and Personal Adornments, Brazilian and Timorese Etnography.