If you are visiting Portugal for the first time, or wish to continue your discovery through alternative experiences outside our beautiful capital - this article is for you.
Portugal is without a doubt one of the wonders of southern Europe, with a vast cultural, gastronomic, and scenic heritage with magnificent places that can be so different from each other.
A DIVE INTO NATURE
The Sesimbra coast is famous for its fantastic beaches, namely the California beach which is right in the middle of the village and where the SANA Sesimbra hotel is literally glued to. But there is also Praia do Meco, Portinho da Arrábida, and Praia do Ouro. If you are not a fan of the beach, don't be alarmed, there is the Arrábida Natural Park where you will find a vast set of mountain trails, a great diversity of Mediterranean vegetation, rocky coasts, and breathtaking landscapes to explore. Sesimbra is also considered one of the best diving sites in the world thanks to its unique maritime scenery.
Sesimbra is a well-known golf destination, but it also offers a great diversity of sports in and out of the water - canoeing, coasteering, surfing, bodyboarding, windsurfing, trekking, rappelling, and many others.
FROM THE BEST SEAFOOD TO THE BEST SWEETS
To top it off, Sesimbra remains one of the true gastronomic paradises in Portugal, with restaurants like Espadarte serving a swordfish Ceviche and Cataplana. Fresh fish and seafood are prepared in the most diverse ways, and always accompanied by incredible wines, cheeses, traditional sweets, and regional fruits.
If you still have some time to spare, take advantage and visit Azeitão. There are two obvious reasons to visit this village: the cheese and the wine. Like Sintra, Azeitão used to be the official summer residence for some aristocrats and is home to several renowned wine estates such as José Maria da Fonseca and Quinta da Bacalhôa. The region is famous for the production of Moscatel wine, a fortified sweet drink often served with desserts, or the famous “tortas” of Azeitão - sweet bread filled with a delicious egg yolk paste and sprinkled with cinnamon. If you didn't consider yourself a foodie until now, Azeitão is likely to turn you into one, so don't let the opportunity to rediscover your palate pass by.
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