Redonda Beach 2.55

Redonda Beach or Praia Redonda in Portuguese, meaning Round, is a beach on the southwestern coast of Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It is adjacent to Passeio Alegre, in Póvoa de Varzim City Center. The Avenida dos Banhos runs alongside the beach, and the Diana Bar beach library, a nightclub and Café Guarda-sol are located on the beach.The beach has medium sand and little granitic gneiss, typical rocky outcrops on Póvoa de Varzim coastline, the largest concentration is Carvalhido outcrop, which serves as the north limit of the beach. Salgueira Beach is located to the North and the Port of Póvoa de Varzim to the south. These beaches have a specific climate, by showing low diurnal temperature variation, just 4°C. Compared with the rest of the territory, rainfall is significantly lower and solar irradiation higher. These are subject to the prevailing northern winds which arise in the summer after midday, hence mornings are significantly less windy.HistoryThe beach is historically known as Praia de Banhos, Portuguese for Bathing Beach, contrasting with the Fisheries Beach, currently the Port of Póvoa de Varzim. it is the historical bathing beach of Póvoa de Varzim, that in the 19th century became the most popular tourist destination in Northern Portugal. Ramalho Ortigão, in the book As Praias de Portugal, states that Póvoa de Varzim is the great hostel for the inhabitants of the Minho province, for sea bathing or breathing the Sea air, as the marine layer is occasionally propelled to the beach by the south and western maritime winds during summertime, leaving an intense aroma. Ortigão states that in that time no other beach had such diversity and popularity.