Local Attractions & Places of Interest

Surfing at Peniche

Widely recognised as the best and most consistent surf spot in Portugal, the peninsula of Peniche offers a north and south-facing coastline. The result is finest surfing conditions everyday regardless of the swell and wind direction.

You will always find a spot where the wind is blowing offshore, creating perfect shaped waves. Within a 15 Km stretch of coastline you'll find more than 20 spots for every type of surfer, ranging from beginner to expert level.

The Queen's Bath Spa in Caldas

The town was founded by Dona Leonor, Queen of Portugal in 1485 as a centre for thermal cures, a bountiful fruit farming area and a productive ceramic industry. Dona Leonor chose this location to be the seat for her personal creation, the charitable Foundação da Misericórdia that is still very active in Portugal today. The original purpose of the Foundation was to build and manage hospitals and homes for the old and needy. Today, the Foundation has spread its wings and diversified its activities.

In this town the original Chapel of the first Misericórdia hospital was used as a base for the 15th Century present Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, designed and built by Diogo Boitac, the same architect who created the imposing Mosteiro dos Jeróminos in Belém in Lisbon. This Church is reputed to be the largest ever built within Portugal. Other than this church the there are two more places of main interest. The first is the Museu de José Malhoa that is named after an accomplished artist of the late 19th and early 20th Century. This museum also houses the works of his contemporaries, particularly that of the equally famous ceramist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro. The second place is the Museu de Cerâmica housed in the old home of the Visconde de Sacavém that has a large collection of hand painted objects including tiles from the last two centuries. Also in this town is a national museum devoted to the sport of Cycling.

Fishing Village-Nazaré

It is the most famous fishing town in Portugal. The Phoenicians had first settled there as early as 12 BC. Today their descendants can be seen going out to fish the sea in boats with high curved prows painted with eyes, a relic of an ancient cult.
Located high on the cliff overlooking the town is Sítio, reached by a funicular railway that climbs 110 metres to the top. Featuring two Baroque belfries and fine 18th-century tiles inside, the 17th-century shrine of Our Lady of Nazaré looks down on a spectacular view of the bay. Nearby, just 13 km south of Nazaré, is the beautiful town of São Martinho do Porto that has a fine sandy beach suitable for families with young children.

Foz do Arelho is located 8 km west of Caldas da Rainha, in the Northwest end of the borough, and is limited north by the Atlantic Ocean and by the parish of Serra do Bouro. The south is bordered by the ocean basin of Lagoa de Óbidos (Óbidos Lagoon) and the parish of Nadadouro. East by the limits between the parishes of Serra do Bouro and Nadadouro and West by the ocean basin of Lagoa de Óbidos and the Atlantic Ocean. Foz do Arelho started as a small village belonging to the parish of Serra do Bouro, and later became a parish in July the 5th, 1919. As far as we know, Foz do Arelho has always been a seasonal vacation resort, chosen by the elite families of the regions. Worthy of note, was the wealthy businessman Francisco Almeida Grandela, who promoted several local activities, such as schools, etc… which helped to develop the region, and increased the life-quality of the local inhabitants.

Today, the parish of Foz do Arelho covers a total area of 9,125 km² with 2,073 inhabitants, most of whom work in nearby Caldas da Rainha, but in recent years and increasing number of locals have been engaged in the leisure and tourism industry, seafood fishing (bivalve molluscs), and agriculture. Quinta de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe is an ancient manor house and farm, dating back to the 16th century. It includes a chapel, built in 1580 which can be seen, engraved in stone over the main entrance door, the chapel also has a stone bearing the "Medeiros" arms. Inside there is a polychromatic wood sculpture, dating back to the 16th century, representing N. Sra. do Carmo. Foz do Arelho has several magnificent beaches between the confluence of lagoa de Óbidos and the Atlantic Ocean. One can choose between swimming and sailing in the calm warm waters of the salt water lagoon, or surf and swim in the colder waters of the Atlantic.

Golden Eagle golf course at Rio Maior

Situated near Rio Maior, some 60 kilometres from Lisboa, the Golden Eagle Golf & Country Club is one of the newest jewels of Portuguese golf. Formerly access was restricted to members and their guests, but since August 1997 it is now open to visitors.

