Hi all :)
This time we took advantage of the Easter weekend to get to know some more cities in our Portugal.
After passing through Peniche and Óbidos, on the way back we made a quick stop at São Martinho do Porto village, which is just a 20-minutes drive from Óbidos.
This charming little village is located on the west coast of Portugal, in the district of Leiria.
The first thing we noticed when we arrived there was the bay that takes on a shell shape, which is not immediately noticeable at ground level, but after a little research on this place and looking at some aerial photos, the shape is almost perfect, as if it had been designed.
Check this aerial picture from the bay taken from Google maps:
In its extension, the elliptical shape is about 1800 meters by 400 meters, embraced by a generous sandy area three kilometers long, with the opening that separates the calm waters of the Bay from the agitated waters of the Ocean, about 200 meters long.
Although it wasn't summer yet, the day was sunny so we could already see children playing in the water and adults resting on the beach.
Since the waters are calm, the place is ideal for practicing some water sports such as windsurfing, sailing, paddle or even canoeing.
In conversation with some locals, owners of one of the restaurants located in front of the Bay, next to the avenue, we learned one of those stories that usually do not appear in tourist guides, one summer, a seal entered the Bay and washed up on the coast, apparently she liked the place so much and he walked around there long enough for the inhabitants to affectionately name her Martinha, which led to several people visiting the village in order to be able to observe her.
We were also told by the same inhabitants that in the past, this bay was frequented by the nobility and bourgeoisie and that it became known as the "bidé das marquesas"(still trying to figure out how to translate this :P) but this information is easily found when looking for additional information about this place.
Along the waterfront there are several cafes and restaurants where you can taste typical dishes from the region and some conventional sweets such as pastel de nata, braids or sands. All are delicious, but for me there is nothing better than pastel de nata.
Unfortunately, we didn't have time to visit all the places we wanted to, as time was short.
One of the places that i wanted to visit but that was not possible due to time, were the ruins that we can see in the distance flanking the Bay and that according to the information obtained about them, despite being difficult to access, are one of the best places to visit and take the best pictures of the village, with the bay in great prominence.
As is already typical in this region, the village is full of narrow streets and traditional portuguese houses, with a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, an ideal place to relax and enjoy the Mediterranean climate.
Hope you like it, that´s all for today :)
Photo by
Camera - Canon EOS 600D
Lens - EFS 18-55mm
Location - Portugal
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Always remember:
Value your time, because every fraction counts, and the price of anything is the amount of life you trade for it.
May the memories of the travels be eternalized in the photographs, and may the photographs transport us back to the travels ;)