CACILHAS: PERHAPS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RIVER AFTER ALL
Source: http://www.portugaldailyview.com/
Viewed from the north bank and the city of Lisbon, the other side of the Tagus River (its left bank) is often regarded as unknown territory. Cacilhas, the small location where the ferryboats dock directly across from Lisbon, features some of the best restaurants specialised in fresh fish and seafood in the region. It is also a great place to sit in one of its several pavement cafés along the promenade while enjoying one of the best views of Lisbon, lying across the river.
If you are in your Lisbon hotel at this very moment and you are fortunate (or wealthy) enough to have a room with a view of the Tagus, you may wonder what it’s like over there on the other bank. Well, you are right in being curious: the south bank is very different to what you’ve seen during your holiday in Lisbon.
To satisfy your curiosity, catch the Metro and head to Cais do Sodré (on the green line) and then walk across to the Ferry Terminal in Cais do Sodré. People from Lisbon view the small ferries that connect both banks as nothing more than a mode of public transport, as common as a bus (like a floating bus, that is).
These white and orange boats, called cacilheiros – because they connect Lisbon to Cacilhas, on the other bank – recall the olden days, when the only way to get across the river was by boat, before the construction of our very own Golden Gate, the 25th April Bridge. A one-way ticket on the Transtejo cacilheiros, costs €1.05.
While planning your trip to Cacilhas, try making it by ferry. Even if you do have a car – the crossing on the toll bridge will cost you €2.70 – the ferry is the best way to enjoy great views of Lisbon while being right out there in the elements.
Cacilhas is a picturesque, small district of the larger city of Almada. As the ferry approaches its final destination, you can take in the ambience of the place. On one side stand the massive cranes and structures of the historic Lisnave shipyard, once the backbone of the south bank economy. The old site has now been closed down, but its once very active trade unions connected to left-wing political parties and full of revolutionary zeal helped shape the local society and held sway in the political spectrum in the aftermath of the 1974 revolution.
Cacilhas has some sites worth visiting: the Church of Our Lady of Bom Sucesso, near the passenger ferry terminal, sets the tone, with its blue walls and naïf architecture: this is a typical Portuguese coastal village despite being located right in front of Lisbon.
Once in Cacilhas, if you’re a lover of all things that come out of the sea, you will probably already have a list with all the restaurants you want to visit. O Farol (Largo Alfredo Dinis, nº1) is one of the most well-known. A typical Portuguese marisqueira (seafood restaurant), O Farol – named after the small red lighthouse which once lit the way for cacilheiros – offers all sorts of fresh fish and seafood, catering to all tastes. A Cacilheira (Largo Alfredo Dinis, 20) and Solar Beirão (Rua Cândido dos Reis, 17), are popular places as well, especially for those who want to try one of the many cataplanas – seafood and fish dishes named after the copper vessel which is used to cook them in. These restaurants have a huge array of dishes on offer, which will go well with a refreshing pint any time of the day.
A short walk along the old riverside promenade will take you to Cais do Ginjal, a small deactivated quay bordering the hill close to Cristo-Rei, the twin statue of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer. Don’t be put off by the graffiti-covered walls and derelict warehouses and try focussing on the peaceful fishermen who frequently settle along the bank to try their luck in the high tide. At the very end of the promenade, Atira-te ao Rio (Cais do Ginjal, 69, meaning ‘throw yourself into the river’) is one of the restaurants with the most beautiful views of Lisbon, stretching from Belém in the west all the way to Parque das Nações in the east. This Brazilian-run restaurant, has a variety of choices on its menu from freshly caught fish to traditional Portuguese fare. Enjoy your meal while listening to the sound of the small waves lapping against the small sandbank in front of the restaurant.
If you can’t resist a spot of history and culture, try visiting Quinta do Almaraz, one of the most important Phoenician archaeological sites in Portugal, or just go to Casa da Cerca (in Rua da Cerca), a small contemporary art museum with a lovely botanic garden.
At the end of the day, catch the ferry back to Lisbon – you might start feeling that the left bank is actually the right side of the river after all.
Related Blogs
-
-
Dec 11, 2018Serra da Estrela
Source: A great family destination is Serra da Estrela, located in center Portugal. This one is a popular destination during..
