If Peniche hasn't reached your travel radar to date, you need to get that fixed. Occupying a rocky peninsula to the north of Lisbon, it is almost entirely enveloped by Atlantic waves. This gives visitors plenty of choice when it comes to sunny summer beaches, while the waves that roll in are said to form one of the best surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in Europe.
Exuding a more authentic feel than some of Portugal's other destinations, fishermen continue to moor their vessels in the harbour, while the city's fortress was used to incarcerate political prisons from its conception in the sixteenth-century right up until the 1970s. What's more, Peniche is also the main gateway to the Berlengas Islands 10 kilometres offshore. Its protected waters provide habitats for all manner of sea creatures, from game fish to minke whales and several dolphin species.
The largest church in Peniche, the Igreja de São Pedro (Church of Saint Peter) sits at the heart of the historic town centre. It dates back to the late 1500s, a similar period to the fortress home of the...
While its name might not give much away, the Museu Municipal de Peniche (or Peniche Municipal Museum) is as dramatic as they come. For one thing, the museum's galleries occupy the ancient chambers of Peniche Fortress, which has stood on the rocky...
Standing guard at the mouth of Peniche's harbour is the sixteenth century Fortaleza de Peniche (Peniche Fortress). Commissioned during the reign of King João III when this little port was of great strategic importance to Portugal and its empire...
This outdoor water park is located just off the main road into Peniche, close to many of the most popular beaches. Family-friendly, the site has a fun array of water-based facilities for those of all ages. Younger children are able to splash...
This pretty little chapel stands at the western end of the Peniche peninsula, near Cabo Cavoeiro, and is believed to date from the 1600s. However, it sits on land that has been considered holy since images of the Virgin Mary appeared in a cave...
Dating to origins in the thirteenth century, the Igreja de São Leonardo is the parish church to the region of Atouguia da Baleia in Peniche. It is the oldest place of Christian worship in Peniche. According to local legend, the church was...
Located around 10 km (6 miles) off the coast of Peniche is the rugged Berlengas Archipelago. This collection of 3 little islands, named Estelas, Farilhões and Berlenga, is virtually uninhabited, well, except for about a million seabirds! Now a...
Peniche is a coastal town an hour's drive north of Lisbon. Peniche was an island until the sixteenth century, when silt created a narrow isthmus. It has been a busy fishing port since ancient times and retains a...
