Miramar is a small seaside village near the towns of Gulpilhares

Gulpilhares

Gulpilhares is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia. It has a population of 9,707 and an area of 6.14 km². Includes Miramar and other beaches....

 and Arcozelo

Arcozelo

Arcozelo may refer to the following places in Portugal:*Arcozelo , a parish in the municipality of Barcelos*Arcozelo , a parish in the municipality of Gouveia*Arcozelo , a parish in the municipality of Ponte de Lima...

  ,in municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaia is a city in Vila Nova de Gaia Municipality, Portugal. It is located in the Porto District, south of the city of Porto on the other side of the Douro River. The city proper has a population of 178,255 and the municipality contains 24 parishes with a total...

, in the subregion of Greater Porto, Portugal

Portugal

Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

 (Grande Porto

Grande Porto

Grande Porto or Greater Porto is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion, integrating the NUTS2 region of Norte, in Portugal.It corresponds to 11 municipalities out of 16, the other 5 in Entre Douro e Vouga Subregion that constitute the larger Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto, centered in the city of Porto....

).

It is an upmarket residential area

Residential area

A residential area is a land use in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas.Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single family housing, multi-family residential, or mobile homes. Zoning for residential use may permit...

 south of thr river Douro

Douro

The Douro or Duero is one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, flowing from its source near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province across northern-central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Porto...

, most known for its beach - Praia de Miramar(Miramar Beach) and the small chapel called Senhor da Pedra(Lord of Stone), which forms the central attraction of a yearly festival. This chapel is also featured in the film clip "San Simon", directed by Richard Tomes with music by the Pikoul Sisters. Indeed, Miramar is home to a number of artists and intellectuals, including Marina Pikoul, David Wyn Lloyd, Lars Wessman and Diane Braz, amongst others. There are many large houses and mansions in Miramar,as well in the nearby Praia de Aguda and Praia da Granja

Praia da Granja

Praia da Granja is located in the Northwest of Portugal, and belongs to the Vila Nova de Gaia municipality, Porto District.This place is also located in the town of São Félix da Marinha .-Name Origin:...

. Along the beach there are several cafés (esplanadas). Despite its pleasant location, Miramar is not an international tourist destination. However, during the warm summer months many Portuguese people from the surrounding areas of Porto

Porto

Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...

,Gaia and Espinho

Espinho, Portugal

Espinho is a city in Espinho Municipality in Portugal. It is a reputed beach resort and a zone of legal gambling with a casino - Casino Solverde. Its fair - Feira de Espinho, having been first organised in 1894, is well known in Portugal...

 spend their days at the beach of Miramar, and also at neighbouring beaches of Costa Verde

Costa Verde (Portugal)

Costa Verde is a touristic region in northwest Portugal. Some cities and towns: Porto, Espinho, Caminha, Ofir - Fão, Esposende, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, Praia da Granja, Miramar, Aguda, Vila Nova de Gaia, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Barcelos, Guimarães, Ponte de Lima, Maia, Geres and Moledo...

.

Sports

Along the beach of Miramar there is a small 9-hole golf course called Club de Golf de Miramar.

There is also a private sports club called Sport Clube Alberto De Sousa best known for its tennis courts.

Restaurants and Cafés

The biggest café/restaurant along the beach of Miramar is the Areal, which has a café and kiosk facing away from the sea and a restaurant with a view of the beach.

Train

Miramar (short walk to the village and the beach);suburban trains to Valadares, Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaia is a city in Vila Nova de Gaia Municipality, Portugal. It is located in the Porto District, south of the city of Porto on the other side of the Douro River. The city proper has a population of 178,255 and the municipality contains 24 parishes with a total...

, Porto

Porto

Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...

 to the North and Granja

Granja

Granja is a town on São Tomé Island in the nation of São Tomé and Príncipe. Granja has a church and a square ....

, Espinho

Espinho, Portugal

Espinho is a city in Espinho Municipality in Portugal. It is a reputed beach resort and a zone of legal gambling with a casino - Casino Solverde. Its fair - Feira de Espinho, having been first organised in 1894, is well known in Portugal...

, Esmoriz, Ovar

Ovar

Ovar Municipality is a municipality in Aveiro District, Baixo Vouga Subregion in Portugal. It has a total area of 147.4 km² and a total population of 56,296 inhabitants, and 42,582 electors . The city of Ovar itself has a population of 16,849....

, Estarreja and Aveiro to the South.