Central Portugal

Central Portugal Information

Real Portugal and Madeira- Sunvil Discovery

Contact Sunvil Discovery

020 8758 4722

Opening hours

Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Saturday 9.00am - 4.30pm

Central Portugal holidays

This diverse region, which lies across the very middle of Portugal, stretches from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the heady heights of the Serra da Estrela, Portugal’s highest mountain range.

The landscape varies significantly from vineyards, wheat fields and market gardens to green pine forests and natural lagoons. Coimbra, a fascinating and bustling town, is home to Portugal’s oldest university and, as such, one of its main tourist attractions. This stately old town is also the perfect base from which to access the forest of Bucaco and its 700 native and exotic plant species, including the venerable ‘Bucaco Cedar’.

Fortified town of Sortelha, Central Portugal

Holidays In Central Portugal

This vast area is also a land steeped in history and legend. A rich heritage of fortified towns and castles, idyllic villages with slate roof houses painted in white and ochre and a world of Roman columns and mosaic pavements as in Conimbriga. Defending Portugal’s borders from Spanish invasion was of extreme importance during the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325). The towns of Almeida, Belmonte and Guarda are perfect examples of these fortified townships.

Beaches include the family friendly Costa Nova, with its distinctive striped wooden beach houses, and Figuiera da Foz, with its broad bands of sand bordered by dunes and pine groves. Paragliding and windsurfing are widely available along this coastline. There is also the Sao Jacinto nature reserve with sand dunes, nature trails, dense forests and a lagoon.

The coastal Riviera of Costa da Prata to the north of the region (Aveiro to Peniche), is popular with holidaymakers due to its flat sand beaches and small fishing villages such as Nazare. Further inland is the town of Fatima, the religious site where the Virgin Mary appeared to three local children in 1917 and where pilgrims flock twice yearly (13 May and 13 October).

Highlights
Festivals

Fortifications
Fortified towns and castles line the Spanish border. Some of the most impressive can be found at Belmonte, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Rodrigo, Guarda and Almeida.

Geopark Naturtejo
This designated UNESCO Geopark, incorporating Proenca-A-Nova and Castelo Branco, is popular with walkers and cyclists. The Geopark is famous for its fossils and the extraordinary village of Monsanto, built amongst giant granite boulders.

Prehistoric Rock-Art
The Prehistoric Rock-Art sites in the Coa Valley date from the Upper Paleolithic (22,000–10,000 BC) and are considered a masterpiece of prehistoric art. They were discovered in the late 1980s and inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1998.

Obidos Chocolate Festival (01-31Mar)
Sample a variety of sweets and cakes; admire chocolate sculptures and watch competitions involving culinary professionals.

Burning of the Ribbons (07-12May)
Dating back through the centuries, this academic tradition takes place in Coimbra, Portugal’s oldest university town.

Obidos Medieval Market (Jul)
Jousting tournaments, medieval dinners, jugglers and dancers.

Festa da Ria (15-19Aug)
The estuary of Aveiro comes alive with exhibits, handicrafts, gastronomy and a regatta.

Feira de São Mateus (14Aug-21Sep)
Dating back to medieval times, the fair, held in Viseu, includes music, handicrafts, entertainment and gastronomy.

Note: Dates subject to change.