This city 'The queen's hot springs', arose around a health resort

Queen Leonor de Bragança, wife of king João I, was travelling one day in 1484, when she saw peasants bathing in very smelly water in the Óbidos area.

She asked them why they did that, and they told her dat the water was benificial for people suffering from rheumatism and arthritis. Suffering from rheumatism herself, she decided to take a bath, and noticed that it indeed helped her feel better. As it turned out it was not just smelly water, in fact they were warm sulphur springs. Leonor sold all her jewelry and used the money to build a thermal hospital. The first patients already arrived in 1488, and it took until 1497 to complete all buildings.

Citypark

Around the health resort a beautiful park was created, the Parque Dom Carlos I. It still is the green heart of the city. It is a great place for a walk, and while you're there: there are a few museums in the park, so a great opportunity to visit them.

In the centre of Caldas da Rainha you can visit the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, the former chapel of the thermal hospital. It was built in manuelino style.

Ceramics

Caldas da Rainha is very famous for its ceramics. Every year in July there is a ceramics fair, the Feira Nacional da Cerâmica. The city has several workshops and museums, like the Casa Museu de São Rafael: exhibition of cermics by artist São Rafael, manufactured by the Bordallo Pinheiro factory.
There is a Bordallo Pinheiro route that will take you through the city, not only will you get to know the city, but there are several ceramic sculptures on the route. Can you find them all?

City Guide

There is a City Guide Caldas da Rainha app, available in Portuguese and English. Follow this link to download the app.