10 Curiosities About Cascais' History
It was a holiday destination for the Portuguese royal family, a refuge for the members of the world's monarchies, and later a regular meeting place for spies, it was even the birthplace for one of the most famous secret agents in cinema. Now, try to imagine that period: the hustle and bustle of the luxury hotels, restaurants and tea rooms. The palaces, mansions and chalets that gradually began to paint the picture of an increasingly refined town. The sea-bathing in typical clothes of that period. The lavish parties and balls. It makes you want to go back in time, don't you agree?
Europe's biggest Casino
It was inaugurated with all due pomp and circumstance in the 1930s, considering it was the biggest in Portugal and Europe. Casino Estoril is today a meeting point not only for those who want to have fun while gambling, but also a place to attend shows and concerts in the magnificent Salão Preto e Prata. And if you get hungry, you don't have to go too far: you can have a fantastic fine dining experience of Chinese food at Restaurant Estoril Mandarim.
The birthplace of James Bond
The 1930s were a decade of great inaugurations in the Estoril area: it was also during this period that, right next to the Casino, the sumptuous Hotel Palácio Estoril (now called Palacio Estoril Hotel, Golf & Wellness), one of the best-known five-star hotels of the region. Renowned for its grandiosity, comfort and gardens, it would have many stories to tell, if only its walls could speak. For example, it was a meeting place for spies during the Second World War, which inspired Ian Fleming to create the most famous secret agent in history, in his first book "Casino Royale", of 1953. That's right, James Bond was born in Cascais.
The first summer resort of kings and queens
D. Carlos, the second-to-last king of Portugal - best known for being assassinated in what became known as the regicide of 1908 - inherited from his father D. Luis his love for the ocean. From 1870 onwards, Cascais became the summer resort and bathing spot of the royals. From time to time, they would settle in the Palácio da Cidadela, turning the governor's old quarters into the Royal Palace. Then the domino effect took over: the royalty attracted the rest of the court and the upper middle class to Cascais, making the destination increasingly popular - and therefore more developed, gradually increasing the number of palaces, chalets, restaurants and places of leisure.
The first town with electric lighting
When the future King Dom Carlos turned 15, on September 28th 1878, six Jablochkoff electric lamps were installed for the first time in the Citadel of Cascais, which his father, King Dom Luís had given to the Lisbon Town Council, two years after they had been used for the first time in an experiment in London and one year after they had been sold in Paris. Cascais was the first Portuguese town to experiment public lighting, albeit temporarily. On the 30th of October, these same lamps went to Chiado, the most popular part of the historic centre of Lisbon.
The refuge of kings from all over the world
During the Second World War and the Spanish Civil War, Cascais became a place of refuge for royalty from all over the world: for example, the Counts of Barcelona, Carolina II of Romania and King Humberto II of Italy came to this picturesque town on the Atlantic coast. The latter settled in a house that is now part of the hotel Grande Real Villa Itália Hotel & Spa, one of the most luxurious units of Cascais' coastline, intrinsically linked to the history of exile of these monarchs.
An aristocratic house that turned into a museum
A remarkable work of architecture, the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum is a beautiful house from the late 19th century, built in a cove of transparent waters. It was left in the will of its last owner, Manuel Inácio de Castro Guimarães, to the town of Cascais, with all his estate. Built by Jorge O'Neill, an aristocrat of Irish descent, this house is one of the 16 spaces that make up the Museum Quarter, and is now part of the Marechal Carmona Park.
A palace overlooking the sea
The Guia House, a leisure, shopping and restaurant area, is now home to dozens of shops, restaurants, cafés, terraces and gardens. But this restored 19th century palace, located on the famous road connecting Cascais to Guincho, was built in 1895: the renowned French scientist Louis Pasteur, highlighting the good atmosphere of Guia and the trend of golf, suggested to his friend D. José Saldanha Oliveira e Sousa to build a house here in honour of his wife, Bárbara Tavares Proença.
Santa Maria House
This house, commissioned by Jorge O'Neill to Raul Lino, the renowned Portuguese architect, is also included in the Museum Quarter circuit. The Santa Maria House, built in the early 20th century, it has been a private residence for decades, having hosted important figures such as the Grand Duchess Carlota of Luxembourg, the Counts of Barcelona, King Humberto II of Italy and the Dukes of Windsor. Today, apart from being a place to visit, it is also a place where it is possible to hold events - including dream weddings.
Sintra palaces
The magnificent Pena Palace . Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, in the Cultural category, another of Sintra's most beautiful (and mysterious) spots is Quinta da Regaleira, a place acquired and expanded by the very rich Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, whose nickname was Monteiro dos Milhões (Monteiro of Millions).
