Nazaré
Our Rick Steves Tour made a stop at Nazaré, a charming Atlantic coastal town in Portugal. We took a moment to pay tribute to the local fishermen and women who dried their catches in the sun, adding to the "salty-fishing village atmosphere" that permeated the area. The sandy beach was adorned with sardines, mackerel, and octopus, all laid out in neat rows.
Bars A Deriva
Cervejaria Gale
Restaurant Aki-d'el-Mar Marisqueira
We then proceeded to climb up, in a funicular, to Sitio, the older part of town. From the edge of the bluff, we looked out over the beach and marveled at the laser-like foaming of the giant waves that crashed onto the shore, sweeping everything in their path. Nazaré is famous for having some of the highest wave walls in the world, attracting professional surfers from around the globe. The petticoat ladies are the keepers of the Nazaré fishing village, adding to its charm and character.
Nazaré's sister town, Sítio, is perched high on a bluff, and a funicular has connected the two since 1889, saving locals from a steep climb. Additionally, there are staircases going up and down for those who want some exercise.
The church of Our Lady of Nazaré in Sitio is home to the Black Madonna and features a 17th-century Delfts tiles altar like this one.