SURROUNDINGS

Beautiful sculpture garden in Bombarral

With an area of ​​no less than 35 hectares, Bacalhôa Buddha Eden harmoniously brings together the world of Buddhism with its oriental sculptures and modern art. You can explore the garden at your leisure or take the little train that transports you among the most beautiful works of art.

Superb medieval and fortified city, one of the most picturesque and best preserved in Portugal.

The city of Obidos, close enough to the capital and the Atlantic coast, is situated at the top of a rocky outcrop and was once of strategic importance for the defense of the territory. Already populated before the Roman invasion, the city enjoyed great prosperity under the royal influence.

A beautiful city with an old neighborhood

Santarém is a small modern European city which, with its 63,000 inhabitants, is the administrative heart of the province of Ribatejo. To see: three beautiful churches.  The city is famous for its arena where only the best toros compete for the favors of the forum.

The center is formed by the Largo Sà da Bandeira, which also houses the church "Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Piedade". Rua Serpa Pinto runs along this square.

The beach of Nazaré, with its mild climate and natural beauty, preserves one of the oldest fishing traditions of Portugal.

The long beach of sickle-shaped white sand, bordered by the sea, is renowned for its size and colorful beach cabins that contrast with the blue water.  This is the Portuguese beach known for his fishingtradition. Here, still according to tradition, you will see women  from fishermen who still wear seven skirts.

Church and monastery, the first Gothic buildings in Portugal

Alcobaça has a famous monastery, one of the first Gothic buildings in Portugal. This is the Cistercian monastery of the twelfth century "Santa Maria de Alcobaça".

The history of the monastery is closely linked to the Portuguese royal family and the struggle to repel the influence of the Moors.

The Gothic dream

Cultural City, with the magnificent monastery listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List is one of the most popular attractions of Bathala.  It is also one of the greatest masterpieces of Gothic architecture in the world.

The salt banks of Rio Maior

The salt banks of Rio Maior are located at the foot of the Serra dos Candeeiros mountains and about 3 km from Rio Maior, in a vast valley near Fonte da Bica, in a place called Marinhas do Sal. The salt banks cover the bottom of a gray-white patchwork of geometric shapes that form an unusual landscape in the middle of the mountains.

Fortaleza de Peniche and Cabo Cavoeiro Peniche

Peniche is inextricably linked to the sea. It is one of the most important Portuguese fishing ports for artisanal fishing and a large water sports center in the Atlantic Ocean. Before going to the beach, you must absolutely visit the historic center. Next to the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios and the churches of Igreja de Sao Pedro and Igreja da Misericordia, you will find Peniche Fort. This fort was built in the 16th and 17th centuries to defend the coast as well as the fort of Praia da Consolação and the fort of Ilha das Berlengas.

Obidos Lagoon.

The bay is located three kilometers northwest of the fortified city and west of Caldas da Rainha. The Obidos Lagoon extends to the Atlantic Ocean and has a maximum length of six kilometers and a width of 1 to 1.5 kilometers. In the past, the lagoon reached the city walls of Obidos. There are still many waterfowl and migratory birds, such as the flamingo.

Nice view of the valley.

The lime mountains of Montejunto were declared protected landscapes in 1999. The area covers 5,000 ha. resembles an island in the middle of a landscape of agriculture and forestry.

Protection is mainly focused on the conservation of biodiversity. From there, beautiful view of the valley. Down the Montejunto possibility of tasting local wines in Quinta do Gradil.

In the heart of Caldas da Rainha you will find Praça Da Republica, the town square known for its daily fruit market (until 2 pm). Today, Caldas is best known for its fruit growing and the production of traditional ceramics (Museu de Cerâmica), as well as for its heat treatments.

Monte da Lua (mountain of the moon) magical place where the inhabitants and the nature live in a harmony so perfect that UNESCO inscribed it on the list of the world inheritance.

Pena Palace is located at the top of a hill, 450 meters above sea level, above the town of Sintra. It was the former summer palace of the Portuguese royal family.

Castelo dos Mouros is located on a hill overlooking the town of Sintra. This castle is located in the district of Sâo Pedro de Penaferrim. This complex, as well as the entire Sintra region, are on the World Heritage List of UNESCO since 1995. The walls of the castle are 450 meters long.

Unlike the sobriety of Covento dos Capuchos, you will find all the splendor at Parque e Palacio de Monserrate.

This magnificent palace is inspired by the Duomo of Florence and you can also see many Gothic and Moorish influences. In the impressive tropical garden of the palace you will find no less than 24 varieties of palms and roses of all colors.

Mafra is a pretty small town

The city has one of the largest and most extravagant palaces in Europe, the Palacio de Mafra. This huge complex includes a monastery, an ornate basilica and a library of more than 36,000 ancient books and also a colony of bats!

Lisbon, capital of Portugal, is a city where you will be happy to explore every neighborhood and every street. It is a pleasant and safe city with a huge tourist potential.

Some places are not to be missed, such as the historic districts of Alfama and Castelo, with wonderful views of the city and the Tajo River. It is essential to visit the district of Belém with the two world heritage sites Torre Torre da Gama and Monteiro dos Jeronimos Monastery with its church where the poet Luis Camoes rests. In Belém there is also the Museu dos Coches (royal coach museum) which is worth a visit. And do not forget to buy some "pastéis de nata", a delicacy found at Pastéis Belém.

Thomas, The city of Templars

The city where the Order of Templars was once located, is a charming city endowed with a great artistic and cultural wealth. The visit is centered around the Covento Monastery of Cristo, one of the most important Portuguese buildings of the Renaissance.

These caves discovered in 1947 whose entry is at 300 meters above sea level, but whose interior depth is up to 180 meters. They were formed 150 million years ago, Jurassic period, when the dinosaurs lived in this region and left their traces, which are still visible today. The caves are illuminated by lights that emphasize the beauty of the stalagmite and stalactite forms. During the visit, the guide shows the strange limestone forms that have appeared over millions of years.

Discover the Dino Park.

A dinosaur theme park. Stroll through the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratopos to learn more about this Jurassic park in Lourinha.