Visit Portugal - Passion for the Coast

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Passion for the Coast /

Want to spend two days of pure passion travelling through the coastal area of the Centre region? Allow us to be your guide.

Treat yourself to a bit of luxury and book a room in the Quinta das Lágrimas hotel (with Spa), in Coimbra. It’s the locale of the intense, forbidden love story between D. Pedro and D. Inês de Castro.

The romantic atmosphere can be prolonged over the morning by means of an inspiring trip through the green hues of the Botanical Garden or a stroll through the narrow streets of the historic centre of Coimbra. Imbued with the eternally youthful spirit of this ancient student city, imagine the many passions that have been dreamt and experienced by resident students…

There’s still so much to do, and next stop is the Serra do Buçaco. A trip through this nature reserve in the heart of Portugal is sure to fire your appetite. Take lunch at the Palace Hotel and then prolong the nostalgic “fin de siècle” atmosphere, riding on a paddle-boat through the lake in the Park of the Thermal Spas in Curia.

In Aveiro, the romance continues on board a “moliceiro” (seaweed dredging vessel) as it meanders its way through the canals of the river estuary. Visitors can marvel at the Arte Nouveau façades that endow distinct charm to the city. Make sure you try out the local delicacy - sweet yellow pastries, known as “ovos moles”, and spend the night in the Pousada da Ria, in Murtosa, or in a Manor House in Albergaria-a-Velha.

The second day starts early with a trip to the Costa Nova beach in order to admire the colourful striped houses known as “palheiros”. In Ílhavo, we encounter the factory and museum of Vista Alegre, Portugal’s most famous brand of porcelain, originally founded in 1824. Purchase one of the company’s beautiful articles as a precious souvenir of your trip.

Finally, stroll down the long-sandy beach in Figueira da Foz and then finish the day in Montemor-o-Velho. At sunset, from the vantage point of the Castle, the fertile fields of the Mondego valley are basked in an unforgettable light!

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Romance in Coimbra

Coimbra captures the imagination with its fado, black capes, and stories of passion – especially the love affair between Pedro and Inês.

Coimbra invites

Coimbra is a place of history and tradition, its legendary fado sings of longings and reminisces about the past. Conquer its walls and travel back into the ...