Small Cove With Blue Stripy Lighthouse

At the western end of Cascais Bay, just beyond the marina, a small headland holds one of the most photographed little corners of the town. A lighthouse painted in blue and white bands rises from a rocky point beside a compact cove, with a low fort at its foot and the open Atlantic beyond. The scene looks like a postcard, and it is a short walk from the centre of town, along a path beside the sea.

The lighthouse is the Farol de Santa Marta, which stands on the site of a small fort of the same name. The fort, one of several that defended the coast around Cascais in earlier centuries, guarded the entrance to the bay, and in the 19th century a lighthouse was added to help ships to find the mouth of the Tagus in the dark. The present tower, built in 1868, is not tall, but its position at the point and its bold stripes make it unmistakable, and its beam still serves ships. A small museum inside the old fortification tells the story of lighthouses on the Portuguese coast, showing the lamps, lenses and equipment that kept them running, as well as the lives of the keepers. It was the first museum of its kind in the country, and visitors can learn how the powerful lamps worked and how the coast was lit. Opening times vary, so check before you go.

The cove next to the lighthouse is a small, rocky inlet with a sheltered patch of sand and clear water, where locals swim in summer. There are rock pools at low tide, and the waves hitting the rocks add to the drama on windy days. Benches along the path offer places to sit and watch the boats go in and out of the marina, and the views back along the bay toward the old citadel and the rooftops of Cascais are fine. The lighthouse is especially photogenic in the light of late afternoon.

Close by, a handsome villa called the Casa de Santa Maria, designed by the architect Raul Lino at the start of the 20th century, stands on the cliff, and the seafront path continues west toward the Boca do Inferno, the chasm in the cliffs, and the Marechal Carmona Park. The Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum, with its turrets, is nearby, so the walk can easily include several sights.

Wear shoes with grip near the rocks, and keep clear of the edges in rough seas. The area is free to visit and open at any hour, though the museum has fixed times. It suits photographers, families and anyone who enjoys coastal walks.