Portugal Centro

Tomar, with its distinct medieval character, is one of the most beautiful and charming towns in Portugal. Tomar is known as the Knights Templar City because it had served as the seat of the Order of the Knights Templar from 1118 to 1308. In fact, it is the world’s most important center of Templar history, and its well-preserved castle and church reflect the town’s rich history.

Coimbra, a historic riverfront city, was Portugal’s capital between the 12th and 13th centuries. It has a well-preserved medieval town, and its character is largely influenced by its world renowned academic institution, the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest universities in the world and the oldest and most prestigious in Portugal.

It is home to outstanding religious architecture and sacred art and is characterized by charming cobbled streets, winding alleys, public gardens, and a famous central square, Praca da Republica, which is adorned with flowers and fountains. 

Since the 13th century, when King Dinis presented the town as a wedding gift to his bride, Queen Isabel de Aragon Isabel, it has been associated with Portugal’s royalty. It is a charming town, characterized by picturesque alleys, white houses decorated in blue and yellow, staircases decorated with bougainvillea and painted tiles, and historical sites.

Nazare, a scenic and charming coastal town on Portugal’s Silver Coast, is famous for its massive waves, laidback vibe, and beautiful beaches, and it has become a popular tourist destination – especially for surfers! The Big Waves season in Nazare is during their winter – between October and March – and the town has made headlines with its waves of close to 100 feet!

Peniche and “beach” go hand-in-hand! The breathtaking coastal town, located in western Portugal on an Atlantic Ocean peninsula, is known for its long, spectacular stretch of beach, excellent surfing-especially its Supertubos (super tubular) waves, a wide variety of outstanding water sports, and as a starting point for a visit to the beautiful nature reserve, the Ilhas Berlengas. It is also one of the largest traditional fishing ports in Portugal, which served as a major source of income for the town, and is home to exceptional fish restaurants.

Alcobaca is situated in the center of an agricultural area, in the valleys of the Alcoa and Baca Rivers. It is surrounded by lush orchards and best known for its famous monastery, the Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Aveiro is a thriving city on the west coast of Portugal with a young and lively vibe. It is set on a lagoon, the Ria de Aveiro, and has been dubbed the “Venice of Portugal” thanks to its maze of canals, colorful boats, and arched bridges. Its name likely derived from the Latin word, aviarium, a place of bird habitation, due to the many bird species located on the lagoon. 

Figueira da Foz, a port and fishing town on the mouth of the Mondego River, has become a well-known beach resort. Situated along a spectacular strip of the Atlantic coastline known as the “Costa de Prata,” the Silver Coast, the stunning beaches are surrounded by vast expanses of sand dunes and pine trees. Buarcos Beach is considered one of Figueira’s most beautiful beaches. Figueira da Foz is also home to an old and famed casino, one of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula.

Caldas da Rainha is located in the province of Estremadura between the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean. The town dates back to the 15th century when Queen Dona Leonor, wife of King Dom Joao ll, was cured of a longstanding illness by the area’s hot springs. With the great demand for the hot springs by local people, the Queen had a hospital built there- the Thermal Hospital of Nossa Senhora do Populo. The town which grew around the hospital was appropriately called “Caldas da Rainha” – “The Queen’s Hot Springs.” 

To commemorate the victory and to fulfil his promise to the Virgin Mary, King Joao I built the magnificent Mosteiro de Batalha. Until this day, the monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered the grandest monastery in Portugal and one of the greatest masterpieces of Gothic art. 

One of the most important places of worship in Catholic Christianity and a focus of believers and pilgrims.