Castelo do Queijo

Cheese Castle is the popular name by which everyone knows the Fort São Francisco Xavier. Why? It was built in the seventeenth century to prevent incursions by pirates from North Africa. This former defensive fortification was built where there was a huge rounded stone that resembled a wheel of cheese. Cheese Castle also designates the beach near the fort. The small beach is about 140 meters long and is dominated by rocky outcrops. At the roundabout, there is a public car park where you can leave the car to head to the Sea Life aquarium, to the City Park, or to the Transparent Building with its restaurants, bars, shops, and a surfing school.