Just 10 kilometres south of Porto, Miramar is a small seaside town famous for the Capela do Senhora Pedra, a 17th century chapel strikingly situated on a rocky, wave-beaten headland jutting out from the beach.
In many ways the town is an upmarket residential suburb of Porto, boasting a famous 9-hole golf course and a number of large houses and mansions.
The beach itself, the Praia de Miramar, is an exposed but pleasantly un-crowded affair, popular with Portuguese from the neighbouring areas but not yet an international tourist destination. In summer the water is usually calm and good for bathing, while in winter the surfers take over and the waves can be crowded, with submerged rocks becoming a hazard.
There are several cafes on the beach, the biggest of which is the Areal, and a private sports club, the Sport Clube Alberto de Sousa, which is well-known for its tennis courts.
