Espinho

Portugal's northwest coast is known as the Costa Verde (Green Coast) and offers some scenic beaches, albeit with cold Atlantic waters, which make this resort area less popular than the southerly Algarve. The main centre on this coast is the fish-canning area turned resort town of Espinho, 11 miles (18km) south of Porto, with a long stretch of golden sandy beach that is popular with surfers, a casino and a bullfight ring, as well as a range of shops, restaurants, hotels and campsites. The town also boasts one of the oldest golf courses in the world, dating from 1890, an impressive holiday attraction. The Monday market is a popular draw, occupying three sity streets with stalls selling local food, crafts, souvenirs and other items. Espinho also hosts an international animated film festival, the Cinanima Festival, each November.