The Silver Coast (Costa de Prata) may look appealing, but there are two very nasty potential surprises for anyone thinking of buying or renting villas overlooking the Portuguese Atlantic Ocean;
a) the Portuguese Water Resources Ownership law (no. 54/2005) of 2005 (ratified in 2014) which mandates the destruction of Silver Coast seaside / oceanfront villas too close to the waterline (don't listen to the real estate sales people, get a certificate from the local camara / land office).
b) the impending La Palma Mega Tsunami, as a large section of the island has slipped and threatens to crash into the sea making the 1755 Portuguese earthquake tsunami look like a drop in the Atlantic Ocean.
For full details, see: Portugal Beachfront Property Warning
Silver Coast / Costa de Prata towns / villages / villa real estate / property areas potentially affected are Foz do Arelho beach, Obidos Laguna, Sao Martinho do Porto, Peniche, Baleal beach, Caldas da Rainha, Berlenga Island, Cabo Carvoeiro, Praia da Consolacao, Peniche, Santa Cruz, Torres Vedras, Praia D'El Rey, Praia da Areia Branca, Lorinha, Ferrel, Salir do Porto, Nazare and Areia Branca.
It makes sense when you look at the fact the Portuguese themselves have refrained from building villages and towns on the Silver Coast; Fatima, Sintra, Ourem, Mafra, Leiria, Alcobaça and Batalha all being inland. The reasons for this are the 1755 tsunami and the very strong Atlantic storm winds and rain that often pound the Costa de Prata from autumn through winter into spring. These storms may not always even reach the Silver Coast but their waves do, hence the reason it is a surfer's paradise. But Atlantic weather systems and large waves meant the Portuguese built their properties well away from the coast, with good reason.
Foz do Arelho has many ocean view villas and is one of the twelve parishes in the municipality of Caldas da Rainha, Portugal; it is 8 km west of Caldas da Rainha.
Óbidos (Lation: Oppidum meaning "citadel") is a town with a few Atlantic view villas in the Oeste Subregion of Portugal. The Obidos mouth lagoon / laguna has several villas at threat from law no. 54/2005.
São Martinho do Porto is a parish in Alcobaça Municipality, in the Oeste Subregion of Portugal. The beachfront area has several villas at risk from the Portuguese Water Resources Ownership law.
Baleal Beach is on a small island located 4 kilometres north of Peniche, in the western region of Portugal. It is a favourite with surfers and Atlantic Ocean View Villa developers alike. But one day Baleal Beach will get a much larger series of waves then surfers want, and many villas are at risk under Portuguese lei no. 54/2005
Caldas da Rainha (administrative centre of Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste) is a medium-sized city in western central Portugal (district of Leiria, Estremadura). Tsunami fears have kept villa prices down, but several have been built that may well fall foul of the Portuguese Water Resources Ownership law.
Peniche (including Ferrel) is a seaside villa area / municipality and city in the Portuguese Oeste Subregion (formerly Estremadura Province). Many ocean view villas here are at risk of course from large waves including tsunamis and the waterfront reclamation law.
Berlenga Island (Berlenga Grande / Berlengas archipelago) is part of the Reserva Natural das Berlengas, a protected area and where any sea view villas are at extreme risk of demolition for being too close to the ocean and / or being built on protected land.
Cabo Carvoeiro is the westernmost point of the Peniche peninsula, on the Atlantic ocean coast, in the Peniche municipality of the Portuguese Oeste Subregion. It overlooks the Berlengas islands and has several Atlantic view villas.
Consolacao Beach (Praia da Consolação) is a favourite with windsurfers and many villa property developers and is in the parish of Peniche.
Santa Cruz, not the Santa Cruz on Madeira but the so called queen of "Oeste" beaches is home to many beachfront properties which may have fallen foul of Portuguese law 54/2005.
Torres Vedras Beach is in Torres Vedras municipality in the Portuguese district of Lisbon. Torres Vedras Beach was destroyed by the Lisbon tsunami of 1775 and has several ocean view villas at risk.
Praia D'El Rey Golf & Beach Resort Villas may have glossy brochures promising all is well, but it is advisable to avoid the sales people and look at what is happening behind the scenes.
Praia da Areia Branca / Lourinhã is a favourite with villa builders but make extra sure yours does not contravene the Portuguese Water Resources Ownership law, and that you have a tsunami warning system to give you enough time to reach higher ground.
Salir do Porto / Rio Tornada has several lagoon view villas.
Nazaré is the Leiria District of subregion Oeste and Leiria has probably some of the most nervous villa owners on the Silver Coast / Costa de Prata, Portugal as a result of Portuguese law 54/2005. Many seafront / oceanfront villas are at risk.
Areia Branca Beach (Praia da Areia Branca) Foz do rio Grande na Praia. Where a lot of foreigners have built Oceanside villas at risk under law 54/2005.
For full details, see: Portugal Beachfront Property Warning
The Silver Coast or "Costa de Prata" in Portugal is a villa owner's dream turned possible nightmare!
