Peniche

Peniche is located on a peninsula with a perimeter of around 10 km, with Cape Carvoeiro as its western end. The coast is made up of imposing rocks and magnificent bathing beaches, of great length, overlooking the ocean in a constant parade of surprising aspects that surprise the eyes of visitors. Bordering Peniche, overlooking the Atlantic, to the west, is the Berlengas Archipelago.

In Berlengas we can find the S. João Baptista Fort, built in 1651, (1) by order of D. João IV, and completed in 1656. Built with the aim of preventing the occupation of this island by North African corsairs or enemy powers. , experienced the most famous episode of war in its history in June 1666. On that date, the Fort of S. João Baptista was besieged by a Spanish squadron, made up of fourteen ships and a caravel, commanded by D. Diogo Ibarra. Defended, at the time, by a small garrison, less than twenty men, and with only nine artillery pieces, this fortification commanded by Corporal Avelar Pessoa, managed to resist the fierce enemy bombardment for two days, as well as causing important casualties to the besieging forces. , resulting in a high number of deaths, one ship sunk and two others seriously damaged, one dead and four Portuguese injured. The depletion of supplies and ammunition, and the desertion of one of the soldiers, who exposed the dramatic situation of the Portuguese garrison to D. Diogo Ibarra, finally led to the capitulation of the Fort of S. João Baptista. (1) 

Peniche was, until the 15th century, an almost circular island, approximately 6 km from the rest of the continent. The ancient site of Ribeira d'Atouguia, at the mouth of that river, was one of the most important Portuguese ports in the Middle Ages, a privileged access point to locations in the center of the country (Lisbon, Óbidos, Torres Vedras, Santarém and Leiria). The action of sea currents and winds, over the centuries, led to the silting of this watercourse, with the sand gradually forming a string of dunes that, consolidating, joined the island of Peniche to the mainland, causing the island to disappear. . port of Atouguia.

The main prehistoric stations known in the municipality correspond to cave occupations, with an important set of sites being known in the southwestern part of the municipality, on the Cesaredas Plateau, but the most important prehistoric station in the municipality is Gruta da Furninha. This last component seems to have assumed special importance, as demonstrated by the discovery, near Morraçal da Ajuda, of a pottery complex that may have operated in the 18th century. I d.c. of which four ovens are known, and which would have been mainly dedicated to the production of amphorae intended for packaging fish preparations. The then island of Peniche would base its economic activity on the exploitation of marine resources, namely the production of canned fish, an industrial activity that, after two thousand years, continues to operate in this fishing land.

With Peniche being a constant target of attacks by English and French corsairs and Barbary pirates, the Peniche Fortress was built by D. João

(1) Ordered to be built by D. João III in 1557 and completed in 1645 by D. João IV, who considered it the main key to the Kingdom from the sea, it stands out in the Peniche Fortress, in addition to the typical star design, the Round Baluarte – first fortification built on the Peniche peninsula – the Watch Tower, and the chapel of Santa Bárbara. This property saw its space used in different ways according to the needs and historical vicissitudes of each era. Military square of vital strategic importance until 1897, shelter for Boer refugees from South Africa at the beginning of the century. XX, residence of German and Austrian prisoners during the First World War, political prison of the Estado Novo between 1934 and 1974, temporary accommodation for Portuguese families from former overseas colonies in 1974, and since 1984 hostel of the Municipal Museum, until the 20th century November 2017, the Peniche Fortress assumes special relevance as an important document of a historical diachrony of a local and national nature. (1)

Access to the town of Peniche was conditioned by the presence of the Peniche Fortress, and a long walled area that extended perpendicularly to the Peniche peninsula connecting the Forte das Cabanas, in the south of the peninsula, to the Forte de Nossa Senhora da Luz, at the extreme North.

Its geomorphological specificity, oscillating between an island/peninsular reality, seems to have shaped and conditioned, from a socioeconomic and cultural point of view, the populations that over time occupied this territory, simultaneously allowing the municipality of Peniche to be the scene of important events national and international stories.

Capital of the wave, Peniche is the reference par excellence for surfing in Portugal and a meeting point for the world's elite in this sport, particularly within the scope of the WSL – World Surf League.

Rip Curl Pro Portugal has been held annually since 2009, in October. Enthusiasts of the sport from the four corners of the world come to enjoy the maneuvers of the best professionals in the sport, dominating the tubular waves, which give its name to Supertubos beach (Medão Grande).

Along the city's coast there are at least 8 beaches for surfing, and also the Baleal beaches. A place that lives off the curiosity of the fishing village being connected to the mainland by a tongue of sand, which depending on the will of the sea, is submerged or submerged, becoming an island or a peninsula.

Due to their proximity to the sea, Peniches have always been dedicated to fishing, so it is not surprising that their gastronomy is predominantly dominated by fish and seafood dishes.

In the city's numerous restaurants and in the main seaside resorts, you can find the most diverse gastronomic specialties of the region, including Caldeirada de Peniche and grilled sardines. Equally delicious is the local sweets, of which Pastéis de Peniche, Amigos de Peniche and almond cookies called "esses" are the main specialties.

Avenida do Mar and Largo da Ribeira are the two places in the city where you can find a greater variety of restaurants and specialties. However, restaurants are spread throughout the municipality, making gastronomy one of the highlights and most attractive points of this region.

(1)  the text was taken from the Peniche CM website, which is grateful for the collaboration.