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Worth-seeing
Too much to mention!
Maybe the main reason why the Costa de Prata is so renowned, is the huge number and quality of things to see and do.
The vast beaches, remarkable nature, special museums, historic cities and monastries, picturesque villages. It's really too much to mention but we try anyway.
Sub categories
World Heritages
No Less than 5 of the 14 Portuguese World Hertitage sites are located here
- Monastry of Alcobaça
- Monastry of Batalha
- Cultural landscape of Sintra
- Convent of Christ in Tomar
- University of Coimbra
11 Portuguese sites are on the Tentative List. This means the country has nominated these sites to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. You can find 2 of these sites in the Costa de Prata.
Exciting caves
Spectacular caves
In the nature park of Serra de Aire e dos Candeeiros you can visit several caves. All three give you a spectacular view below the surface of the earth. Some locations look extra special because of the stunning lighting. On a regular basis exhibitions are organised inside the caves.
These are the caves:
- Grutas Alvados/ San Antonio
- Grutas da Moeda
- Grutas Mira d’Aire
The latter won the price 'Natural wonder of Portugal'.
Special museums
From Buddha to Dino
Not only the Costa de Prata offers many historical buildings, there are also lots of interesting museums and sculpture parks. Often surprisingly modern and multimedial.
Indoor museums, open air exhibitions, excavations, you name it and its there. How about dinossaur footprints or the impressive Buddha Eden park?
Cosy markets
A unforgettable experience
Going to a market in the Silver Coast is a experience not easy to forget; a big difference with the markets in the UK is that you can buy almost anything you want. Clothes (casual but also costumes) and shoes till tools, rugs, distilling kettles, horse saddles and living animals like chickens, rabbits and puppies.
Nature and Culture
To enjoy!
Both nature- and culture lovers won´t miss a thing in this region. Naturepark Serra d’Aire e Candeeiros for instance is 400 km2 large and a real paradise for hikers and mountain-bikers. The large amount of historical buildings and cities, de farmers markets, the (fado) concerts and museums making the Portuguese culture palpable.
Culturally very rich area where you can easily spend a whole day
On the 'edge' of the Costa de Prata you can find one of the most de meest interesting places of Portugal.
Palácio Nacional de Sintra
This palace is one of the most important Portuguese examples of royal architecture. It is topped by two large twin chimneys built over the kitchen, which have become the symbol of Sintra. It is the best preserved medieval Royal Palace in Portugal. It is part of the Cultural landscape of Sintra, designated World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Palácio Nacional da Pena
This palace is the most remarkable example of Portuguese Romantic architecture. The palace stands on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon. It is a national monument and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also still in use for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials.
Castelo dos Mouros
The Moorish Castle dates back to the early days of the Moorish occupation of the Peninsula (the 8th century). The current building is the result of a renovation carried out in the 19th century. The views from its walls and towers are breathtaking.
Convento dos Capuchos
The monastery was built in 1560 by Dom Álvaro de Castro, in fulfillment of a vow by his father, Dom João de Castro. Its tiny cells, small chapel, refectory and other dependencies, installed in the rock and lined with cork, are a telling example of the humble and austere existence of the Franciscan friars who lived here.
Other places of interest in Sintra are: Parque da Pena, Quinta de Monserrate (park), Museu de Arte Moderna (museum of modern art), Museu do Brinquedo (toys museum), and Quinta da Regaleira (palace and gardens).
Endless pine forests, quiet beaches and Roman excavations
North of Nazaré and Sítio you can explore endless pine forests and quiet beaches: Praia do Norte, Praia da Légua, Vale Furado. Some beaches are guarded in the summer season, so you can safely swim there when the sea behaves itself. On the other beaches swimming is prohibited, because of the steeply sloping sand banks and the strong undertow in the ocean. South of Nazaré there is another beach, the vast Praia do Salgado.
North and south of Nazaré and Sitio there are two marked hiking trails, that take you to beaches, forests and rocks.
On the east side, between Nazaré and Valado dos Frades, in the middle of the woods, you will find a lookout on Mount São Bartlomeu (S. Brás), from where you can see the whole area.
Along the road from Valado dos Frades to Alcobaça, you will find on your left the porcelain factory of SPAL. At the factory outlet you can buy Portuguese porcelain with decorations from very simple to very exuberant, all at reasonable prices.
On the right side of this road, at the village Bárrio, you can find the archaeological site Parreitas. Here are for instance the foundations of an ancient Roman villa.
Water feature
When it rains the water is cascading over a carpet of large granite blocks and is collected in a huge basin.
The water is filtered in a natural way in the stomach and lead to a public fountain for the people of Mendiga. (2480 Porto de Mós)
In the park you find a educative model of the water mining. There is also a children playground, a public bbq and toilets.
