The Region - Torres Vedras District - Parish of A-dos-Cunhados

Parish of A-dos-Cunhados

The Santa Cruz beach is situated in two of the twenty parishes that compose of the council of Torres Vedras: Parish of Silveira and A-dos-Cunhados.

The Foundation of A-dos Cunhados dates back to the 15th of December 1581 and the rise of the village happened on the 21st June 1995. Occupying a vast area of about 45km2, situated between green rural pastures, with various farms and small holdings spread throughout as well as the green-blue haze of the sea. Its territory sits between the Atlantic Ocean and various parishes: Silveira and S. Pedro and Santiago to the south, Ramalhal and Campelos to the east and Maceira to the north. The Parish headquarters are twelve kilometres from the town of Torres Vedras, and ten kilometres from the Santa Cruz beach.

The parish of A-dos-Cunhados has a significant number of small holdings spread throughout the whole parish, accentuated by a strong rural component are the following localities:

• A-dos-Cunhados
• Boavista
• Bombardeira
• Casal das Paradas
• Palhagueiras
• Paradas
• Penafirme
• Póvoa de Penafirme
• Sobreiro Curvo

Visiting the Parish of A-dos-Cunhados

The most well known place of this parish, and your visiting card, are the bunch of beaches that form part of the Santa Cruz beach. In past times designated by Santa Cruz de Ribamar, it stands out from other beaches due to its extensive and large sandy beaches; the following beaches are part of this parish:

• Praia da Física (Santa Cruz)
• Praia do Pisão
• Praia do Mirante
• Praia do Navio
• Praia da Vigia
• Praia da Mexilhoeira
• Praia do Seixo
• Praia das Camarinhas
• Praia de Santa Rita Sul

The whole patrimony consists of: the ruins of the ancient Convento de Penafirme na foz do Sorraia, the present Convento de Penafirme, the Cruzeiro da Cruz in the Largo da Cruz in the centre of the village as well as the Matriz church of A-dos-Cunhados.
They constitute other places of interest such as, the Momumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar and the numerous beaches and viewing points at your disposal.

The most popular and main festivities are related to the Ethnography Parade of the 15th of August in Santa Cruz, the holding of the torch to Nossa Senhora dos Remedios (pilgrimage to Peniche) and the numerous popular festivals celebrated throughout the whole parish and are organized to mainly take place during the summer season.

Torres Vedras District Map

Text: Artur Henriques
Photos:
Published: 2-Jan-2006
Updated:

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