The Serra de Arrábida - A Rainy Day With Empty Beaches
A rainy day can ruin a photographers mood. Looking at the forecast, I knew the day was going to be wet, but forgot that fast-moving clouds can add so much character. I guess that sometimes, a cloudy day isn't that bad of a thing. Read all about the Serra de Arrábida below. This article was first published on our Lisbon Travel Blog TODAY.
Stretching between the cities of Setúbal and Sesimbra, the National Park of the Serra de Arrábida was established in 1976. A lushly green region of mountains, cliffs, beaches, hidden convents and winding roads, the Serra de Arrábida is the perfect place for a scenic drive… if the weather is playing along. Or even if it’s not.
We knew we were in trouble minutes after waking up in the RM Guesthouse, the luxury hotel which was hosting us in Setúbal. As we ate breakfast, we monitored the weather. Rainy and windy. If anything, it was getting worse. Not the best conditions for a jaunt through the mountains, but we didn’t have much choice.
So, we got on the road. And although we would certainly have preferred sun, the thick fog crawling rapidly over the hills provided plenty of beautiful scenes. The park is about 30 kilometers in length, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, and we chose a circuitous route that brought us first along the coast before heading upward into the mountains.
The beaches, such as the Praia da Figuerinha and Praia dos Coelhos, looked incredible. Naturally enough, there was nobody here today, but with Lisbon’s relative proximity, I imagine the beaches of Arrábida fill up during the summer.
Driving into the hills, we were taken totally off-guard by the Convento da Arrábida, which dates from the 1500s. When we tried to get inside, were disappointed to learn that visits have to be arranged in advance, through Lisbon’s Fundação Oriente. We hadn’t researched this trip to Setúbal nearly enough, damn our lazy bones!
The rain never let up during our day in the Arrábida, but we still forced ourselves to get out at a few viewpoints and take some pictures. We might have even stopped at the same place as James Bond, at the end of Her Majesty’s Secret Service, when his new wife Tracy is shot dead — this scene was filmed in the Serra de Arrábida, and shows the beauty of the region almost as nicely as our photographs.
Locations on our Map: Praia da Figuerinha | Convento da Arrábida
![Transparent-Discord-Travel.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQU6Zt9ifnhvTkB8YE8jq8t4AeLMUUQhKBkoyF8Zh4zrp/Transparent-Discord-Travel.png)
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I love the first photo in the additional Serra de Arrábida Photos. It's so simple, but I love how the cloud is just hovering over the water. And I agree, as long as the clouds are dynamic, there are interesting photos to take. I'd say you did a great job with the weather you had!
And I didn't ruin my camera - I'm so careless sometimes with my equipment - if I see a great a photo opportunity everything else shuts down in my brain :) Thank you so much for thoughtful comment.
I'll add it to my bucket-list. Nice post!
Awesome Work!
I've verified that your photography is original, and that means it's so good that I had to check.
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My life is full of unanswered questions, and increasingly high amongst them is - why have I never been to Portugal? Visits to Spain I've lost count of, but Portugal, never. That's something that I really must change. Thanks for sharing,
Next time you just have to combine and or plan the ultimate Spain / Portugal road-trip, it would be an amazing one!
Amazing scenery, the beach looked so pristine!
That area is amazing but I can't imagine how it is in peak summer times. There is only very little parking, it must be a nightmare. Better to go off season on a rainy day .. hehe.
You've captured such beautiful pictures even though it was raining. The rain gives a different feel to the photographs. Thank you for sharing!
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