The caves of the fox
The Grutas da Moeda are in São Mamede, on a distance of about 2 kilometres of Fátima. The caves were discovered in 1971 by 2 hunters who were following a fox. The fox escaped in a large cavity surrounded by bushes. The hunters were curious so they decided to enter the cavity, and that way they discovered the caves.
The corridors open to the public are 350 meters long, and reach a depth of 45 meters. The temperature inside the caves is very constant, always around 18˚ C.
More...
Back from the Past
In February 2018 the Dino Parque is opened, a large park near Lourinhã where you can see many dinosaurs in full size.
At Bairro (between Fátima and Torres Novas) you can see a trail (almost 150 meters long) of dinosaur footprints, called the Pedreira do Galinha. The footprints date back 175 million years. You can see all of the excavation from the footpath along the trail.
Dinosaur museum
In Lourinhã you can visit the Museu da Lourinhã, where you can see fossilised bones, footprints, eggs and even embryos from Jurassic dinosaurs.
Parque dos Monges: for active monks (and everyone else)
Just outside Alcobaça is the Parque dos Monges (Monks Park). This is a very large park offering recreation, adventure and education.
There is an eco-aquarium “Mãe d’Água”, a convent farm, craft workshops, a themepark (where you can do some canoeing on the lake, mountainclimbing, archery, rope sliding), and much more.
The history of the monastry, a lovestory
The Real Abadia (royal abbey) de Santa Maria is in many ways the heart of Alcobaça.
It all started when King Afons I promised to give some land to saint Bernard if he would succeed in conquering the city of Santarém from the Moors. He succeeded in 1147, and in 1178 the Cistercians started building the monastry, and finished it some 45 years later. Soon it became the most important cistercian monastry in Portugal. Both church and monastry are originally gothic buildings. Later new parts were added to the monastry in different styles, like the 2 baroque towers.
Originally the complex was much bigger, but the earthquake of 1755, and the occupation by the French early 19th century, destroyed large parts of the monastry. What remained however is still a large complex, partly open to the public. A visit is certainly worthwhile, you can see things like the cloisters, the lavatory, the impressive kitchen, the dormitory, etc.
A lovestory
In the church lie the remains of Pedro I and Inês de Castro, each in their own tomb. Their love story is the most famous story in Portugal.
Pedro, son of Afonso IV, was about to marry the galician Constança. She arrived at the Portuguese court together with her maid of honour Inês. Pedro and Inês fell totally in love with eachother. This worried Afonso IV so much he decided to send Inês back to Burgos. Pedro and Constança got married, but Pedro could not forget Inês.
When Constança died in 1345, Pedro and Inês reunited, and the secretly got married. Together they hd 4 children. Afonso IV however still could not accept their love, and ordered Inês to be killed in 1355: she was decapitated by hitmen. Pedro was furious and wanted revenche. After his accession to the throne in 1357 he immediately ordered the hitman, who fled to Galicia, to be extradicted. After they arrived in Santarém Pedro demanded them to be tortured until death, and put their bodies on display afterwards.
In 1361 Pedro ordered Inês' body to be balmed, dressed as a queen, and put her on a throne next to him at the cathedral. All members of the nobility and the assembly were forced to kiss her hand, and by that Inês was posthumously crowned. Then her royal body was brought to Alcobaça and placed in a sarcophagus. On Pedro's command his own sarcophagus was put opposite of Inês so that when they both rise on judgment day, the first thing they see will be each other.
Popular market with varied supply
In Malveira, a few kilometers east of Mafra, there is a large market on Thursdays. It is a very popular market, every week people from all over the region come to Malveira on market day.
There are all kinds of things for sale: fish, vegetables and fruit, clothes, furniture, tools, chickens and rabbits, and much more.
Experience magical sensations!
Nature is the keyword in the Pia do Urso Eco-Sensory park. Natural scents, sounds and shapes take your senses on a magical trip.
This the first park especially for the visual impaired in Portugal. It's aim is to offer new experiences with different senses, like touch and smell. But do not misunderstand, the park is a wonderful experience for everyone!
Traditional features and materials are also part of the park, so visitors can also learn about the history of the area.
Along the paths you also cross natural stone bassins, which were formed during the course of ages by erosion. They say dat long ago bears used these bassins as bathtubs.
In the shadow cast by the enormous oak trees around the parking you can relax and have a picknick.
Artisanal salt production from underground source
The Salinas, or salt pans, are 3 kilometers from Rio Maior, ate the base of the Serras de Aire e de Candeeiros.
Salt is still being produced today, using traditional methods, and stored in the same way as 8 centuries ago. The salt pans are wide and deep, and the salt water springs from an ancient well.
The water is very salt, much saltier than seawater. The water is pumped up to fill the shallow stone or cement ponds (marinhas do sal).
After 8 days the water has evaporated, and the salt is stored in the wooden houses. The locks and keys of these houses are all made from wood, like in the Roman ages.
There is also a hiking trail, a restaurant, some cafes, and a tourist office.
