Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha

Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha is another beautiful beach in the Lagoa area, but it isn’t the sand and the sea that gets our attention here. Built onto a promontory by the beach is one of the region’s most curious fortresses, a castle and a chapel with gorgeous white stone that is somewhat at odds with its contemporaries in the area. There isn’t a huge amount to see here these days, but the history is undeniable, as are the views and the general aesthetic of it all. The chapel is unique for a number of reasons, not least the fact it survived the mighty earthquakes of the 18th century and thus retains its original form.