PLACES OF INTEREST/FURTHER AFIELD

15 minutes drive to Caldas da Rainha - large town - superb shopping. A traditional spa-town, bustling market square, pedestriansed shopping area and superb modern town facilities. Most banks have branches here and there is an abundance of boutique style shopping areas. There is also a large supermarket here. Caldas da Rainha is also noted for its ceramics.

20 minutes drive to the beautiful medieval vilage of Óbidos. A truly beautiful walled town rising from the plain. Cobbled streets, traditional white washed buildings and cosy cafes together with impressive 18^th Century tiled walls adorn this town. Children and adults alike delight in walking the castle’s ramparts (hold on tight parents!!!). Try out the traditional shops which line the main street and look for the famed local tipple Ginginha, a sweet brandy liqueur made with local cherries. The whole town is a national monument and one of Portugals’ most visited areas. 

Pictures of Obidos

Alcobaca (20-25 min drive from apartment) is a must view town famed for the Gothic Monastery which was built in the 12th century and is one of the first examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. In the 17th and 18th centuries the facade was remodelled in baroque style while the Gothic portal survived. The monastery houses the most romantic tombs of Portugal - the tombs of King Pedro and his murdered love Ines de Castro. Also explore the nearby market, said to sell the best fruit in Portugal. The peaches, grown in surrounding orchards originally planted by the Cistercian monks, are especially succulent. Many stalls also sell the blue-and-white pottery typical of Alcobaça.  Alcobaca Monastery was designated a World Heritage Site in 1989.