Azenhas do Mar – geology, landscape and traditions
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Azenhas do Mar means “sea water mills”, because the village is near the sea on the top of almost vertical cliffs, made up of marl-calcareous formations from the Cretaceous period, sedimentary rocks formed millions of years ago, when the sea level was higher than it is today, with alternating layers.
The signs of seashore erosion are quite visible, because the marly and clayey layers are more vulnerable to erosion by physical agents, (rain, temperature variations and mainly sea waves) whereas the calcareous are more resistant. This differentiation, together with vertical fracture, brings about blocks, which eventually come away from the cliff-face and fall, causing a natural and progressive eating away of the cliff. This type of cliff, in permanent natural evolution, is called a receding cliff.
Rocky and sandy intertidal zones, almost devoid of surface vegetation, are colonized by organisms that are adapted to the variable physical condition found here (high salinity and temperature variations, high luminosity and ripple force), allowing a considerable biological diversity.
On the raised coastal platforms, with silicate substratum, there is a low bushes covering dominate by Sea Gorse (Ulex densus endemic of Portugal), Spurge Flax (Daphne gnidium), rockroses (the pink Cistus crispus and the white C. psilosepalus), Kermes Oak (Quercus coccifera), an endemic Pink from Sintra (Dianthus cintranus), a wild carrrot endemic of Portugal (Daucus halophilus), a giant grass (Stipa gigantea) and the small Silver Nailwort (Paronychia argentea).
The Blessing the Sea ceremony takes place on the local saint feast day, St. Lorenz (August 10 or the Sunday after), who has a chapel here. On that day a procession is held and his statue and that of Our Lord are shouldered by barefoot fishermen and their families. The procession passes through Azenhas do Mar main streets and when it gets to the viewpoint overlooking the ocean the local priest blesses the sea, the fishing boats and the heroic local fishermen.
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Azenhas do Mar means “sea water mills”, because the village is near the sea on the top of almost vertical cliffs, made up of marl-calcareous formations from the Cretaceous period, sedimentary rocks formed millions of years ago, when the sea level was higher than it is today, with alternating layers.
The signs of seashore erosion are quite visible, because the marly and clayey layers are more vulnerable to erosion by physical agents, (rain, temperature variations and mainly sea waves) whereas the calcareous are more resistant. This differentiation, together with vertical fracture, brings about blocks, which eventually come away from the cliff-face and fall, causing a natural and progressive eating away of the cliff. This type of cliff, in permanent natural evolution, is called a receding cliff.
Rocky and sandy intertidal zones, almost devoid of surface vegetation, are colonized by organisms that are adapted to the variable physical condition found here (high salinity and temperature variations, high luminosity and ripple force), allowing a considerable biological diversity.
On the raised coastal platforms, with silicate substratum, there is a low bushes covering dominate by Sea Gorse (Ulex densus endemic of Portugal), Spurge Flax (Daphne gnidium), rockroses (the pink Cistus crispus and the white C. psilosepalus), Kermes Oak (Quercus coccifera), an endemic Pink from Sintra (Dianthus cintranus), a wild carrrot endemic of Portugal (Daucus halophilus), a giant grass (Stipa gigantea) and the small Silver Nailwort (Paronychia argentea).
The Blessing the Sea ceremony takes place on the local saint feast day, St. Lorenz (August 10 or the Sunday after), who has a chapel here. On that day a procession is held and his statue and that of Our Lord are shouldered by barefoot fishermen and their families. The procession passes through Azenhas do Mar main streets and when it gets to the viewpoint overlooking the ocean the local priest blesses the sea, the fishing boats and the heroic local fishermen.
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Lisboa e Vale do Tejo
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Sintra
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Sintra-Cascais Nature Park
Identification and Access
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Yes
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Access coming from:
- Sintra (± 10 km) on the N247. Continue to 25 de Abril Str., following to Várzea de Sintra. Follow to António Henriques Rodrigues Maximiano Road and then to Janas Road. In Janas village take Pinhal Str. and then follow to Azenhas do Mar to Luís Augusto Colares Ave.
Viewpoint GPS: 38.838856, -9.463513
St. Lorenz chapel GPS: 38.838289,- 9.4625777
Base Characterization
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Touristic
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By the sea.
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Tips
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On August 10 or the following Sunday participate in the feast in honor of S. Lourenço.
