Towns & villages · 635 m above the sea
Prazeres
A clifftop farming village perched 600m above Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar.
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The place
Named for a small chapel to Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, this farming village broke off from Estreito da Calheta in 1676 and now sits on the cliff edge above the surf villages below. Its viewpoint over the gorge toward Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar is one of the most dramatic on the west coast, and the steep PR19 royal path drops from here straight down to the sea.
When to come
Late afternoon at the Miradouro dos Prazeres for the light on the cliffs below.
Worth knowing
- Miradouro dos Prazeres viewpoint at the village edge
- Starting point for the PR19 descent to Paul do Mar
- Small cafes and a church on the main square
- Cooler and often cloudier than the coast below