The Portuguese Riviera ( Portuguese: '' Riviera Portuguesa'') is a term used for the affluent coastal region to the west of

Lisbon Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

, centered on the coastal municipalities of

Cascais Cascais () is a town and municipality in the Lisbon District of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera, Estoril Coast. The municipality has a total of 214,158 inhabitants in an area of 97.40 km2. Cascais is an important tourism in Port ...

(including

Estoril Estoril () is a town in the civil parish of Cascais e Estoril of the Portuguese Municipality of Cascais, on the Portuguese Riviera. It is a popular tourist destination, with hotels, beaches, and the Casino Estoril. It has been home to numero ...

), Oeiras and

Sintra Sintra (, ), officially the Town of Sintra (), is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2021 was 385,654, in an area of . Sintra is one of the ...

. It is coterminous with the Estoril Coast (''Costa do Estoril'') and occasionally known as the Costa do Sol (''Sun Coast''). The region is internationally known as a luxury destination for its history as a home of the wealthy, the famous, and European royalty. Cascais, Oeiras and Sintra municipalities are consistently rank among the richest municipalities in Portugal. Cascais's history as a luxury destination originates in the 1870s, when King

Luís I of Portugal Dom (title), ''Dom'' Luís I (; 31 October 1838 – 19 October 1889), known as "the Popular" (Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''o Popular'') was King of Portugal from 1861 to 1889. Luís was a member of the ruling House of Braganza. The second ...

and the

Portuguese royal family The Most Serene House of Braganza (), also known as the Brigantine dynasty (''dinastia Brigantina''), is a dynasty of emperors, kings, princes, and dukes of Portuguese people, Portuguese origin which reigned in Europe and the Americas. The hous ...

made the seaside town their summer residence, thus attracting other members of Portugal's aristocracy, who established a summer community there. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and the Post-War period, the area's royal affiliations intensified, as many heads of European royal houses and deposed monarchs, including King

Edward VIII of the United Kingdom Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire, and Emperor of India, from 20 January ...

, King

Juan Carlos I of Spain Juan Carlos I (; Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, born 5 January 1938) is a member of the Spanish royal family who reigned as King of Spain from 22 November 1975 until Abdication of Juan Carlos I, his abdic ...

, and King

Umberto II of Italy Umberto II (; 15 September 190418 March 1983) was the last King of Italy. Umberto's reign lasted for 34 days, from 9 May 1946 until his formal deposition on 12 June 1946, although he had been the ''de facto'' head of state since 1944. Due to hi ...

made their home in Cascais and Estoril, finding refuge in Portugal's neutrality in the war or from tense political situations in their own countries. Due to its concentration of high-profile personalities, the riviera became a center of

espionage Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering, as a subfield of the intelligence field, is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information ( intelligence). A person who commits espionage on a mission-specific contract is called an ...

during WWII, inspiring author

Ian Fleming Ian Lancaster Fleming (28 May 1908 – 12 August 1964) was a British writer, best known for his postwar ''James Bond'' series of spy novels. Fleming came from a wealthy family connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co., and his ...

in his creation of the ''

James Bond The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...

'' series. Sintra had been a royal retreat since the

Portuguese Renaissance The Portuguese Renaissance was the cultural and artistic movement in Portugal during the 15th and 16th centuries. Though the movement coincided with the Spanish Renaissance, Spanish and Italian Renaissance, Italian Renaissances, the Portuguese Ren ...

in the 15th century, but it was in the 19th century, when King Fernando II of Portugal decided to build his summer retreat,

Pena Palace The Pena Palace () is a Romanticism, Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the List of municipalities of Portugal, municipality of Sintra Municipality, Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera. The castle stands on the top of a hill in th ...

, in the

Sintra Mountains The Sintra Mountains (), is a mountain range in western Portugal. Its highest point is at 529 meters (1,736 ft) near Sintra. The range covers about 16 kilometers (10 mi) from the resort town of Sintra to ''(Cape Roca)'' on the Atlant ...

overlooking the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...

