Situated in the central region of the country and with excellent accesses, in the late 19th century and early 20th century Figueira da Foz offered ideal conditions to become a high quality tourist centre.
The Bairro Novo, built on a grid, concentrated in the same area the Casino, hotels and restaurants, as well as shops.
Aristocratic and bourgeois society mainly from the Beira regions and Spain adopted the city as a summer destination and the first half of the 20th century was marked by an aura of glamour. Appearances were all important. People paid great attention to their toilette, even just for the beach, and at night everybody went to the Casino.
The 1960s brought many changes. High-rises began to be built, changing the town’s skyline and new attractions drew new visitors. The 1970s were marked by the launch of the Figueira da Foz Film Festival, an event that would bring Portuguese and foreign film buffs to the town every September for three decades.
Today, Figueira da Foz continues to receive many tourists, attracted by the sun and huge beach. Praia de Claridade breach still has traditional canvas beach huts, with multi-coloured stripes, as well as several wooden bars also built in a traditional style.
The huge esplanade welcomes locals and holiday-makers and offers excellent conditions for walking and cycling.
For those who prefer greenery, there are also several options. Parque das Abadias on the waterfront and Serra da Boa Viagem on the north coast offer excellent walks.
Whatever you choose, don’t forget to enjoy the sunset from the beach …