Nazare, Portugal: The Seaside Town with the Giant Waves
The Nazare is world famous for its giant waves on the beach Beach do North, in the Atlantic Ocean, reaching up to 30 m.
The phenomenon is due to the underwater canyon Nazare, 5,000 m deep and 230 km long, which is the largest in Europe.
The small fishing village of Portugal became famous among all surfers in 2011 when American professional big wave surfer, Garrett McNamara He set a Guinness World Record by surfing a 24-meter wave.
The Nazare (Nazaré – Nazareth in Portuguese), a name it took in 1912, is divided into three areas, the Beach (beach), the Pederneira (behind the beach) and the Location yes Nazare (the historic center on the hill).
It has award-winning beaches and is an attractive seaside resort for holidays.
Along the coastal avenue, Avenue Manuel Remigio, next to the golden sand beach, Beach yes Nazare, you will find cafes and restaurants serving seafood and fresh fish.
Sun-dried fish is a common thing here and you will see them hanging in special racks, in Seca do Fish (Open-air Museum of Dried Fish).
Between the harbor and the river you will find the Beach do Sul (south) and then follows Beach do Salgado, a large beach with wild beauty and ample parking space.
The sandy Beach do North (North Beach) is located after cape Location near a beautiful pine forest.
Access from the Beach (beach) at Location is done with Elevator de Nazare, the historic cable car (1889) that climbs with a gradient of 42% , passes through the houses and arrives at Sitio, R. do Horizonte 20 (with ticket).
Alternatively, from the old uphill paved path, which fishermen once used to go to their homes.
Visitors who want to see surfers tame the waves (October-March) gather at cape Location, which is the rock with the Forte de Sao Miguel Arcanjo (Fortress of St. Michael the Archangel, 1577), the Lighthouse yes Nazare (the red lighthouse, 1903) and the panoramic view of the Atlantic.
Among the attractions of Nazare is the church Suntuario de Nossa Senhora da Nazare (Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary) in Nazare Village, in the historic center.
It began to be built on the 14thth century and gradually expanded in the following centuries as it was considered that the Ermida yes Memory de Nazare it is too small to accommodate the pilgrims who flock to the city.
It houses the icon of the Virgin Mary and has been described as Public Interest Property (1978).
It is located on Largo de Nossa Sra. da Nazare, in Nazare Square, next to the Hospital and near the cape (there is free outdoor parking).
The Ermida from the Memory of Nazare (Chapel of Memory) is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Nazare and is located in Nazare's Place, near the church Suntuario de Nossa Senhora da Nazare and stands out with its decorative blue tiles tiles.
Built by the local lord D. Fuas Roupinho as a thank-you offering to the Virgin Mary who saved him, above the cave where there was a statue of the Virgin Mary.
According to Legend of Nazare, on 14-9-1182, when Roupinho, on horseback, was chasing a deer in the fog and was in danger of falling off a cliff, he invoked the Virgin Mary and then the horse's hooves were planted in the rocks and he was saved from certain death.
Every year (September), in memory of this miracle, the Festival Nazare, with events.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Nazare is 121 km from Lisbon (1.5 hours, via the A8). More information about the city can be found at https://www.cm-nazare.pt, of the Municipality of Nazare.
All photos in this topic are from https://www.cm-nazare.pt.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
In central Portugal, 121 km N. of Lisbon and before Nazare (15 km, via the A8) you can make a stop in the town Alcobaca to admire it Monastery Santa Maria d’ Alcobaca (Alcobaca Monastery).
It was founded in 1153 by King Alfonso I and is one of the most important medieval monasteries in Portugal, Gothic in style, of the Cistercian Order with many royal tombs (entrance with ticket).
Since 1907 the Monastery belongs to the National Monuments of the country and since 1989 in Cultural Heritage Monuments of UNESCO.
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