The center of port life in Cascais was always Praia da Reibeira, also known as Praia dos Pescadores or Praia do Peixe.
Fishermen and varinas (fisher-ladies) in the mid XX Century.
Cascais witnessed, throughout history, several attacks by corsairs and pirates, as well as invasions by enemies who wanted to conquer Portugal. The conflicts of 1383-1385 that involved Portugal and Castile, as well as the invasion led by the Duke of Alba, in 1580, and the various acts of privateering and piracy documented from the 15th century onwards, show the strategic importance of Cascais as a gateway for enemy forces coming by sea [reference]. Hence, the Cascais coast has been heavily fortified over the centuries. The location where Casa Rosa was inside the earliest maps of the fortified town.
In 1992, the opportunity arose to carry out archaeological surveys in a house just 100 meters away from Casa Rosa. While renovating the house on Rua Marques Leal Pancada, an attempt was made to locate one of the old doors in the turret of the Cascais Castle, shown in plans from the late 16th century. But surprise, surprise, a complete fish canning factory dating to the Roman period (1st century AC) was found. Fragments of amphorae (pottery containers used for far-away transportation of agricultural products) were also collected, among other ceramics, and three sesterces of Emperor Domitian, Trajan and Hadrian and an asse of Emperor Antoninus Pius. To see the ruins just walk towards the beach for 1 minute.
Although for a long time nearby Restelo (in the outskirts of Lisbon) was indicated as the first arrival place for Christopher Columbus after his first trip from discovering America, modern historians indicate that it was actually Cascais. On the 4th of March of 1943 in the middle of a strong storm, the Niña ship entered the Cascais port (today Praia da Ribeira). Just imagine the people at Praia da Ribeira over 500 years ago welcoming Columbus and his crew after seeing their ship trying to stay afloat in what locals were calling the worst storm ever, only to learn of their discovery of America!
Enjoy this short video of the last 650 year history of Cascais: