Central Portugal is rich in history, from the Roman era through modern-day. Between Porto and Lisbon, the main highway winds through rugged hills and small towns that beckon. *This post originally appeared on Point Me To The Plane, a points and miles blog I write for.*
While the two big cities are often the top of a Portugal itinerary, the central part of the country is absolutely worth a jaunt, whether just for a day trip or an extended countryside vacation. It takes about three hours to drive between the two cities. Tourist attractions along this route include the university town of Coimbra, the medieval Templar town of Tomar, and the pilgrimage town of Fatima.
All are worth exploring as they are home to Baroque cathedrals, expansive libraries, and Roman ruins. If wandering off the beaten track sounds up your alley, stay in Coimbra for a few days and base to explore the remote eastern Portugal.
This is the third part in my series on Portugal
- Guide to Lisbon, Portugal – Europe’s Most Ascendant Destination
- Guide to Porto and the Douro Valley, the Port Wine Region
- Central Portugal: The Heartland
How to Get to Central Portugal
The two major gateways into Portugal are Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport and Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport. Central Portugal can be reached by car or train easily from either city. Coimbra is just an hour and a half from Lisbon by high-speed train, the Alfa Pendular; Tomar is even closer. Driving times are similar to train times, thanks to the highway that links Lisbon with Porto and Braga.
Central Portugal
Central Portugal is everything from the Douro Valley south to Lisbon and from coast to the Spanish border. White Porto and Lisbon certainly have a lot to see and do, there’s so much here. Castles and fortresses line the mountains along the Spanish border. Over the centuries, various invaders have tried to conquer, usually failing, and today Portugal boasts the longest standing border in Europe. A lot of these castles are national monuments, and there is a 20-castle tourist route that hits many of the highlights, including the fortified town of Almeida.
Coimbra
Coimbra, Portugal’s largest university town and second capital city, is located approximately halfway between Porto and Lisbon. It is inland from both along the Mondego River. Coimbra has long been a crossroads in Portugal.
Attractions here include the university, cathedral, and botanic gardens, as well as the historic town center that sits on the steep banks of the river.
The Romans founded Coimbra and called it Aeminium. Conimbriga, now a Roman ruins site, was the capital of this region. When the city fell to the Germanic Suebi in the 6th century, its inhabitants fled to Aeminium. There is little in the way of Roman ruins in Coimbra today. Visitors can see the remnants of the cryptoporticus, an underground gallery now part of the city’s museum.
Conimbriga, however, is a mere 16 kilometres (10 miles) away from Coimbra. It is one of the most complete Roman ruins uncovered in Portugal. The city consists of a forum, basilica, baths, aqueducts, and private homes, as well as Paleo-Christian churches with wonderful mosaics. The visitors centre doubles as a small archaeological museum. There is quite a bit to see here, and its a wonderful day trip from Coimbra.
Other day trips from Coimbra include the hillside village of Piodao, a historical schist village deep in the Serra do Açor mountains, and Aveiro, a coastal town reminiscent of Venice, Italy.
Tomar
Tomar lies south of Coimbra toward Lisbon. The Knights Templar founded Tomar, albeit its a somewhat mythical founding. The legend says that the Portuguese Grand Master received the land as a fief, and laid the first stone of what would be the castle and monastery. The town grew up within the walls of the castle and monastery, the Convento de Cristo, and was a staunch defender of Portugal’s borders.
When the Knights Templar disbanded in the 14th century, the convent turned into the headquarters for the Knights of the Order of Christ, which was a strong supporter of Portugal’s overseas expansion projects. It is an exceptional example of Manueline architecture, especially along the church nave.
Roman ruins in this area include the aqueduct, along which runs the pilgrimage trail to Fatima.
Fatima
Despite its Moorish name (Fatima was the daughter of Muhammed), the small village of Fatima is where three young children reportedly saw the Virgin Mary. The Catholic Church deemed this worthy of belief, and built a small church, then later a cathedral, on the site at Cova da Iria. Today it is called the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima. At least five million Catholic pilgrims visit the site annually. There are numerous churches in Fatima, including several within the covent and hospital complex at the cathedral. The Basilica of the Holy Trinity, located inside the complex, is the fourth largest Catholic church in the world.
While many pilgrims simply come to Fatima by car, there are thousands of others who make the pilgrimage on foot. During my visit to Tomar, we saw arrows pointing pilgrims along the path that follows the top of the Roman aqueducts. Blue arrows lead west to Fatima while the yellow arrows point north, to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Where To Stay In Central Portugal
While Central Portugal doesn’t have the range of hotel options that both Lisbon and Porto have, there are some excellent gems here. Travellers can choose from small bed and breakfasts to mid-range independent hotels.
Coimbra boasts a five star hotel, Quinta das Lagrimas, a member of Small Luxury Hotels. In Tomar, the largest property is the Hotel dos Templarios, about 200 metres from the convent.
Of the three towns, Fatima has the most accommodation options. Here, though, you’re more likely to find pilgrim or backpacker rooms, especially within the cathedral and convent complex. For truly luxurious choices, look outside of the towns for bespoke, intimate properties. In Serra de Estrela, near the natural park, the eight-room Casas da Lapa is a family-run inn with a focus on hiking, food, and wine tourism. Across at the coast in Ovar, the Furadouro Boutique Hotel and Spa invites guests to relax, either on the wide stretch of white sand at your doorstep or in the Turkish baths. And in Penalva do Castelo, near Viseu, the 18th century Baroque palace is now the five-star Casa da Insua, a magnificent museum slash hotel with a winery.
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Central Portugal is truly a wonderful place to explore; with even just a week in Portugal, you’ll be able to see the main sights here as well as both Lisbon and Porto.
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Such a nice post! Thanks for sharing!
thank you!