It stands out to the Park D. Carlos I, for a walk through its interior, where the naturalism and romanticism with which the Architect Rodrigo Berquó is projected at the end of the XIX century still glimpses. Boating on the lake, playing with the children in the playground, contemplating the excellence of the construction of other times in the pavilions of the park, playing tennis, visiting the Museu José Malhoa or observing the magnificent floristic diversity are some of the many things there can.
For nature lovers, there is a visit to the Rainforest Queen D. Leonor, where an invigorating walk on foot stimulates the senses, and lovers of races can take advantage of the existing trails. In the heart of this discovery you can see several fountains and tables of stone by the way, signs of other times.
Another must visit is the Cultural and Congress Center of Caldas da Rainha, a work of more than 18 million euros, inaugurated in 2008, which brings together one of the most modern technical spaces in the country and in Europe. Divided into about ten floors, three of them underground, with two auditoriums, several multipurpose rooms, Art Gallery and multifaceted public spaces that can be transformed into space of events, as is the case of the foyer, has an eclectic agenda too And diversified in terms of shows, congresses and other events. The fact that it has a restaurant with quality service and affordable price, makes it even more appealing, in an already interesting space, in the café style concert, also much sought after by the internauts who benefit there from a free wireless service, or in the interior , Or on the terrace.
Praça da República, better known as Praça da Fruta, is also a must-see, as well as the famous fruit market, it is a central area where the purchase of souvenirs in the surrounding streets and pedestrian shopping streets appealing to trade or simply for those Like to admire shop windows, make this part of the city a must go.
In a city with a great variety of museums, one could not fail to suggest a visit. For those who do not have time to take a tour of the interesting museums of the city, two are suggested that are historically linked to Caldas da Rainha: the Ceramics Museum and the Hospital and Caldas Museum. In the Museum of Ceramics we can find the great ceramics tradition that Caldas da Rainha patented in the twentieth century, while the Hospital and Caldas Museum brings us history with stories about the foundation of the city, where besides the Museum are possible to be visited the beautiful Surrounding gardens and the Mother Church of Our Lady of Pópulo.
A diverse range of business and tourist services complete the bouquet of a City that knows how to receive and serve.
Get to know the Lagoa de Óbidos
Óbidos Lagoon is one of the most beautiful places on the west coast of Portugal and is a fragile ecosystem where several species find a privileged habitat. Numerous aquatic and migratory birds can be observed here, but it is mainly at the level of bivalve molluscs that the importance of the fauna of this area lies.
Until the end of the middle age, it extended to the foothills of the village of Obidos, but the evolution of the coastline, in a constant mutation, limited its perimeter.
The Óbidos Lagoon has been an important source of income for the local populations through the small-scale fishing of several species of fish and bivalves, such as clams, cockles and small dogs. At the level of fish, sea bass, eels, Sole, gilt and cuttlefish.
The Óbidos Lagoon is an area of great importance and capacity to produce economic, social wealth, and last but not least, the most important of all, environmental wealth.
Being a mass of salt water, the Óbidos Lagoon is characterized by a uniformity of water quality and communicates with the sea by a channel called the zone of the “open.
The Óbidos Lagoon is one of the most beautiful tourist programs in the region, especially in the warmer months the two banks are filled with people, attracted by its natural beauty.
The Óbidos Lagoon is considered the largest and most beautiful salt water lagoon in the Iberian Peninsula.
Know the Municipality
The municipality of Caldas da Rainha is very pleasant to be visited, both in its coastal parishes and in its interior.
Foz do Arelho is one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, possessing an infinite natural wealth, where pearls are the beach of the Sea, the beach of the Lagoon, the belvederes and cliffs from where one can contemplate the Ocean and the Berlengas, Of the Lagoon that can be traversed in a pedestrian circuit to the discovery of the local fauna and flora, besides the Center of the Village to have frequently animation for all the ages.
The Óbidos Lagoon is another of the pearls that, per se, draws crowds to contemplate passionately, that by the north side in the parishes of Nadadouro and Foz do Arelho, or by the South side in the municipality of Óbidos.