, that it became both the center of the Romanticist movement in Portugal and the summer residence of the

Portuguese nobility Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

. Famous for its grand estates and palaces, Sintra's belle epoch resulted in its numerous villas, gardens, estates, and palaces that characterize the area, which gained Sintra a

UNESCO World Heritage World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between sovereign states and/or international organizations that is governed by int ...

designation. Today Sintra is one of Portugal's most expensive and exclusive real estate markets and similarly known for its high standards of living, consistently ranking as one of the best places to live in Portugal.

History

Origins

During the third quarter of the 18th century and practically all of the 19th century, foreign travellers and Portuguese aristocrats, inspired by the Romanticist movement, rediscovered

, a royal retreat during the

, prizing its exotic landscapes and climate. In the summer of 1787, William Beckford stayed with the Marquis of Marialva,

master of the horse Master of the Horse is an official position in several European nations. It was more common when most countries in Europe were monarchies, and is of varying prominence today. (ancient Rome) The original Master of the Horse () in the Roman Rep ...

for the kingdom, at his residence of Seteais Palace. At the beginning of the 19th century Princess Carlota Joaquina, wife of the Regent

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

, bought the estate and Ramalhão Palace. Between 1791 and 1793, Gerard Devisme constructed a Neo-Gothic mansion on his extensive estate in the Quinta de Monserrate (later known as the Monserrate Palace). Beckford, who remained in Sintra, rented the property from Devisme in 1794. The landscape, covered in fog, also attracted another Englishman, Francis Cook, who occupied the estate, constructing an oriental pavilion. The Palace of Pena, Sintra's exemplary Portuguese Romantic symbol, was initiated by the King-Consort

Ferdinand II of Portugal ''Dom (title), Dom'' Ferdinand II (; 29 October 1816 – 15 December 1885), also known as Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and as "the King-artist" (), was King of Portugal from 16 September 1837 to 15 November 1853 as the husband and co-ruler ...

, husband of Queen

Maria II of Portugal Dona Maria II (Maria da Glória Joana Carlota Leopoldina da Cruz Francisca Xavier de Paula Isidora Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga de Habsburgo-Lorena e Bragança; 4 April 1819 – 15 November 1853) also known as "the Educator" () or as ...

19th century

In 1854, the first contract was signed to construct a rail link between Sintra and Lisbon. A decree signed on 26 June 1855 regulated the contract between the government and Count Claranges Lucotte but was later rescinded in 1861. The connection was finally inaugurated on 2 April 1887. The Portuguese Riviera originated when King

ordered a royal residence to be constructed in Cascais Citadel, starting the tradition of Cascais being the

's Summer residence, which lasted from 1870 to 1908, transforming the seaside village into a cosmopolitan address. Thanks to King Luís I, the citadel was equipped with the country's first electric lights in 1878. Cascais also benefited from the construction of better roads to Lisbon and Sintra, a casino, a bullfight ring, a sports club, and improvements to basic infrastructure for the population. Many noble families built impressive mansions still to be seen in the town centre and environs. The first railway arrived in 1889. Publicidade Estoril antiga

In 1896, King

Carlos I of Portugal Dom (title), ''Dom'' Carlos I (; 28 September 1863 – 1 February 1908), known as "the Diplomat" (), "the Oceanographer" () among many other names, was List of Portuguese monarchs, King of Portugal from 1889 until his Lisbon Regicide, assassin ...

, a lover of all maritime activities, installed in Cascais Citadel the first oceanographic laboratory in Portugal. The King himself led a total of 12 scientific expeditions to the coast; these ended in 1908 with his assassination in Lisbon. From the second half of the 19th century into the first decades of the 20th century, Sintra also became a privileged place for artists: musicians such as José Vianna da Motta; composers such as Alfredo Keil, painters like João Cristino da Silva (author of one of the most celebrated canvases of Portuguese Romantic art, ''"Cinco Artistas em Sintra"''), writers such as Eça de Queirós or Ramalho Ortigão, all these people lived, worked or got inspiration from Sintra's landscapes. By the beginning of the 20th century, Sintra was recognized as a summer resort visited by aristocrats and millionaires. Among these, Carvalho Monteiro, owner of a considerable fortune (known as ''"Monteiro dos Milhões"'') constructed near the main town on an estate he bought from the Baroness of Regaleira, the Quinta da Regaleira, regarded as a prime example of

Neo-Manueline Neo-Manueline is a revival style of architecture which drew from the 16th century Manueline Late Gothic architecture of Portugal. Neo-Manueline constructions have been built across Portugal, Brazil, and the Lusophone, Lusophone world (the former P ...

architecture.

