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Portugal: Costa de Prata (Silver Coast)

Date: 25/9/2008

The Costa de Prata (so named because of the silver reflection of the sun on the sea) is the name given to a region encompassing most of the provinces of Estremadura, Ribatejo (meaning ‘beside the Tejo’) and the Beira Litoral, stretching from just north of Lisbon almost to Porto. It’s one of the most economically developed regions of the country and an area of infinite diversity, from vast expanses of fine, sandy beaches to rolling hills and wooded mountain ranges in the interior. The Costa de Prata boasts a wealth of natural beauty and history and includes many of the country’s most stunning architectural masterpieces: the splendid monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha (both UNESCO World Heritage sites); Òbidos castle; Tomar’s Convento de Cristo (former headquarters of the Knights Templar); and Queen Leonor’s Thermal Spa City of Caldas da Rainha.

The region’s largest town is Coimbra (pop. 85,000), situated on the banks of the Mondego river. It was the capital of Portugal in the 12th and 13th centuries and is one of Portugal’s most historic and colourful cities, home of the Portuguese traditional song fado. Coimbra is Portugal’s third largest city and one of Europe’s oldest university towns (Velha University was founded in 1290 in Lisbon and established in Coimbra in 1537). Òbidos is a medieval walled city where time seems to have stood still – it’s considered the most romantic town in Portugal and among its prettiest with its narrow cobbled streets and blue and white houses. Dubbed the ‘wedding city’, Òbidos was a traditional bridal gift of the kings of Portugal to their queens. The Òbidos lagoon is popular among holiday homeowners and is an area of outstanding natural beauty and tranquil, clean beaches. West of Òbidos is the fishing village of Peniche which has Portugal’s second largest fishing fleet, from where ferries leave for the Ilhas Berlengas (Berlenga Islands) 12km/7mi offshore.

The Costa de Prata is acclaimed for its excellent beaches and is a top European destination for surfers. The coastline is dotted with traditional unspoilt fishing villages and, not surprisingly, is noted for its excellent seafood. Popular beach resorts include Figueira da Foz, Nazare, São Martinho do Porto and Vila do Conde (famous for its lace). Newer resorts include the Praia d’El Rey resort, which boasts one of Europe’s best golf clubs, and Costa Nova. Other places of note include Aveiro (the Venice of Portugal, famous for its lagoon and canals); Santarém (capital of the province of Ribatejo), an attractive country town which was one of the Moors’ strongholds in Portugal; and the Sanctuary of Fátima, which is visited annually by millions of Roman Catholic pilgrims and is second only to Lourdes in popularity.

The Costa de Prata is popular with Portuguese and Spanish holidaymakers, and in recent years has become increasingly popular with foreign visitors and property buyers. The area forms a popular alternative to the Algarve since property prices are lower. The region has good rail and road connections with the rest of the country, which have been improved by the opening of the new A1 motorway in recent years, and is served by both Lisbon and Porto international airports. Source: Propertyindex

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