Nadadouro’s parish thus benefits from fantastic views that delight photograph lovers, as well as being in the zone of excellence for nature lovers, since in its arm that surrounds Lagoa, it is possible to see the most different species of birds , As well as an admirable flora. Is fully justified a tour of the Atlantic marginal from Foz do Arelho, through the Serra do Bouro, a mandatory stop on your magnificent view until you come to Salir do Porto, where you can enjoy the local swimming pools, or simply taking a walk On marked trails that include birdwatching spots, and there is also the possibility of hours of fun on the dunes and on its river beach.
The parish of Tornada, just outside the city, has a part that is considered city, best known for a huge straight, possessor of restaurants rejoice those who pass there, wanting a taste of Caldas cuisine, whether in passing, Or about to enter the city. But also the green part of the parish is a pole of attraction, namely due to the Tornada Paul, reference point of the wetlands, where the fauna and flora are protected by the association PATO.
Inside the municipality, in A Dos Francos, lies a village many dynamics, known for its gastronomy and for its vibrancy in cultural terms, because its association offers a variety that can see not only seen at sporting events, but Also in the carnival corsos and performances of folkloric ranches. It also has the particularity of Mala-Posta do Casal station of Carreiros stay in your parish, dating back us to 1856, date of its building, part of the correspondence section between Lisbon and Gaia created in 1859, which was done in about 34 hours and spent at this station.
It is considered Property of Public Interest since 1993. At one of the interior ends of the county, there is the Vila de Santa Catarina, a land of great animosity, where the main economic activities are Cutlery, Leather goods and Agriculture. It has a Philharmonic Band since 1892, and is nowadays very well known for its great quality. The whole village shows signs of great economic evolution, despite the innumerable green spaces that surround it are intact and a pole of attraction.
In the parish next door at Landal, the reason for the visit is justified to meet the wind farm where the earth meets the sky, enjoying magnificent landscapes, together with the possibility of knowing the parish responsible for 80% of national production of quail with The apogee to be the realization of the National Quail Festival, which attracts people from all over the country.
Alvorninha, the motherland of José Policarpo, is one of the parishes that serves as an excellent example of good rural investment, given the many support it has received from excellent irrigation projects in rural agriculture. It promotes annually a fair of traditional Tasquinhas truly worthy of that name and also owns a Philharmonic Band of recognized rank.
Vidais, Coto and Salir de Matos are well-known parishes for the beautiful walk that they offer, where the Gastronomy and the sympathy is characteristic and intrinsic characteristic of its inhabitants. In the Vidais one feels the peace with the nature, where still it is possible to find the rest, although near the city. Coto, despite being a parish on the edge of the city, benefits from the tranquility of the countryside, suggesting a past visit to the Parish Church of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos and to the São Jacinto Chapel. In Salir de Matos, besides being able to know the magnificent local gastronomy, it is requested a visit to the secular, although remodeled, Church of Santo António.
For those who enjoy heritage, do not miss visiting the Quinta Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, a partially pyramidal hermitage of unparalleled quality. In the parish of Carvalhal Benfeito, whose parish was built in the late Middle Ages, it devotes itself to Our Lady of Mercy, where it is possible to contemplate beautiful panoramic landscapes, recommending Mata das Mestras, where there is a geocaching station, Pinhoas forest or even walk the forest path in the Cabeço do Tauro. Its economic activity is embroidery, cooperage and traditional shoemakers.
There is also the particularity of the parish being the scene of the legend of D. Gastão, a nobleman probably condemned to exile after the Restoration of Independence, who after being unaware of his whereabouts, said that he had been punished to go to Carvalhal, The name linked to the toponymy of the earth. St. Gregory has one of the largest forest areas of the county, currently with the predominance of fruit growing, with Cabeço do Seixo one of the highest points in the county.
The wood processing industry, trade and the provision of services are some of its main economic activities. There is also a legend here, dating back to the time of the Moors, where the place called Fonte da Moira refers to the place where a Moorish woman took refuge at the time of the Christian reconquest. Also notable for the folkloric ranch, “As Reapers of the Fanadia”, founded in 1934, already with fame spread throughout Europe and North America, receiving in 2007 the medal of merit, Bronze degree, attributed by the Municipality of Caldas da Rainha .