World War II

During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the region was the centre of spies and diplomatic secrecy, situations that provided the region with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and sophistication. Owing to the vision of Fausto Cardoso de Figueiredo and his business partner Augusto Carreira de Sousa, it became an international tourist destination both during and after the Second World War. In July 1940, Edward, Duke of Windsor (former Edward VIII of the United Kingdom) and his wife,

Wallis Simpson Wallis, Duchess of Windsor (born Bessie Wallis Warfield, later Spencer and then Simpson; June 19, 1896 – April 24, 1986) was an American socialite and the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (former King Edward VIII). Their intentio ...

, fled from

Occupied France The Military Administration in France (; ) was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II to administer the occupied zone in areas of northern and western France. This so-called ' was established in June 19 ...

, where they lived for a few weeks in the home of Ricardo de Espírito Santo, a Portuguese banker with both British and German contacts. During that time, several dignitaries and

exile Exile or banishment is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons ...

s came to Estoril:

Miklós Horthy Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya (18 June 1868 – 9 February 1957) was a Hungarian admiral and statesman who was the Regent of Hungary, regent of the Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946), Kingdom of Hungary Hungary between the World Wars, during the ...

, the regent of the

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...

(lived and died in exile after the Second World War); the

Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona (Juan Carlos Teresa Silverio Alfonso de Borbón y Battenberg; 20 June 1913 – 1 April 1993), was a claimant to the Spanish throne as Juan III. He was the third son and designated heir of King Alfonso XIII o ...

(father of

) and the King resided in the territory, as did

and

Carol II of Romania Carol II (4 April 1953) was King of Romania from 8 June 1930, until his forced abdication on 6 September 1940. As the eldest son of King Ferdinand I, he became crown prince upon the death of his grand-uncle, King Carol I, in 1914. He was the f ...

. It was also in this location that former Portuguese dictator

António de Oliveira Salazar António de Oliveira Salazar (28 April 1889 – 27 July 1970) was a Portuguese statesman, academic, and economist who served as Portugal's President of the Council of Ministers of Portugal, President of the Council of Ministers from 1932 to 1 ...

had a summer house. It was Salazar who ordered the construction of the E.N.6 motorway, more commonly referred to as the ''Avenida Marginal'', in order for him to quickly travel by car between Cascais and Lisbon. Until then the accessway was nothing more than a dirt road. The roadway permitted the dictator to travel rapidly, and with fewer stops, and it was not possible for him to be recognized easily in transit. Complementing the jet-set community that prospered in the region,

Casino Estoril The Estoril Casino () is a casino in the Portuguese Riviera, in the municipality of Cascais, Portugal. Today, it is one of the biggest working casinos in Europe. History The first stone was laid on 16 January 1916 by then-President Dr. Bernar ...

, Europe's largest

casino A casino is a facility for gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, conce ...

, was founded in 1958.

Today

Today the towns of the Portuguese Riviera continue to host the Portuguese elite and be a vacation destination for international tourists. The Riviera plays an important part in tourism in Portugal. A large expatriate community continues to exist, primarily in Cascais and Sintra, leading to the majority of Lisbon's international schools being located within the area (with Carlucci American International School and TASIS Portugal in Sintra, St Julian's School and St Dominic's School in Cascais, and Oeiras International School). Luxury gated communities have greatly developed in the region in the late 20th and early 21st century, including Quinta da Marinha (Cascais), Quinta Patino (

), Quinta da Beloura and Quinta da Penha Longa (both in Linhó, Sintra). Since the middle of the 20th century, the region has come to play host to numerous international sports and entertainment festivals, such as the Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival (in Estoril), the 4 Hours of Estoril endurance race (in Cascais), and NOS Alive music festival (in Algés). The

Cascais Marina The Cascais Marina, in Cascais, Portugal, is the largest marina on the Portuguese Riviera and the third largest marina in the country. Located on the Bay of Cascais along the shore of the Citadel of Cascais, the marina plays host to numerous hig ...

has hosted many important events, including the America's Cup World Series.

Geography

Climate

The region has a

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...

