Caldas da Rainha

The story goes that, one day, on her way to Batalha, Queen D. Leonor, suffering for a long time from a wound that did not heal, stopped here and confirmed the commendable wonders of these thermal waters, ordering the construction, the following year, of a Hospital.

 

It was the 15th century, and this is how Caldas da Rainha's fame and the reason for its name are presented, with touches of enchanting history.

The passage of time consolidated the therapeutic vocation of this location, and this vocation made it grow. D. Afonso VI was responsible for rebuilding and expanding the hospital and the royal family and the court visited Caldas annually. In the 19th century, a golden age throughout Europe for spa resorts, Caldas was not far behind the most renowned European destinations, being a favorite place for the wealthy class.

In the magnificent D. Carlos I Park, in the city center, you will discover a romantic garden designed by an illustrious Caldense, the architect Rodrigo Berquó, responsible for revitalizing the park and creating an artificial lake and tree-lined boulevards.

 

Considered one of the richest parks in biodiversity in the country. Inside the Park, you can visit one of the city's notable museum spaces, the José Malhoa Museum, which holds an important collection of works by the famous painter who was also born here.

This museum is housed in what was, in the 1940s, the first building created from scratch with the purpose of housing a museum in Portugal. 

Talking about Caldas is talking about Bordalo, who left a lasting influence here. The Fábrica de Faianças das Caldas da Rainha was created by him in 1884, with the help of Ramalho Ortigão, and became a world reference and its objects an icon of Portuguese culture, present in thousands of homes. At the Casa Museu de São Rafael, you can visit an exhibition made up of pieces created in the factory next door and get an idea of the brand's evolution. And in the nearby store, you can purchase colorful crockery and ceramics.

In the heart of the city, we find Praça da República, also known as Praça da Fruta.

With beginnings dating back to the 15th century, this colorful open-air market is the only one that takes place daily in the country.

 Romantic tiled facades surround this vibrant square, which also houses the historic Café Central and the São Sebastião Chapel. Those interested in Art Nouveau can go from the square to Rua Dr. Miguel Bombarda, to be able to appreciate more examples of this movement by taking the Art Nouveau Route.

For lovers of the outdoors, Mata Rainha D. Leonor, created to protect the thermal water springs that supplied the Hospital, is a place full of natural beauty, with its imposing trees and 17 hectares of fresh air and refreshing walks.

Returning to gastronomy, it has two major characteristics. On the one hand, the richness of its sweets, which includes conventual influence, of which Trouxas das Caldas is an example, and Cavacas and Beijinhos. On the other, the marine richness of its typical dishes, due to its proximity to the Óbidos Lagoon, which is evident in the stews, eel stew and seafood.