-
Dec 10, 2018Évora: The Unexpected Beauty…
Source: When I added Évora to my Iberian itinerary, I didn’t have many expectations. I heard it was a lovely..
-
Dec 9, 2018Amazing places: Why you…
Source: Image source: Europe most visited places like Italy, France and Spain overshadow a very interesting country, and maybe, because..
-
Dec 8, 2018Visit Athens
Source: Image source: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in..
-
-
Dec 6, 2018Plenty to Braga about…
Source: It's a sleepy, ancient city, but also brimming with a modern, youthful energy. Check out Braga, the loveliest..
-
Dec 5, 2018St Paul’s Bay in…
Source: https://santorinidave.com/best-beaches-greece A great little swimming spot near the castle at Lindos. The east coast of Rhodes is loaded with..
-
Dec 4, 2018
Visit Athens
Source: Image source: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in..
-
-
Dec 2, 2018Feira da Ladra Lisbon’s…
Source: Feira da Ladra - Lisbon´s Flea Market Lisbon's flea market is called locally the Feira da Ladra, often thought..
-
Dec 1, 2018
Visit Athens
Source: Image source: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in..
-
-
Dec 11, 2017
Feira da Ladra Lisbon’s…
Source: Feira da Ladra - Lisbon´s Flea Market Lisbon's flea market is called locally the Feira da Ladra, often thought..
-
-
-
Dec 8, 2017Peneda-Gerês National Park
Source: The Peneda-Gerês National Park, also known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal (although many natural..
-
Dec 7, 2017The Art Foundation (TAF…
Source: Such a really nice place in the centre of Athens, close to Monastiraki square! Trees inside of the place..
-
Dec 6, 2017
St Paul’s Bay in…
Source: https://santorinidave.com/best-beaches-greece A great little swimming spot near the castle at Lindos. The east coast of Rhodes is loaded with..
-
-
Jan 1, 1970
Plenty to Braga about…
Source: It's a sleepy, ancient city, but also brimming with a modern, youthful energy. Check out Braga, the loveliest..
-
Nov 5, 2017
Discovering Sintra
Source: Sintra, the Moon Hill, is a place full of magic and mystery, where Nature and Man have combined..
-
Nov 4, 2017First time Greece: top…
Source: Image source: With its sparkling white beaches, crystalline water and venerable ancient sites, Greece lives up to all..
-
Apr 4, 2017
First time Greece: top…
Source: Image source: With its sparkling white beaches, crystalline water and venerable ancient sites, Greece lives up to all..
-
-
Jan 1, 1970Best Romantic Things to…
Source: Image source: Romance is in the heart of the beholder and even the simplest pleasures become romantic in the..
-
Jan 1, 1970
Best Romantic Things to…
Source: Image source: Romance is in the heart of the beholder and even the simplest pleasures become romantic in the..
-
-
Jan 1, 1970
Amazing places: Why you…
Source: Image source: Europe most visited places like Italy, France and Spain overshadow a very interesting country, and maybe, because..
-
Jan 1, 1970
First time Greece: top…
Source: Image source: With its sparkling white beaches, crystalline water and venerable ancient sites, Greece lives up to all..
-
-
Oct 1, 2017
Visit Athens
Source: Image source: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in..
-
Mar 1, 2017Visit Aveiro
Source: Visit Aveiro to discover a landscape dominated by water. Aveiro, next to the sea and the ria (estuary),..
-
-
-
-
Jan 1, 1970
Serra da Estrela
Source: A great family destination is Serra da Estrela, located in center Portugal. This one is a popular destination during..
-
Jan 11, 2016
Feira da Ladra Lisbon’s…
Source: Feira da Ladra - Lisbon´s Flea Market Lisbon's flea market is called locally the Feira da Ladra, often thought..
-
Nov 10, 2016Lisbon’s Doll Hospital
Source: A doll hospital may not be on your top 10 things to see and do in Lisbon but if..
-
Apr 10, 2016
Évora: The Unexpected Beauty…
Source: When I added Évora to my Iberian itinerary, I didn’t have many expectations. I heard it was a lovely..