Peniche
Encyclopedia
Peniche is a seaside municipality and a city in Portugal
, with approximately 28,164 inhabitants in the municipality and about 15,600 in the city of Peniche.
The present mayor is António Correia Santos, elected by the Unitarian Democratic Coalition
.
It is composed of 6 parishes.
islands are part of the municipality, off the coast of Peniche. They are one of the world's first protected areas, the Berlengas
nature reserve. During summer, the islands can be visited by taking a ferryboat from Peniche.
Peniche is known for its long windy beaches, sought for recreational activities and sports such as surf
, windsurf , Bodyboarding
or kite surf. Peniche has very good waves. Supertubos is the most popular wave in the region, with very fast and powerful (tubular) waves, one of the best in Europe; some call it the "European Pipeline".
Peniche, with its typical harbour, its white windmills and chapels and large sand beaches has inspired famous artists like Maurice Boitel
.
. Besides fisheries, the economy of Peniche municipality relies on agriculture, services and tourism.
school of the Instituto Politécnico de Leiria
, which through its Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar de Peniche, awards academic degrees in marine technologies and tourism.
locations in Europe. It has beaches and breaks facing in 3 distinctly different directions making it a very variable and consistent destination for surfers. Home to many surf camps/schools and recently the destination for the WCT of the ASP (World championship tour of Association of surfing professionals) in time for the autumn swells.
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...
, with approximately 28,164 inhabitants in the municipality and about 15,600 in the city of Peniche.
The present mayor is António Correia Santos, elected by the Unitarian Democratic Coalition
Unitarian Democratic Coalition
The Democratic Unity Coalition is an electoral and political coalition between the Portuguese Communist Party and the Ecologist Party "The Greens"...
.
It is composed of 6 parishes.
History and landmarks
The BerlengasBerlengas
The Berlengas archipelago is a group of small islands 10 to 15 kilometers off the Portuguese coast, west of the town of Peniche.-History:Human occupation on Berlenga Grande dates back to antiquity: the islands are referred to in Ptolemy's Geography as Λονδοβρίς...
islands are part of the municipality, off the coast of Peniche. They are one of the world's first protected areas, the Berlengas
Berlengas
The Berlengas archipelago is a group of small islands 10 to 15 kilometers off the Portuguese coast, west of the town of Peniche.-History:Human occupation on Berlenga Grande dates back to antiquity: the islands are referred to in Ptolemy's Geography as Λονδοβρίς...
nature reserve. During summer, the islands can be visited by taking a ferryboat from Peniche.
Peniche is known for its long windy beaches, sought for recreational activities and sports such as surf
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, windsurf , Bodyboarding
Bodyboarding
Bodyboarding is a surface water sport . The average board consists of a small, rectangular piece of hydrodynamic foam, sometimes containing a ridged spine called a 'stringer'...
or kite surf. Peniche has very good waves. Supertubos is the most popular wave in the region, with very fast and powerful (tubular) waves, one of the best in Europe; some call it the "European Pipeline".
Peniche, with its typical harbour, its white windmills and chapels and large sand beaches has inspired famous artists like Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel (July 31, 1919 – August 11, 2007 in Audresselles (Pas-de-Calais), was a French painter.-Artistic life:Maurice Boitel belonged to the art movement called "La Jeune Peinture" ("Young Picture") of the School of Paris, with painters like Bernard Buffet, Yves...
.
Economy
Since ancient times Peniche has been an important fishing harbourFishing in Portugal
Fishing is a major economic activity in Portugal. The country has a long tradition in the sector, and is among the countries in the world with the highest fish consumption per capita. Roman ruins of fish processing facilities were found across the Portuguese coast. Fish has been an important staple...
. Besides fisheries, the economy of Peniche municipality relies on agriculture, services and tourism.
Education
Besides primary, secondary and vocational education, Peniche is home of a state-run polytechnicPolytechnic (Portugal)
A polytechnic is a higher education educational institution in Portugal created in the 1980s. After 1998 they were upgraded to institutions which are allowed to confer licenciatura degrees. Before then, they only awarded short-cycle degrees which were known as bacharelatos and didn't provide...
school of the Instituto Politécnico de Leiria
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria
The Polytechnic Institute of Leiria is a public institution of Higher Education that offers courses of training on an Undegraduate Degree, Masters, Post-Graduate, Technology Specialization and Preparation Courses for Access to Higher Education level...
, which through its Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar de Peniche, awards academic degrees in marine technologies and tourism.
Parishes
- Ajuda
- Atouguia da BaleiaAtouguia da BaleiaAtouguia da Baleia is a parish in the municipality of Peniche, in Portugal, with an area of 46.04 km² and a population of 7,988 residents .The village of Atouguia da Baleia has almost 2,000 residents...
- Conceição
- FerrelFerrel (Peniche)Ferrel is a seaside city in Portugal, with approximately 3,000 inhabitants. It has beaches and breaks facing in 3 distinctly different directions making it a very variable and consistent destination for surfers...
- São Pedro
- Serra d'El-Rei
Surfing in Peniche
Peniche is one of the best surfingSurfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
locations in Europe. It has beaches and breaks facing in 3 distinctly different directions making it a very variable and consistent destination for surfers. Home to many surf camps/schools and recently the destination for the WCT of the ASP (World championship tour of Association of surfing professionals) in time for the autumn swells.