Portugues sentimental song full of melancholy
Fado is the most popular folk music in Portugal. This Portuguese of way singing about life can be traced back to early 19th century. It originates from the poor districts of Lisbon. Fado literally means “fate” (from the Latin word “fatum”), and fado is part of every Portuguese person’s life.
The songs are about things that happen in life, melancholy, sadness, nostalgia for what no longer exists, but also about happiness and feasts. The Portuguese word for these feelings is “saudade”. This is such a typical Portuguese word, in other languages there is no translation for it.
There are two varieties of fado, namely those of the cities of Lisbon and Coimbra. The Lisbon style is the most popular, and was orginally sung by women only. Coimbra's fado has a more academic character, and is exclusively sung by men.
Since the revival of fado in the nineties of the 20th century, fado gets more and more famous internationally, and reaches more people every day. Amalia Rodrigues is considered to be one of the most important and influential fadistas ever.
In both Lisbon and Coimbra there are some fado restaurants where (professional) fadistas (fado singers) perform their songs. Lisbon’s districts Bairro Alto, Alfama and Mouraria, are very well known for their fado restaurants.
Also in the Costa de Prata, several restaurants offer a complete night out, with diner and music. Prebookings are usually mandatory.
In November 2011 the Portuguese Fado was added to Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Islands close to Peniche are beautiful nature reserve
The Berlengas archipelago, Ilhas Berlengas, is a group of small islands off the Portuguese coast at about 10 km. from Peniche. The whole of the archipelago is a nature reserve.
The islands are uninhabited, only on the main island some people live on a permanent basis. They take care of the lighthouse, and control the reserve.
Some native plant species can be found on the islands. Also the islands are a breeding ground for many bird species, and they offer stopover space to migrating birds.
The largest island is Berlenga Grande. Here you can find the São João Baptista fort, built in 1502 in manuelino style. The fort is connected to the island by a narrow bridge. The fort was partly converted into a pousada (hotel).
Around the fort fishermen offer boattrips, to show you the island from sea, so you can see some caves and interesting rock formations.
To see everything the island has to offer you can follow the marked footpath. This takes you to the fort, caves, the lighthouse, beautiful beaches with crystal clear water, and to some spots that give you spectacular views.
The islands also attract many divers who enjoy the beautiful underwater flora and fauna.
From May to October the islands are open to the public. From the harbour of Peniche you can take the boat, the crossing takes about 45 minutes. It is recommended to make reservations for the boattrip, especially during summer months, because only a limited number of people per day are allowed on the island.
Caldas da Rainha has a history of the artisanal and industrial production of ceramics. The colourful azulejos (tiles) are a good example. The history of ceramics in this town is also the 'raw material' for contemporary artists.
Ceramics workshops and museums:
- Museu da Cerâmica: exhibition of an important collection of ceramics from the 16th to the 20th century. The museum is located in a beautiful villa, surrounded by gardens.
- Casa Museu de São Rafael: exhibition of ceramics by the artist São Rafael, made by the Bordallo Pinheiro factory.
www.bordallopinheiro.com - Atelier-Museu António Duarte: exhibition of work by of sculptor António Duarte (1912-1998)
- Atelier-Museu João Fragoso: exhibition of work by sculptor João Fragoso (1913-2000)
Other museums:
- Museu do Hospital e das Caldas da Rainha: museum on 5 centuries of medicinal springs, and the thermal hospital in Caldas da Rainha. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, carvings, clothing, furniture, ceramics, and medical / scientific instruments.
- Museu Barata Feyo: exhibition of work by sculptor Barata Feyo (1899-1990)
- Museu José Malhoa: exhibitions of paintings by José Malhoa (1855-1933), and work by other Portuguese artists
- Espaço Concas: exhibition of paintings by Maria da Conceição Nunes, also known as Concas (1946-1991), in the Centro de Artes
- Museu do Ciclismo: exhibition on cycling in Portugal
In Coimbra you can visit Portugal dos Pequenitos, or Portugal for the Little Ones. It is a recreational-educational park intended primarily for children.
The park has thematic areas, like Monumental Portugal (miniatures of the country’s main monuments), Portuguese-speaking countries (representation of a.o. African countries, Brazil, Macau), The Islands (main monuments of Madeira and Azores), Coimbra, and Regional Houses.
You can also visit the Dress museum, that has around 300 miniature outfits on display from the 16th to the 20th century. Everything was handmade, and donated to the museum in 1950.
There is also a Barbie museum, the collection on display is the largest in Portugal and possibly one of the biggest in Europe, is composed of over 300 dolls. It includes the original Barbie of 1959, the Barbies of the world, the Hollywood collection, Barbies dressed by couturiers of international reputation, and many more.
Portugal dos Pequenitos also stands out as a high-quality display of sculptures and architectural art, the miniature size and detail of which continues to charm children and adults.