« E S TO R I L »

In the northern curve of the lovely Bay of Lisbon lies the "Sunshine Coast" (Cote du Soleil) so called because of its almost uninterrupted sunshine the whole year round. This is the world famous Portuguese Riviera – a string of enchanting coves, each with a golden-sanded beach, divided from each other by towering rocks over which sub-tropical vegetation pours almost down to the sea.

Estoril is the comprehensive name given to the four most lovely of these coves, São Pedro do Estoril, São João do Estoril, Monte Estoril and Estoril, the last being the cosmopolitan centre.

Nature has lavished all her rarest gifts upon this favored spot. An azure sea, hot springs of medicinal water, incredibly pore air and a translucent atmosphere such as is to be found nowhere also in the world.

Amid bewildering variety of trees and shrubs – their walls foaming with roses, bougainvillea and honeysuckle – stand the hotels, houses and villas, all color-washed in the gayest tints; while here and there an old rustic building covered in red Moorish tiles seems to burst into flame as it catches the rays of the setting sun.

Parks and gardens blaze with flowers the whole year round, for this marvelous climate has earned, and legitimately earned for the Sunshine Coast the name of “The Land of Two Springs”.

Behind these golden beaches, the country opens out into lovely hills and slopes. Lovers of beautiful scenery find it a paradise. Its variety is infinite: deep valleys, wide rolling fields, to the North the rugged silhouette of the Sintra Range, to the South the glitter of the almost violet sea.

Sintra, Lord Byron's «Glorious Eden» is only nine miles away, while other places of extraordinary beauty and interest such as Peninha, Praia das Maçãs, Azenhas do Mar, Colares, famed for its wines and fruit and Mafra with its colossal Convent, lie within easy reach of Estoril. Furthermore, Estoril is a good starting point for excursions all over the country, as it is in direct touch with all the chief tourist centers. It is also linked with the great European railway lines by a daily service of the Sud-Express, with a through carriage Estoril-Paris and vice-versa.

ESTORIL AS A WINTER RESORT

The mildness and equability of its climate, the unchanging translucent clearness of its atmosphere, make Estoril an ideal winter resort, especially for those who have real winter at home and who desire to escape its rigors.

In the last few years the reputation of Estoril has been growing by leaps and bounds. Five years ago it was practically unknown because nothing had been done to attract attention to it. Today prominent foreigners are coming to Estoril in ever growing numbers, and they are unanimous in their opinion that it is the finest winter resort in Europe. The opinion of these people is worth recording for they are familiar with Biarritz, Nice, Mentone and-many other places advancing / 18 / the same claim, and they all agree that nothing can compare with Estoril.

Take one point alone – the mean temperature – and see how Estoril compares with the others:

Mean winter temperature

Biarritz. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6°.8

Nice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7°.8

Hières. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8°.5

Arcachon. . . . . . . . . . . . 8°.9

Mentone. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9°.5

Napoles and Cannes. . . .9°.8

Monaco. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9º.9

San Remo. . . . . . . . . . . 10º.5

ESTORIL . . . . . . . . . .  11°.5

The summer months are exceptionally pleasant in Estoril. There is a constant sea breeze and an abundance of shade. A string of beaches all safe for bathing, the golden sand sloping gently to the sea. The inland scenery is gorgeous. The temperature of the sea is higher than in the South of France – even 1.°5 C higher than at Palermo, so that bathing is delightful all the year round and the almost invariably clear blue sky gives
opportunities for sun-bathing – now so much in vogue – such as can be enjoyed nowhere else.

ESTORIL AS A SPA

This is not all. There are mineral waters at Estoril, resembling those of Monte Catania, in Italy, and at Chattel Guyon and Bourbon d'Archambault in France. They are warm (32.° 4c.) hyper saline, contain sodium and magnesium, chlorides, calcium sulphates and bicarbonates, lithinates, and are markedly radioactive.

They are clinically recommended for skin diseases, women's ailments, gout, gastro-intestinal diseases and other disorders of the same kind.

The season opens on the 30th June and closes on the 31st October. The baths are, however, open all the year for such treatments as may be undergone during any season.

The installation is magnificent (See Plates 8 and 9) and it comprises, apart from the thermal themselves, hydrotherapic and physiotherapic application wards, and also rooms for Gymnastics.

The indoor swimming-pool, the largest in the Iberian Peninsula, is fil1ed with naturally heated thermal water (77.° F.)

ESTORIL AS A PLEASURE RESORT

In addition to all these advantages, Estoril stands supreme either as a place for a rest cure, or as a pleasure resort.

Sport is catered for in all its branches. The nine hole golf course (a further nine boles are actually under construction which wil1 be finished for the start of the Winter season) is excellent, and its situation exquisite. Tennis courts and a race-course. The roads are tarred and excellent for motoring. Fishing is good and yachting can be indulged in.

The Tamariz with its Pavillion-Restaurant and esplanade overlooking the beach is one of the most attractive places in Estoril (See Plates 10 and 11). Apart from its being the fashionable meeting place for cocktails, open air luncheons, and afternoon tea, its position looking straight over the Atlantic is wonderful.

The Casino (See Plates 18, 19, 20 and 21) situated in the upper part of a large open park, dominates the whole panorama. It has been built on the most luxurious lines. Its large halls, / 19 / both comfortable and luxurious, are the proper setting for the concerts Fêtes and Galas which constantly take place apart, from the everyday fashionable international life of its Cinema, Theatre, Bars and Gaming-Rooms.

The Hotels are excellent.

PALACE HOTEL, a magnificent really first class hotel. It is a large building, designed and decorated in excellent taste, where luxury does not exclude simplicity, and it offers every comfort and the best service (See Plates 5 and 6).

HOTEL DO PARQUE, in the same building as the baths (See Plates 7 and 8) and communicating direct with them can be recommended to those who seek a rest cure and wish to undergo treatment.

Apart from these two, which belong to the Sociedade Estoril-Plage, there are of course other hotels, such as the Hotel Paris (See Plate 25) the Atlântico (See Plate 22), the Miramar, the Italia and others all well situated and with excellent accommodation.

There are also very comfortable pensions or boarding houses and those who prefer taking a châlet or a villa for the season will likewise be sure to find something to their liking, whatever their taste may be. Prices are moderate, specially in comparison with the fashionable health and seaside resorts in other Southern countries.

In short, the climate of Estoril is the best in Europe – as health resort it is supreme and it is inexpensive.