Nature and Culture
Triumphal arch with sea-view
On the south-eastern slope of the Cabeço Gordo, in Arrimal, 2480 Porto de Mós (39° 30' 6.08" N 8° 53' 45.32" W) stands an impressive triumphal arch.
According to the inscription it was built by king Alfonso Henriques, swearing that all land, seen from that point towards the sea, would be donated to the monks that would build the monastry of Alcobaça.
Indeed from the Arco da Memoria you have a great view of the coast.
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.
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.
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.
Beautiful gardens with baroque structures
In Mafra you can visit the beautiful Cerco gardens. They offer a combination of baroque structures and wonderful gardens and water features. The wide paths give every visitor the opportunity to enjoy the gardens to the max.
Beautiful lagoon invites you for some activities
This vast and natural lagoon is situated between the historic town of Óbidos and the trendy beach resort of Foz de Arelho.
The lagoon has a narrow passage to the Atlantic Ocean. There are walking and cycling routes around the lagoa, and on the water you can surf, sail, fish, and many other activities. This is also a place where paragliders like to use the thermals for long float trips.
Foz do Arelho has several nice beach bars along the wide promenade, a good place to have a drink after a nice stroll. And if you're lucky you can watch a volleyball game on the beach.
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.
Rugged landscape offers many hiking possibilities
In the inland of the Costa de Prata is the nature reserve Parque Natural das Serra de Aire e Candeeiros, one of 13 nature reserves in Portugal. It is located in the limestone hills of the Estremadura, it’s size is about 39,000 hectares.
In this nature reserve you can hike along several marked pathways, all with different lengths, duration and difficulties so everyone can enjoy a nice hike.
There are about 20 different routes. One of them is the Rota dos Moinhos which takes you to some old windmills, the Buraco Roto route takes you through a beautiful landscape including a waterfall.
Aqueduct with 180 arches
About 4 kilometers northwest of Tomar you can see the remains of the Aqueduto de Pegões Alto. This aqueduct was built for the water supply of the convent; it is about 5 kilometers long and has 180 arches.
A few kilometers east of Tomar is the Barragem do Castelo de Bode, a dam and reservoir in the Rio Zêzere; the dam is 115 metres high and 400 metres wide. The reservoir is open for aquatic sporters and anglers. At the harbour of the Pousada you can embarque on a boat for a tour on the reservoir.
To the north there are several other dams and reservoirs in the Rio Zêzere.
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.
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