It was a holiday destination for the Portuguese royal family, a refuge for the members of the world's monarchies, and later a regular meeting place for spies, it was even the birthplace for one of the most famous secret agents in cinema. Now, try to imagine that period: the hustle and bustle of the luxury hotels, restaurants and tea rooms. The palaces, mansions and chalets that gradually began to paint the picture of an increasingly refined town. The sea-bathing in typical clothes of that period. The lavish parties and balls. It makes you want to go back in time, don't you agree?
Europe's biggest Casino
It was inaugurated with all due pomp and circumstance in the 1930s, considering it was the biggest in Portugal and Europe. Casino Estoril is today a meeting point not only for those who want to have fun while gambling, but also a place to attend shows and concerts in the magnificent Salão Preto e Prata. And if you get hungry, you don't have to go too far: you can have a fantastic fine dining experience of Chinese food at Restaurant Estoril Mandarim.
The birthplace of James Bond
The 1930s were a decade of great inaugurations in the Estoril area: it was also during this period that, right next to the Casino, the sumptuous Hotel Palácio Estoril (now called Palacio Estoril Hotel, Golf & Wellness), one of the best-known five-star hotels of the region. Renowned for its grandiosity, comfort and gardens, it would have many stories to tell, if only its walls could speak. For example, it was a meeting place for spies during the Second World War, which inspired Ian Fleming to create the most famous secret agent in history, in his first book "Casino Royale", of 1953. That's right, James Bond was born in Cascais.
The first summer resort of kings and queens
D. Carlos, the second-to-last king of Portugal - best known for being assassinated in what became known as the regicide of 1908 - inherited from his father D. Luis his love for the ocean. From 1870 onwards, Cascais became the summer resort and bathing spot of the royals. From time to time, they would settle in the Palácio da Cidadela, turning the governor's old quarters into the Royal Palace. Then the domino effect took over: the royalty attracted the rest of the court and the upper middle class to Cascais, making the destination increasingly popular - and therefore more developed, gradually increasing the number of palaces, chalets, restaurants and places of leisure.
The first town with electric lighting
When the future King Dom Carlos turned 15, on September 28th 1878, six Jablochkoff electric lamps were installed for the first time in the Citadel of Cascais, which his father, King Dom Luís had given to the Lisbon Town Council, two years after they had been used for the first time in an experiment in London and one year after they had been sold in Paris. Cascais was the first Portuguese town to experiment public lighting, albeit temporarily. On the 30th of October, these same lamps went to Chiado, the most popular part of the historic centre of Lisbon.
The refuge of kings from all over the world
During the Second World War and the Spanish Civil War, Cascais became a place of refuge for royalty from all over the world: for example, the Counts of Barcelona, Carolina II of Romania and King Humberto II of Italy came to this picturesque town on the Atlantic coast. The latter settled in a house that is now part of the hotel Grande Real Villa Itália Hotel & Spa, one of the most luxurious units of Cascais' coastline, intrinsically linked to the history of exile of these monarchs.
An aristocratic house that turned into a museum
A remarkable work of architecture, the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum is a beautiful house from the late 19th century, built in a cove of transparent waters. It was left in the will of its last owner, Manuel Inácio de Castro Guimarães, to the town of Cascais, with all his estate. Built by Jorge O'Neill, an aristocrat of Irish descent, this house is one of the 16 spaces that make up the Museum Quarter, and is now part of the Marechal Carmona Park.
A palace overlooking the sea
The Guia House, a leisure, shopping and restaurant area, is now home to dozens of shops, restaurants, cafés, terraces and gardens. But this restored 19th century palace, located on the famous road connecting Cascais to Guincho, was built in 1895: the renowned French scientist Louis Pasteur, highlighting the good atmosphere of Guia and the trend of golf, suggested to his friend D. José Saldanha Oliveira e Sousa to build a house here in honour of his wife, Bárbara Tavares Proença.
Santa Maria House
This house, commissioned by Jorge O'Neill to Raul Lino, the renowned Portuguese architect, is also included in the Museum Quarter circuit. The Santa Maria House, built in the early 20th century, it has been a private residence for decades, having hosted important figures such as the Grand Duchess Carlota of Luxembourg, the Counts of Barcelona, King Humberto II of Italy and the Dukes of Windsor. Today, apart from being a place to visit, it is also a place where it is possible to hold events - including dream weddings.
Sintra palaces
The magnificent Pena Palace . Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, in the Cultural category, another of Sintra's most beautiful (and mysterious) spots is Quinta da Regaleira, a place acquired and expanded by the very rich Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, whose nickname was Monteiro dos Milhões (Monteiro of Millions).
