The Fortress of Peniche, an imposing defensive structure by the sea, bearing witness to centuries of Atlantic history
The Forte da Consolação and the Forte de São João Baptista, on the island of Berlenga, landmarks of coastal military architecture
The Escola de Rendas de Bilros, guardian of the lacemaking tradition with roots in the 17th century
The Centro Interpretativo da Atouguia da Baleia, a memorial to the former seat of the Municipality
Cabo Carvoeiro, a rocky headland overlooking the ocean, with views over the coastline and Berlenga
about the place
Peniche occupies a rocky peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic along the Estremadura coast, in the District of Leiria. The name itself derives from Latin and evokes this condition of being almost an island. In 1158, D. Afonso Henriques granted a royal charter to Guilherme de Corni, separating the territory of Atouguia da Baleia and opening the way for the town's growth. Fishing and agriculture shaped local life over the centuries, but it was a tradition of handiwork that earned national fame: the Bobbin Lace of Peniche, dating back to the 17th century.