, influenced by the

and characterized by moderate temperatures and wet winters. The climate in the area of Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, is primarily

semi-arid A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a aridity, dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below Evapotranspiration#Potential evapotranspiration, potential evapotranspiration, but not as l ...

. The

are considered moderately humid, but precipitation in the mountains is higher than in the surrounding areas. The position of Sintra in the natural landscape of the Sintra Mountains is influenced by the existence of a micro-climate. Due to its micro-climate, the area has developed a dense foliage with a rich botanical diversity. The coast along

Praia do Guincho Praia do Guincho (English language, English: Guincho Beach) is an Atlantic beach located on Portugal's Estoril coast, 5 km from the town of Cascais, and is located in the municipality of Cascais, more precisely in the parishes of Cascais e Es ...

, located within the bounds of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, is known for its particularly strong winds and powerful waves, making it a popular destination for

surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suita ...

kitesurfing Kiteboarding or kitesurfing is a sport that involves using wind power with a large power kite to pull a rider across a water, land, snow, sand, or other surface. It combines the aspects of paragliding, surfing, windsurfing, skateboarding, snow ...

and

windsurfing Windsurfing is a wind-propelled water sport that is a combination of sailing and surfing. It is also referred to as "sailboarding" and "boardsailing", and emerged in the late 1960s from the Californian aerospace and surf culture. Windsurfing gain ...

Parks

File:Sintra - Palacio da Pena (20334379279) (cropped).jpg, Parque da Pena File:WestCoast Portugal.jpg, Cabo da Roca File:Monserate 2180128 1 (244152369).jpeg, Parque de Monserrate File:Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira 05.jpg, Jardim da Regaleira File:Portugal-1209457 960 720.jpg, Praia da Ursa File:Sintra, Parque da Pena 04.jpg, Parque da Pena File:Lagoa no Parque Marechal Carmona, Cascais. 05-19.jpg, Parque Marechal Carmona File:Cabo Raso e Cabo da Roca (140814921) (cropped).jpg,

File:Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais CM02.jpg, Sintra-Cascais Natural Park File:"Túmulo do Inglês" - Praia de Paço de Arcos - Portugal (1473460028).jpg, Praia de Paço de Arcos

Places

Places following the broadest definition of the Portuguese Riviera: *

** Carcavelos ** Parede ** Alcabideche *

** Linhó ** Queluz ** São Pedro de Penaferrim ** Colares ** Belas * Oeiras ** Paço de Arcos ** São Julião da Barra ** Caxias

Culture

The Portuguese Riviera is famed as a bastion of culture in Portugal, as the home to numerous prestigious institutions, art galleries, museums, and a cultural agenda including various international

music festival A music festival is a festival, community event with music, performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock music, rock, blues, folk music, folk, jazz, classical music), nation ...

film festival A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theater, cinemas or screening venues, usually annually and in a single city or region. Some film festivals show films outdoors or online. Films may be of recent ...

s, concerts, international summit meetings, and cultural festivals, among others. The riviera is home to numerous Michelin star restaurants and known as a culinary destination for

Portuguese cuisine Portuguese cuisine () consists of the traditions and practices of cooking in Portugal. The oldest known book on Portuguese cuisine, entitled ''Livro de Cozinha da Infanta D. Maria de Portugal'', from the 16th century, describes many popular dish ...

and international cuisine alike. Summer architecture, a Portuguese architectural movement of the 19th and early 20th century, originated in the Riviera, following the Portuguese Royal Family's arrival in the region in 1870. The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, one of the "Big Four" most prestigious classical riding academies in the world, is based at Queluz National Palace in

Museums and galleries

The Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, a museum and art gallery designed by Souto de Moura, houses the largest collection of works by famed artist

Paula Rego Dame Maria Paula Figueiroa Rego (: 26 January 1935 – 8 June 2022) was a Portuguese visual artist, widely considered the pre-eminent woman artist of the late 20th and early 21st century, known particularly for her paintings and prints based o ...

