Images of Portugal: Praia da Fonte da Telha, Costa da Caparica
Fonte da Telha is a small fishing village now mainly holiday resort about halfway down the Setubal peninsula. It is part of the huge stretch of Atlantic beach in Costa da Caparica. It lies within the Reserva Botânica da Mata dos Medos, a protected area of pine forests and Mediterranean scrub beginning about half way down the coast.
In addition to fishing, Fonte da Telha is a major summer resort, popular with locals, where there are nine supervised stretches of beach, restaurants, bars, and a diving center. It is also the southern terminus of the Caparica mini train. Adiça Beach, close to Lagoa de Albufeira, to the south, is a nudist beach.
Praia 19 to the north is one of Europe's biggest (if not the biggest) gay beach in Europe. This remote stretch of sand became known as "Praia gay" in the 1990s and was classified as a naturalist beach in 1995. Please note, there are no hotels or facilities in this protected area. The nearest car parking is at Praia da Bela Vista to the north. This is a 15-minute walk away along the sand.
Places to stay near Fonte da Telha include the upmarket Aroeira Lisbon Hotel - Sea & Golf, the Aroeira Villa and right on the beach the Fonte da Telha Beach Suite, a pleasant homestay with a garden and a balcony.