Designed by the U.S. architect Rocky Roquemore, the course covers 90 hectares, and is framed by a landscape in which beautiful local flora and gentle pines, decorative eucalyptuses and acacias all stand out. Its design is typical of the modern U.S. school, which means target golf is the most important point. The course totals 6,200 metres of championship tees for a Par 72 (37+35).

On the first round, look out for hole 6, a Par 4 of 354 metres, in which the golfer has to hit the second shot over trees strategically placed in front of the fairway. On the second round, pay attention at hole number 10 (354 metres). Here, in order to get a Par 4, the player has to make a second shot over the water onto a not very deep green.

The Monastery at Alcobaca

Few monuments of outstanding universal importance have been so closely tied to the history of a people than the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria in Alcobaca, It was founded in 1153-the year of the death of St. Bernard, one of the great spiritual leaders of the Cistercian order, on land granted to the Cistercians by Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, in gratitude for their contribution to the re-conquest of his country from the Moors. The "white monks"--so called because of their white habits, symbolizing the austerity and purity of monastic life-built one of the most beautiful monastic houses in Europe on this site. It stands as testimony to the distinguished religious, cultural, political and social role they played in the emergence of a nation which by virtue of its great maritime discoveries would become a beacon of Christian civilization throughout the world.

The Cistercians had arrived in Portugal ten years earlier, just after the kingdom had been recognized by Castile. They took an active part in strengthening the nation, notably as organizers of agriculture. These "agronomist monks" maintained close ties with the Portuguese sovereigns, who in return granted them considerable powers, including the right to create boroughs by charter in order to clear and populate the land around them. The monastery soon began to prosper. In the thirteenth century Alcobaca was a rich and influential community whose authority stretched over vast fertile lands, thirteen boroughs, four sea ports and two castles.

Shrine at Fátima

The famous town in Costa de Prata famous for the religious visions that are said to have taken place there in 1917 with approximately 10,000 inhabitants and located in the district of Santarém in central Portugal, 187 km south of Porto and 123 km north of Lisbon. Fátima is a parish (freguesia) in the municipality of Ourém.The name of the city (formerly a small village) comes from the Arabic Fahima or Fatima, and derives from a local Muslim princess named Fatima who, following her capture by Christian forces during the Moorish occupation of Portugal, Twas betrothed to the Count of Ourem, converted to Catholicism, and was baptised before marrying the Count in 1158. Her baptismal name was Oureana (Oriana). The name of the town Ourém derives from Oureana. Fátima's claim to fame is the shrine called the Sanctuary of Fátima, built to commemorate the events of 1917 when three peasant children claimed to have seen the "Virgin of the Rosary", Our Lady of Fatima. Fátima now attracts hosts of believers from far and wide, including 3 million tourists annually. The shrine has been developed on a correspondingly large scale. The large torch-light processions in the evening are particularly impressive.

The pilgrims gather in Cova da Iria, on a huge esplanade in which is built a little chapel where the Virgin is believed to have appeared to the children. Around the esplanade are a considerable number of shops and stalls selling all kinds of religious articles. On the far side of the esplanade rises the gigantic basilica, in neo-classical style, with a central tower 65 meters high, the construction of which was begun on 13 May 1928. It is flanked by colonnades linking it with the extensive conventual and hospital buildings. In the basilica are the tombs of two of the three seers, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto, who died in 1919 and 1920 respectively, and were beatified in 2000. The third seer, Lúcia dos Santos, died in 2005. Now Lúcia's tomb is also in the Basilica.

Roman Salt Mines in Rio Maior

In the Roman times, salt was considered the coin of trade, and it still is today for the people in this region. Rio Maior, located in the west coast of Portugal, produces large amounts of salt each year, most of which is exported to other European countries. A good example is Germany, which receives about one hundred tons per year.

In a valley, about 30 Km away from the sea, there is an underground river dissolving the rock salt during its course. This salty water (7 times saltier than the water from the Atlantic Ocean) is then extracted from a well with the help of a motor bomb. After this process, the water is stored in hundreds of tanks, where it remains for about a week. During this week, the water evaporates gradually until only salt remains in the tanks. Then, the salt is kept in a warehouse so it can be dried. Finally, the salt is ready to be sold to the industry. As a matter of fact, about 1500 tons are produced each year.

If you want to find out more about salt production as well as about this region, go and visit it. There is much more to see, as, for example, the houses, which are entirely made of wood because of the corrosion of the salt. It is indeed a nice place to visit.

