Esposende, a coastal town known for its beach resorts, boasts of refreshing Atlantic breezes that sweep through the pine forests and sand dunes, while cows graze in the nearby pastures. The countryside surrounding the town has lost its pristine charm due to extensive development, but you may still come across the occasional ox cart on the streets. A new road runs along the seafront, and men and women in broad-brimmed hats can be seen tending to vineyards in the foothills. The beach, stretching across both sides of the Cávado estuary, is vast and exquisite. Anglers are ferried upstream in small fishing vessels that plod along the river. Although archaeological digs have uncovered the remains of a Roman city and necropolis, Esposende appears unaffected by this discovery.