A tropical style- Tamariz beach, Estoril
Estoril is a civil parish of the Portuguese municipality of Cascais. The Estoril coast is close to Lisbon – the capital of Portugal. It starts in Carcavel, 15 kilometres from Lisbon and stretches as far as Guincho. The two main resort towns are Estoril and Cascais. The town has since lost much of its status, but maintains a certain faded grandeur and is still a fashionable cosmopolitan playground with Europe’s largest casino, tennis courts, some of Europe’s finest golf courses, an automobile race track that has held Formula One Grand Prix races, and an attractive sandy beach. Early in the 20th century the resort became the playground of the rich and famous who came here to relax and sunbathe; luxurious hotels accommodated illustrious visitors which included royalty and ex-royalty.
At the bottom of this elegant, tropical style park, Tamariz Beach is accessed by an underground pass. Here the fashionable take in the sun and one can walk westwards to Cascais along a very pleasant promenade which passes various small beaches, taking in a drink on the way. The picturesque beach of Tamariz has a number of bars and restaurants, and a castle overlooking it that is owned by the royal family of Monaco.
The beach and the casino still remain big attractions. Offering a broad stretch of fine sand, Estoril’s Tamariz beach is crowded in summer. The casino has been renovated internally and offers bars, a restaurant, a floor show, gaming machines and comfortable surroundings in which to win or lose a fortune at roulette, baccarat and the like. Behind it is the casino surrounded by attractive gardens with tall palm trees. Estoril also hosts a prestigious crafts fair with artisan works from all over the country, not to mention samples of typical Portuguese fare and folk dancing displays.
Leisure goes hand in hand with relaxing in Estoril. The Tennis Club boasts over 20 courts and is open until the sun sets and not far from the centre, the “Clube de Golfe de Estoril” was established in the 40s offering a 9-hole course as well as the full 18, and has held various championships. A few kilometres towards the town of Sintra, another superb course, Penha Longa, attracts many top golfers who enjoy the terrain as well as the magnificent views. Between the two lies the famous Estoril Autodrome where enthusiasts of motor racing can visit the track where Formula One races have been held.