. The Museum of Portuguese Music, in

, is dedicated to the study and history of the music of Portugal. The Palace of the Counts of Castro Guimarães, in

, Monserrate Palace, a Romanticist villa in

, and Quinta da Regaleira, 19th-century

palace, are all estates that are open to the public, serving to show the

historically lived on the Riviera, with notable differences in the architecture and lifestyles between Cascais aristocrats and Sintra nobles. The NewsMuseum in

is one of the first museums in

dedicated to the study of the news and media. The Sintra Natural History Museum is an internationally recognized museum of

natural history Natural history is a domain of inquiry involving organisms, including animals, fungi, and plants, in their natural environment, leaning more towards observational than experimental methods of study. A person who studies natural history is cal ...

in the historic center of

. File:Palais_royal_de_Queluz_-_Fontaine.jpg, Queluz National Palace File:Queluz_Palace_horses_approach_(9180978620).jpg, Portuguese School of Equestrian Art at Queluz File:EstorilMusicMuseum2 (cropped).jpg, Museum of Portuguese Music File:Casa Das Histórias. (6086769476) (cropped).jpg, Casa das Histórias Paula Rego File:Palacio Nacional, Sintra, Portugal, 2019-05-25, DD 89.jpg, Sintra National Palace File:Quinta da Regaleira (34942395382) (cropped).jpg, Quinta da Regaleira File:Quinta Real de Caxias (Oeiras) 5 (cropped).jpg, Royal Quinta of Caxias File:Pena National Palace - Sintra - Palácio Nacional da Pena (15842491914) (cropped).jpg, Pena National Palace File:Hotel Museu do Farol de Santa Marta IMG 7103 (2497377933) (cropped).jpg, Casa de Santa Maria File:Cascais, the town hall (cropped).JPG, Cascais Town Museum File:Palácio Marquês de Pombal - Oeiras - Portugal (37512977350) (cropped).jpg, Palace of the

Marquês de Pombal A marquess (; ) is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German-language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman with the rank of a marquess or the wife (or widow) ...

in Oeiras File:Exiles Memorial Center in Estoril, Portugal 20200112 03.jpg, Exiles Memorial Center File:Cascata do Palacio do Marques.jpg, Gardens at the Palace of the

File:Cascais - Portugal 003 (cropped).jpg, King Luís I Foundation & Cultural Center File:Museu de História Natural de Sintra Exposição (cropped).jpg, Sintra Natural History Museum File:Aqu rio Vasco da Gama (Portugal) (80884059) (cropped).jpg, Aquário Vasco da Gama File:NewsMuseum.JPG, NewsMuseum

Events and festivals

Summits

Bilderberg Meeting The Bilderberg Meeting (also known as the "Bilderberg Group", "Bilderberg Conference" or "Bilderberg Club") is an annual off-the-record forum established in 1954 to foster dialogue between Europe and North America. The group's agenda, originally ...

(1999) *

Horasis Global Meeting Horasis is an independent, international think tank, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Founded in 2005, by Frank-Jürgen Richter, former director of the World Economic Forum, Horasis is committed to fostering innovation and promoting the sus ...

(since 2017)

Music

* Cascais Jazz Festival * NOS Alive (since 2007) * Super Bock Super Rock (since 1994) *Festas do Mar (since 1965) *Estoril Jazz Festival (''Festival de Jazz do Estoril''; since 1971) *Estoril Festival (''Festival do Estoril''; since 1975) *Musa Cascais Festival (since 1999) *EDP Cool Jazz (since 2013)

Film

* Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival (since 2007)

Sporting

America's Cup The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy (known ...

(2011) * Estoril Tennis Open (since 2015) * Estoril Golf Open (only 1999) * Estoril Challenge de Portugal (1997–2007) *

Ironman 70.3 An Ironman 70.3, also known as a Half Ironman, is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). The "70.3" refers to the total distance in miles (113.0 km) covered in the race, consisting ...

(since 2017) *

Portuguese Open The Open de Portugal, previously the Portuguese Open, is an annual professional golf tournament, currently played on the Challenge Tour. History It was first played in 1953, and was part of the European Tour's schedule from 1973 to 2010. After a ...

