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Spoilt for choice Away from the courts and the sight of players like Stefanos Tsitsipas (below left), spectators can enjoy a number of different catering options around the grounds
VISITORS TO THE ESTORIL COAST ARE DRAWN BY ITS BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPES, CHARMING TOWNS AND VILLAGES AND RICH HISTORY
Estoril became known in the SecondWorldWar as a centre for espionage.The Estoril PalacioHotel features heavily in the James Bond film, “OnHerMajesty’s Secret Service”, and is situated next to the Estoril Casino, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and stages art exhibitions and concerts aswell as opportunities to gamble into the small hours of themorning. There are many good restaurants in the town offering the excellent seafood forwhich the region is famous. The citadel of Cascais, which dates back to the 15th century, is evidence of the area’s rich history, while the Cascaismarina, whichwas built in 1999, demonstrates the region’s continuingwealth. Reminders of the region’s prosperous history are all around, particularly in Sintra, where Portuguese and other European royal families built summer palaces in spectacular settings up in the hills away fromthe coastal strip. One of themost dramatic palaces at Sintra, which is nowaUNESCOWorldHeritage site, is the Palacio Nacional da Pena, which occupies a commanding position overlooking the town.The palacewas built in the 19th century in an intriguingmix of architectural styles.The richly decorated interiors are a particular attraction, as is the Parque da Pena, which is plantedwith amixture of more than 500 different species of shrubs and trees from around theworld. TheQuinta da Regaleira is a fascinating gothicmansion with an adjoining park featuring lakes, fountains and grottoes, while the Convento dos Capuchos, whichwas founded in 1560, is a peaceful monastery set in a quiet location. Spend aweek in the area and your only problem will be decidingwhere to leave off yourmust-visit list.
connect the stationwith the tournament venue.There are also plenty of car parking options, some offering a bus service. Threematch courts are used for the tournament, with a capacity of 3,700 on themain court. Play generally begins at noon, with separate night sessions onWednesday, Thursday and Friday. Tickets cost between 10 euros for the first qualifying session and 70 euros for the finals day. They can be bought via the tournament website (www. millenniumestorilopen.com). Away fromthe on-court action, a number of activities are staged every day around the site, while spectators can also spend time in the fan zone or take advantage of numerous catering options. In addition there could be opportunities for some celebrity-spotting near the Slice Lounge, a VIP and corporate area. As a popular tourist destination, Estoril offers awide choice of accommodation catering for all tastes and budgets.ThePortugueseRiviera - alsoknownas theEstoril Coast or Costa do Sol - stretches fromLisbon to Cascais. Visitors are drawn by its beautiful beaches, spectacular landscapes, charming towns andvillages and richhistory. The sandy beaches are inviting in thewarmsunshine, with the Praia doGuincho especially popularwith surfers, while inmore unsettledweather the Boca do Inferno (“Mouth of Hell”), a rock formation near Cascais, is well worth a visit. A viewing platformprovides a perfect spot towitness the power of the Atlantic aswaves crash into the openmouth of a collapsed cave.The Cabo da Roca, a rugged headland just a fewmiles furtherwest offering panoramic views of both the coast and the hills inland, is themost westerly point ofmainland Europe.
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