Travel Guide Ericeira

On the coast, there is a succession of more or less wild beaches or creeks, piercing the cliff, and whose rosary continues to the small and very cute seaside resort of Ericeira. Like an enchantment on its cliff plateau, this small town with its narrow streets gives us the opportunity to admire whitewashed fishermen's houses framed with indigo. Its population of about 10,260 inhabitants is multiplied by five in season, as the Lisboteans with secondary houses and many surfers invade this coastal area beaten with force by the waves. The craze for this village has been growing year after year. Ericeira has churches and chapels dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as seven old fountains. The seaside promenade is well lined with blue and white benches to admire the phenomenon of the tides and the strong undertow. During the day, some of Ericeira's elderly people spend their afternoons in the sun watching the sea from the viewpoint of the picturesque and central Praia dos Pescadores. This beach is located in a sandy bay sheltered by rocks and a wall almost 40 m high. Three other beautiful beaches are also interesting near the city, from north to south: praia de São Sebastião (named after the chapel that overlooks it), praia do Algodio (one of the busiest), and the praia do Sul (also known as praia da Baleia, because a huge whale came ashore there in 1872).