Casa Azoia, Ref.50161 - Lisbon Coast

Casa Azoia, Ref.50161 - Lisbon Coast

Charming cottage with private swimming pool, near Europe's westernmost point

The property
An old, peasant house converted by a diplomat as his vacation retreat. Situated in Azoia, a genuinely unspoilt farming village high up overlooking the Atlantic, well away from the tourist track. The road through the village leads to the Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point in mainland Europe. It is an area of castles, palaces, quaint old towns, high cliffs, sandy beaches and beautiful, hilly countryside.
The village of Azoia is located in the foothills of the Serra de Sintra about 1.5 Km from the Atlantic. There are a number of excellent restaurants, 2 bars, one in a converted windmill, the other in an old water mill. 2 simple general stores provide basic provisions but in Cascais, 20 minutes away, are modern super-market and other facilities where all requirements can be met. The village is connected by bus to Sintra and Cascais from where frequent and cheap train services run to Lisbon (30 minutes). Nearest beach is 5 Km, Lisbon airport 35 Km.

The cottage is secure and secluded. Carefully decorated, it consists of 1 double room, 1 twin room (cot available), living room with open fireplace, sofabed, seating for 6 persons, cable-TV, video and dining area (seating 8), 2 bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen (dish washer, freezer, fridge, hob, microwave, oven, washing machine). Outside, there is ample parking through iron gates leading into a large, mature and well-stocked garden with croquet lawn, small swimming pool and shaded summer pergola with barbeque.

Sleeps up to 6, self catering.
Bed linen and towels provided. No pool towels.
Children welcome, pets considered, unsuitable for elderly or infirm, wheelchair inaccessible.

Local activities: cycling, fishing, golf, horse riding, sailing, swimming, tennis, walking, water skiing, wind-surfing

Cascais
Cascais, traditionally a seaside fishing village, underwent significant development in the 14th century, when it was a busy port of call for ships on their way to Lisbon.
But it was in the late 19th century, when sea-bathing became popular, that Cascais was transformed into a very fashionable seaside resort. The chief architect of this transformation was King Dom Luis I of Portugal, who converted the fort into the summer Residence of the Portuguese monarchy. The example was followed by the nobility, who built mansions and fine villas, where they would spend the hottest part of the year, utterly changing the face of the former fishing village.
Cascais then became a cosmopolitan town, attracting visits by the curious, whose access was facilitated by the opening of the railway line between Pedroucos and Cascais in 1889.
Cascais nowadays is a lively, cosmopolitan place which retains a certain aristocratic atmosphere. It is worth a walk along its streets, with their excellent quality shops, or spending some time relaxing on one of its numerous belvederes.

The beaches continue to be one of the main attractions of Cascais, and one can choose between those in the bay, sheltered by the town, and the ones a bit further away in the Guincho area (now part of the Sintra-Cascais National Park), which are excellent for surfing and windsurfing.
A natural curiosity on the way out of Cascais is the Boca do Inferno (Hell's Mouth), a recess of the coast surrounded by craggy rocks and caves, providing a fantastic spectacle when the sea dashes against them on stormy days.

Another outstanding feature is the food, especially fresh fish and shellfish, which can be sampled in the many local restaurants.

Sintra
Essentially romantic in character this town was poetically described by Lord Byron as "this glorious Eden". It was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Original Sintra is not large to visit but it now encompasses two outlying areas named Estefania and Sao Pedro. As the older part sits on a granite slope it is best seen on foot or by a horse-drawn carriage. Abounding in history the town is dominated by the two conical chimneys of the Palacio Nacional da Vila that was the summer home of the royal family since the 15th Century. Scattered on the hillside are several historical creations openly showing the diverseness of each original owner’s taste in architecture. The most outstanding example is possibly the Palacio da Pena, a 19th Century recreation of different styles admired by Dom Fernando II, the husband of the young Portuguese Queen Maria II, often regarded as a failed attempt to create his own romantic revival. This castle stands high on the southeast side of the mountain range whilst overlooking the village are the ruined ramparts of the Castelo dos Mouros, a fort dating from the 8th Century. Within it is an ancient Moorish cistern and the panoramic view from its walls is impressive. There are several churches in the town and the most interesting is the 12th Century Igreja de Santa Maria rebuilt in 1755 after the earthquake. Several private palaces are open to the public amongst which are the Palacio de Seteais, a magnificent 18th Century home converted into a five star Hotel, Casa dos Ribafrias, a 16th Century building once belonging to the Marques de Pombal, Quinta de Pena Verde, another 16th Century palace. Another place of interest is the Convento dos Capuchos, an unusual hermitage with tiny dwarf cells cut from the rock. Within the old town there are two museums, Museu de Brinquedo showing only toys from the past and present, and the Museu Regional retelling the history of the area with items and relics an sometimes also holding art exhibitions.

Sintra Nearby Locations
Not to be missed is the Gardenpark of Monserrate for the vast and endless variety of exotic trees, subtropical plants and shrubs that were imported in the 19th Century to create this park. If you have time there is the charmingly restored old electric train from the town to the west to the not too distant beach resort of Praia da Macas and the craggily perched coastal village of Azenhas de Mar. Also to the west is the village of Colares that is famous for its white wine that is the only one in Portugal that enjoys a bottle life that exceeds the normal two or three years. To the north is the town of Mafra with its imposing Monastery. Another place of interest are the Roman ruins at Sao Miguel de Odrinas.