Boutique hotels
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Areias do Seixo
- Style
- Agricultural revelation
- Setting
- Rugged Costa de Prata
Torres Vedras Overview
Portugal
- Coastline
- Forts, dunes and sea spray
- Coast life
- Surfers' paradise
This rugged coastal region of northern Lisbon plays three roles, each of them well: respected wine region, aquatic playground, and historic stronghold.
Back in the early 19th century, the Duke of Wellington used this seaside city as a pawn in his martial chess-game with the French. At Wellington’s command, clusters of fortresses – the Lines of Torres Vedras – bristled along the coastline, repelling the would-be invaders. Today, Torres is a far more peaceful proposition. Where Wellington trod, the surfers followed, bringing their boards to the glittering beaches, and revelling in the sandy seclusion. The landscape is a visual tapestry: green-gold vineyards, shimmering turquoise coves, golden sand dunes, windmill-topped hills and crumbling castles. You could come here for the region’s ruby-red and sparkly white wines alone – like the landscapes, they’re intoxicating.
Typically Torres Vedras
The Lines of Torres Vedras, a series of fortresses, were erected during the Napoleonic Wars, to protect Lisbon from French invasion, and to act as the last line of Allied defences. Remnants of the original forts still stand in the town and surrounding regions.Local Knowledge
- Taxis
- Cabs are hard to come by, so avoid stressful searches or long waits by asking your hotel to book transfers.
- Tipping culture
- It’s customary to salute good service with a few extra euro.
- Siesta and fiesta
- Restaurants get lively around 8pm.
- Packing tips
- Bikini, beach shorts, surfboard; more modest apparel for the museums and relics; picnic bag, bottle opener and binoculars.
- Recommended reads
- Pick up a collection of poems by Kazuo Dan, a Japanese novelist and poet who found inspiration in the cliffs of Santa Cruz. He lived there too – look out for Rua Professor Kazuo Dan, and the monument built in his memory on Chapel Square. Brush up on your knowledge of naval history with Corelli Barnett’s Napoleon.
- Cuisine
- The local menus are written in honour of fish, though visitors can also expect succulent meat dishes. As you’d expect from a Portuguese wine region, there are plenty of luscious local nectars: try Fonte das Moças, Parão Velho and Quinta da Folgorosa. The area also produces a zingy sparkling white: Conde de Cantanhede.
- Regional specialities
- Expect just-grilled seafood that sings a paean to the Atlantic. Other fishy favourites include arroz with shellfish (a Portuguese take on paella), fish stew, red snapper, rock bass and bacalhau (dried, salted cod). Meat-eaters should sample the roast baby goat; sweet-tooths will love the sugary, almond-y bean tarts and pão-de-ló, a feather-light sponge cake. Alcobaça, north of Lisbon, produces lip-lickingly good apple and cherry liquor.
- Currency
- Euro (€).
- Time zone
- GMT+1.
- Dialling codes
- +351 for Portugal; 261 for Torres Vedras.
- Do go/don't go
- Warm summers, mild winters and an ever-present Atlantic breeze make this a destination with all-year allure.
Don't go home without...
wobbling onto a boogie board and taking on the Atlantic surf. It’s a great way to top up your tan, too.
