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Lourinhã
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The town of Lourinhã is ineffaceably linked to the history of the Iberian Peninisula, with roots going back to the arrival of the Romans and then the Arab invasion. Surrounded by hills and fertile valleys, its streets have a sinuous and Medieval layout, although most of the houses date from the 19th century. In this setting, architectural treasures can be admired, such as the Manueline portal of the Miserichord Church, the Gothic style of the Mother Church of Santa Maria do Castelo (an ancient Arab fortress) or the 17th-century decorated tiles at the cloister of the former Franciscan convent. Occupying a priviledged position on the West coast of Portugal, the county boasts of fine beaches with sculpted cliffs and bays still to be explored, of which the most famous is Praia da Areia Branca (white sand beach), now popular as a holiday destination but still largely unspoilt. It is worth visiting Lourinhã on a market day and plunging into the variety of colours and smells, and then enjoying a good meal accompanied by the local wine. The local gastronomy reflects the nearness to the coast, with excellent caldeiradas (a stew made of several kinds of fish) and seafood (one of the biggest national shellfish-beds is situated at Porto das Barcas), but the sea is also generous in rock-bass, sea-bream, sargus and grey mullet.
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