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Praia Nova

Praia Nova

Lagoa

This beach lies to the west of the Nossa Senhora da Rocha Chapel, built on a narrow promontory that stands out from the coast and from which you can admire a breathtaking panoramic view over the coast. This is a large beach, about 300 metres long, backed by a continuous line of cliffs in tones of ochre and red. You can see where landslides have occurred, forming tiers in the cliff face over time. These platforms are covered in abundant vegetation comprising plants such as saltwort, Mediterranean saltbush and shrubby sea-blite, species adapted to the sea spray and which also thrive in the saline soils of the marshes. To get to the beach, you go down a steep staircase in the cliff face, roughly in the middle of the beach, or through a tunnel that was patiently dug out by hand and which goes all the way through the rocky pontoon of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, a length of some 60 metres. You can see numerous marine fossils embedded in the rocky walls of the tunnel, for as far in as the sunlight reaches.

More information

Note: Access via the stairway is about 200 metres from the car park on the Nossa Senhora da Rocha promontory, following a footpath along the cliff top to the west. Access via the tunnel is by way of the neighbouring Nossa Senhora da Rocha beach. Given the risk of landslides and loose stones falling on to the beach, you are advised to keep a safe distance from the cliffs. You should be aware that a large part of the beach lies in an area where there is a risk of landslides.
Road access is by tarmacked road from the EN 125, turning south at Porches or from Armação de Pera, and following the signs to the Nossa Senhora da Rocha. There is plenty of organised parking next to the Nossa Senhora da Rocha promontory. There are no support infrastructures and no lifeguard on duty. Orientation: south-east.
GPS: 37° 5'46.56"N 8°23'18.98"W

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