(1953–2010) * Star World Championships (1948, 1952, 1954, 1962, 2007) * 4 Hours of Estoril (since 1997) * Portuguese Grand Prix (since 1951) * Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix (since 1987)

Notable residents

Madonna at the premiere of I Am Because We Are

Royalty and nobility

* King Juan Carlos I of Spain () * King Umberto II of Italy (

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

) * King Carol II of Romania () * Queen Marie-José of Belgium () * Princess Isabel of Orléans-Braganza (

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

) * Henri (VI) d'Orléans, Count of Paris (

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

) * Henri (VII) d'Orléans, Count of Paris (

) * Princess Diane, Duchess of Württemberg (

) * Princess Anne, Duchess of Calabria (

) * Princess Claude of Orléans (

) * Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria (

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

) * Archduke Joseph Árpád of Austria (

) * Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza (

) * Isabel, Duchess of Braganza (

) * Afonso, Prince of Beira (

) *

() *

Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz and Viscountess of La Torre (Spanish language, Spanish: ''María del Pilar Alfonsa Juana Victoria Luisa Ignacia y Todos los Santos de Borbón y Borbón''; 30 July 1936 – 8 January 2020), sometimes kn ...

() * Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria () * Infante Alfonso of Spain () *

Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Naples (Vittorio Emanuele Alberto Carlo Teodoro Umberto Bonifacio Amedeo Damiano Bernardino Gennaro Maria di Savoia;''Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser'' XIV. "Haus Italien". C.A. ...

(

) *

Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy (born 2 February 1943) is the youngest daughter of Italy's last King, Umberto II, and his wife, Queen Marie-José. Life Born Principessa Maria Beatrice Elena Margherita Ludovica Caterina Romana di Savoia, she ...

(

) *

Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Parma Maria Pia Elena Elisabetta Margherita Milena Mafalda Ludovica Tecla Gennara di Savoia (born 24 September 1934), known as Princess Maria Pia of Savoy, is the eldest daughter of Umberto II of Italy and Marie-José of Belgium. She is the older sist ...

(

) *

Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy (Maria Gabriella Giuseppa Aldegonda Adelaide Ludovica Felicita Gennara; born 24 February 1940) is the middle daughter of Italy's last king, Umberto II of Italy, Umberto II, and Marie-José of Belgium, the "May Q ...

(

) * Queen Giovanna of Bulgaria (

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

) * Princess Anna of Saxony (

Saxony Saxony, officially the Free State of Saxony, is a landlocked state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Bavaria, as well as the countries of Poland and the Czech Republic. Its capital is Dresden, and ...

) * Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

) * Princess Magda of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

) *

Regent of Hungary The regent of Hungary was a position established in 1446 and renewed in 1920. It was held by Admiral Miklós Horthy until 1944. Under Hungary's constitution there were two regents, one a regent of the ruling house, called the Nádor, and another ...

(

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

)

Celebrities

* Ana Free, Portuguese singer *

Annabelle Wallis Annabelle Frances Wallis (born 5 September 1984) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Jane Seymour in Showtime (TV network), Showtime's period drama ''The Tudors'' (2009–2010), Grace Burgess in the BBC drama ''Peaky Blinders (T ...

, English actress * Aure Atika, French actress and director * Chabeli Iglesias, Spanish socialite * Daniela Ruah, Portuguese actress * Jack Glatzer, American violinist * Kristoffer Rygg, Norwegian producer * Luana Piovani, Brazilian supermodel *

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...

, American pop star * Mariana van Zeller, Portuguese journalist * Mia Rose, Portuguese singer * Nadir Afonso, Portuguese architect *

, Portuguese artist * Philippe Starck, French designer * Rita Pereira, Portuguese actress

Athletes

Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (; born 5 February 1985) is a Portuguese professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward for and Captain (association football), captains both Saudi Pr ...

, Portuguese footballer *

Magali de Lattre Magali de Lattre (born 14 June 1987) is a former tennis player from Portugal. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 334 on 20 June 2011, and peaked at No. 523 in the doubles rankings on 28 July 2008. Career De Lattre represente ...

, Swiss tennis player * Eric Dier, English footballer * Iker Casillas, Spanish footballer * Afonso Taira, Portuguese footballer * Kasper Schmeichel, Danish footballer *

António Félix da Costa António Maria de Mello Breyner Félix da Costa (born 31 August 1991) is a Portugal, Portuguese professional racing driver for the Porsche Formula E Team, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team and the 2019–20 Formula E Championship, 2019–20 Formul ...

