Caldas da Rainha & Óbidos
It is in the beautiful city of Caldas da Rainha that we begin our tour.
Caldas da Rainha owes its name to the thermal spring much appreciated by Queen D. Leonor, wife of D. João II, king of Portugal in the 17th century XV. It is here that you will find the oldest thermal hospital in the world and the famous Book of Commitment of Queen D. Leonor. After the thermal baths, it is to ceramics that the city owes its fame. It is in Caldas that some important figures of Portuguese culture emerge, notably the painter José Malhoa (19th century) whose work can be seen in the Museum named after him and also Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, caricaturist from the 19th century. XIX, who founded Fábricas de Faianças das Caldas da Rainha where the popular Caldas tableware began to be manufactured, whose best-known pieces are those that include humorous characteristics.
In the heart of the city, we find Praça da República, also known as Praça of Fruit whose beginnings date back to the 15th century. This colorful open-air market is the only one in Portugal that takes place daily. We didn't leave Caldas without first discovering a romantic garden with tree-lined avenues and an artificial lake.
The next stop is in Óbidos, a medieval and fortified village, one of the best preserved in Portugal, that looks like something out of a fairy tale. Its strategic importance in conquering territory is evident in its geographical location. Óbidos, residence of the royal family in the 13th century, was offered as a wedding gift to Queen D. Isabel by D. Dinis, becoming the property of the Casa das Rainhas. Inside the walls, we find a castle, a labyrinth of streets with impressive examples of religious and civil architecture, and the famous "Ginja" of Óbidos.
During the tour, you will have the opportunity to taste the delights of local cuisine, from the famous “Beijinhos das Caldas” or “Ferraduras”
Join us on this adventure !
A remarkable journey of a lifetime