Golf at Praia d’el Rey

Championship golf course and its superb beach happily nestle side-by-side with the ancient, picturesque charm of medieval Óbidos whilst Foz do Arelho offers easy access to the beautiful Óbidos lagoon and the lively bars and restaurants around its shores. Lisbon is 45 minutes away and not to be missed. It is a beautiful city with a richly deserved reputation for the warmth of its welcome and is recognised as one of the most sophisticated capital cities.

Like most of Portugal the Silver Coast comprises mainly small towns and villages; 3 million of Portugal’s population are in the two major cities of Lisbon and Porto with the remainder spread across the country. Consequently overcrowded roads and oppressive cities are not to be found. Small town and village life may move at a different pace to that which you are used to at home and adjusting to this healthy pace is part of the pleasure of being on holiday.Visits to the fascinating towns and villages of this region are made on relatively quiet roads and offer rich rewards. Fátima is an easy drive as are Alcobaça and Tomar.
Eating out is both affordable and satisfying; there are top-class restaurants to sample as well as very reasonably priced eating-out. Tempting seafood is a speciality and can be enjoyed with a chilled bottle of white from the region.
You will find modern-day Portuguese people to be exceptionally friendly and visits to the many non-touristy destinations, which abound in our area immensely rewarding.
If you want you can soak up the sun on one of countless beaches; play golf on a stunning links course or take in the history and culture with which this area abounds - the choice is yours!

The historic centre of Evora is also a UNESCO world-heritage site. Situated about 130 kms from Lisbon, in the Alentejo district, Evora was first settled by the Romans, who knew it as Liberalitas Julia. The ruins of the Temple of Diana, the only Roman architecture of its type remaining in Portugal can still be seen. Down the centuries, it has been used variously as a brothel and a slaughterhouse after the Romans had moved on. In the middle ages Evora was one of the more prosperous regions of the country and the vestiges of its wealth can be seen in the numerous monuments that can be visited. One of the more bizarre sights is the 15th century Capela de Ossos or Chapel of Bones, which is lined with the remains of the monks who previously lived and worked there.

There are a number of very good restaurants in Evora, which make a suitable retreat when the Alentejan heat becomes too fierce.

Lisbon. If you are visiting Lisbon we would suggest that you leave your car at the airport and get a cab into town. Cabs are plentiful and cheap and if you get one up to the highest point in the city at the ‘Castelo São’ Jorge you can save yourself a wearying climb! Remember - it is always hotter in Lisbon. The views from the top over the Tagus estuary and the city are spectacular. Although Lisbon has become a major cosmopolitan destination it still retains some of the atmosphere of a village. It is very much a lived-in city and each bairro or district has its own identity.

As you meander down from the castle you will come to the ‘Alfama’ district with its narrow shopping alleys and shady corners. If you are looking for one of the most happening scenes in Europe for nightlife head for the Bairro Alto which is transformed at dusk into a pulsating area of chic restaurants and lively bars and clubs.

A more contemplative and cooling time can be spent at the wonderful Oceanarium, which is located in the Expo98 site on the banks of the Tagus. Excellent shopping, all under one roof, is available at the vast Colombo Shopping Centre at Benfica. Your guidebook will give you a much more comprehensive idea of what Lisbon has to offer.

Òbidos is a medieval walled town, which enjoys a magnificent present-day state of repair as a result of its status as the traditional gift from Portuguese kings to their wives. The monarchy was overthrown only in 1910 and Óbidos reflects the benefits of its patronage until these relatively recent times. Within the walls are fascinating alleys, which have become home to high-class handicraft and gift shops as well as bars and restaurants of repute.The town is a very popular stopping-off point for tourist buses from Lisbon so it might be a good idea to take advantage of being on the doorstep and make your visit in the early evening when the crowds have gone and you can enjoy the atmosphere at leisure.

Situated on a slope on the north bank of the River Tagus, Santarem is the centre of the rich agricultural plains of the Ribatejo where mounted herdsmen still drive the black fighting bulls to pasture. S. Francisco convent, a13th century Gothic building with Gothic stone chair, Manueline cloister and arches. The Graca church is exuberantly Gothic in style and contains the tomb of Pedro Alvares Cabral, Explorer and famous discoverer of Brazil.