, Portuguese racecar driver * Luka Zahović, Slovenian footballer * Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer * Duarte Tammilehto, Finnish footballer * Nuno Gomes, Portuguese footballer

Politicians

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa Marcelo Nuno Duarte Rebelo de Sousa (; born 12 December 1948) is a Portuguese politician and academic who is the president of Portugal since 2016. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party, though he suspended his party membership for the ...

, current

President of Portugal The president of Portugal, officially the president of the Portuguese Republic (, ), is the head of state and highest office of Portugal. The powers, functions and duties of prior presidential offices, and their relation with the prime minister ...

* Francisco Pinto Balsemão, former Portuguese prime minister *

Fulgencio Batista Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar (born Rubén Zaldívar; January 16, 1901 – August 6, 1973) was a Cuban military officer and politician who played a dominant role in Cuban politics from his initial rise to power as part of the 1933 Revolt of t ...

, former

President of Cuba The president of Cuba (), officially the president of the Republic of Cuba (), is the head of state of Cuba. The office in its current form was established under the Constitution of 2019. The President is the second-highest office in Cuba and ...

Historical figures

Lord Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824) was an English poet. He is one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, and is regarded as being among the greatest poets of the United Kingdom. Among his best-kno ...

, British Romanticist poet * Tennessee Claflin, first American woman to run a

Wall Street Wall Street is a street in the Financial District, Manhattan, Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs eight city blocks between Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway in the west and South Street (Manhattan), South Str ...

firm *

Christopher Isherwood Christopher William Bradshaw Isherwood (26 August 1904 – 4 January 1986) was an Anglo-American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, autobiographer, and diarist. His best-known works include '' Goodbye to Berlin'' (1939), a semi-autobiographical ...

, British-American novelist * Glauber Rocha, Brazilian ''

Cinema Novo Cinema Novo (; 'New Cinema'), is a genre and movement of film noted for its emphasis on social equality and intellectualism that rose to prominence in Brazil during the 1960s and 1970s.Dixon & Foster, 293. Cinema Novo formed in response to class ...

'' film director * Adrian Conan Doyle, British heir and playboy * Roy Campbell, South African poet *

Gloria Swanson Gloria Mae Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress. She first achieved fame acting in dozens of silent films in the 1920s and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, most famously for h ...

, American

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

actress *

Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna da Silva (; 21 March 1960 – 1 May 1994) was a Brazilian racing driver, who competed in Formula One from to . Senna won three Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles with McLaren, and—at the time of his death—held ...

, Brazilian racecar driver

Gallery

File:Cascais - Cidadela - Mar 2010.jpg, Statue of King

in front of

Citadel File:2016-10-18 Cascais 6043 (22779921718).jpg, Seixas Palace File:GuimaraesPalace.jpg, Palace of the Counts of Castro Guimarães, in

File:Casa das Historias Souto Moura 4.jpg, ''Casa das Histórias

'', designed by Eduardo Souto de Moura File:Passeio Dona Maria Pia, 2750-642 Cascais, Portugal - panoramio.jpg,

Sol Residence File:Queluz Palace Robillon Pavilion.JPG, Robillon Pavilion of Queluz National Palace File:Cascais (Portugal) (9767404196) (cropped).jpg, Casa D. António de Lencastre File:Praia do Tamariz - Estoril.jpg, Tamariz Beach in

File:Neptune%27s_glory_(29838154532).jpg, Queluz National Palace in

File:Sintra_Town_Hall.jpg,

City Hall File:Quinta da Regaleira (34340647203).jpg, Quinta da Regaleira in the

File:Lovely atlantic beach - panoramio (cropped).jpg,

File:33068-Estoril_(36166226910).jpg, Hotel Palácio in

File:Cascais Costa do Esteril 63 (36171292293).jpg, Cliffs along the coast of

File:Quinta real Caxias-2.jpg, Gardens of the Royal Quinta in Caxias File:Avenida_D._Carlos_I_(cropped).jpg, King Carlos I Avenue in

File:Cascais - Portugal 011.jpg,

References

Bibliography

* Bloch, Michael (1982). ''The Duke of Windsor's War''. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. . {{coord missing, Portugal Riviera Riviera Riviera Riviera Coasts of Portugal Landforms of Portugal