Description of the attraction
Carcavelos is located in the municipality of Cascais, twelve kilometers from Lisbon. The city is also called the heart of the Portuguese Riviera, and it is also considered the most popular resort in Portugal.
Carcavelos was once famous for its white wine. There is a legend that in the 18th century the king of Portugal gave wine from Carcavelos as a gift to the emperor of China, and this city and drink was learned outside the country. But unfortunately, today the production of wine has significantly decreased, there is only one company that is engaged in the production of wine.
In addition to wine, the city is known for the fact that at the end of the 19th century, a telegraph line passed through it, which connected Portugal with Great Britain. In recent years, Carcavelos has become more famous as a resort town, and its clean beaches are considered the best outside of Lisbon. Also, this city is very popular with surfers due to the excellent conditions on the beaches for surfing.
The Virgin Mary is considered the patron saint of the city. The city has a parish church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
In the eastern part of the city, at the beginning of the beach, there is a huge defensive structure called the Fort of Sant Julian da Barra. The fort was built in the 16th century and was used to protect the entrance to the Tagus River from enemy ships, at the mouth of which Carcavelos is located. Fort São Julian da Barra is considered one of the largest structures in existence in Portugal, whose function is coastal defense.
In the 18th-19th centuries, the fort, a rather gloomy structure, housed a political prison. Today the fort is the official summer residence of the Portuguese Ministry of Defense.
