Berlengas Island, Portugal

The Berlengas is a small archipelago and natural reserve off the coast of Portugal, west of Peniche. 
The first archaeological remains in Berlengas date from Roman times, when, sometime between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, a watchtower was built. The remains can still be seen on the hilltop above the fishermen's village.
The monks of São Jerónimo occupied the island around 1514 and built a monastery which was active between 1514 and 1548. They were forced to leave the island due to pirate attacks and lack of food, as the soil wasn't good for agriculture.
Sometime between the late 16th and early 17th century a fort was built using materials from the monastery. By order of King D. João IV, in 1651 the fort was rebuilt or restored to address pirate attacks and reinforce the defences of Peniche, the town on the continent. Between the late 17th century and early 18th century, it was also used as a prison. It was finally abandoned in 1914. In the 1950s it was totally recovered and transformed into a hostel, which is still its current use.
The lighthouse dates from 1841 and is 29 metres tall. The most recent construction on the island is the fishermen's village built in 1943 to improve the living conditions of the fishermen who seasonally inhabit the island. Here you can find a restaurant, public toilets and a small supermarket.
While on the island you can rent a boat to take you sightseeing (costs about €4 at the fishermen's village), take one of the hiking trails to appreciate the fauna and the flora or simply go to the beach.

How to go: You can get to Peniche, from Lisbon, by taking the 7.30 a.m. bus in Lisbon Sete-Rios (there's a metro station), which will arrive in Peniche at 9 a.m. (or 8.30-10 a.m.); you can return in the 5 p.m. or 6.30 p.m. bus, that arrives at Lisbon around 6.30 or 8 p.m., respectively. For more information click here.
You can get to the Berlengas by taking the ferry at Peniche Harbour: May, June and Sept. (15th)- leave 10 a.m. and return 16.30p.m.; July and August- leave 9.30 and 10.30 a.m and return 16.30 and 18.30 p.m (respectively).

Ferry ticket (standard): €20 roundtrip.
For more information click here.

Other useful information: 
If you want to stay on the island you can either camp in the small camping park (turismo@cm-peniche.pt) or stay in Fort Saint John (berlengareservasforte@gmail.com). 
List of authorised operators in Berlengas (boat rides and diving): click here.
Don't forget a hat and sunscreen.










Local: Berlengas, 2520 Peniche, Portugal

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