Cascais

Cascais, a historically fishing community that is located close to the sea, underwent significant development in the 14th century when it served as a key stopping off place for ships traveling to Lisbon, which made it a very busy port at the time.

But it wasn’t until the second half of the 19th century, when taking a dip in the ocean became a popular pastime, that Cascais received the boost it needed to become a highly upscale summer destination. The Fortaleza da Cidadela was transformed into the summer house of the Portuguese monarchy in 1870 by Dom Lus I, the Portuguese king, who was a major driving force behind this renovation. The nobility promptly followed the king’s lead and constructed magnificent palaces.