Zambujeira do Mar

Distance from Vila Nova de Milfontes: 30 km

The name Zambujeira, quite common in this region, means wild olive tree. Zambujeira do Mar, like the whole coast in the Municipality, is still one of Portugal’s coastal paradises. Its population growth is recent and is due to tourism although other persistent factors like agriculture and fishing, and episodic ones like the construction works of irrigation canals have also contributed to this growth.

For many years the village of Zambujeira was visited by the inhabitants of Odemira and even more distant villages to take salt baths during the summer. The traditional “saint baths” were quite remarkable. St.John’s day is when villagers went down to the beach and took their cattle! The ”bath of the 29th” gave origin to the annual fair in August and a day of local festivities.

A big pleasure here is to sit outside one of the many restaurants taking in the glorious sea views and eating grilled sole, sea bream or sea bass. Try a bottle of cold sparkling vinho verde with the fish. Local crabs and crayfish are also a must as are local seafood dishes like “arroz de marisco” and “caldeirada de marisco”.