Marechal Carmona Park

Parque Marechal Carmona is the main public park of Cascais, and it offers a green and shaded break from the sea front. It lies just inland from the old centre and the marina, near the cultural centre and the museum quarter, and it is named after Marshal Óscar Carmona, who was President of Portugal for a quarter of a century in the mid-20th century. For a resort town with famous beaches and fashionable villas, the park is where residents go for everyday walks, picnics, and play.

The layout is that of a traditional landscaped garden. Wide, tree-lined avenues run between lawns, ponds, flower beds, and groups of mature trees, many of them exotic species planted in the 19th and early 20th centuries when Cascais became a favourite summer retreat for the Portuguese royal family and aristocracy. The shade is welcome in summer, and benches line the paths. A sense of old elegance survives in the planting and the paths, reflecting the days when the park belonged to a private estate.

One of the park's attractions is its small zoo, which houses mostly birds, including ducks, geese, peacocks, and other ornamental species, and it is an easy, free attraction for young children. The ponds and lawns also attract birds, and the area is good for relaxed bird-watching. Families bring picnics, children chase pigeons, and older residents sit under the trees, so the atmosphere is very local.

Within the park stands the Palácio Condes de Castro Guimarães, a romantic early 20th-century mansion in a mix of styles beside the sea, which houses a museum and library and can be visited separately. Nearby are the Cidadela, the marina, and the town's cultural spaces, so the park is easy to combine with a stroll through the historic centre. Beyond the town to the west lie the cliffs of Boca do Inferno and the long beaches toward Guincho.

The park is easy to reach on foot from the centre and the train station, and it is open to everyone. It suits families with small children, people who want a quiet pause in the day, and anyone interested in the garden history of Cascais. Bring something to eat and drink and spend an hour in the shade.