Visiting the region of Central Portugal allows you to explore different places in the smallest details, immerse yourself in the rich history of monuments and characters and enjoy unique phenomena of nature. The curious facts are numerous and range from giant waves to charming villages that have inspired famous singers.
To help travelers on this fun mission, we separate five must-sees from this fascinating destination.
1 – The largest wave in the world ever surfed, the Cannon of Nazareth
A gigantic slit in the ocean floor makes the city of Nazareth become the stage of one of nature’s most impressive spectacles in the autumn. Giant waves crash into the shore attracting surfers to real challenges, such as sportsman Garret Macnamara, who in 2011 surfed a 23.77-meter wave – the equivalent of an eight-story building. The fact was so impressive that it entered the book of records.
2 – The city that inspired the song “Menina da Ria”, by Caetano Veloso
With more than 50 years of his career, Caetano was already inspired by big cities to compose his songs, like the São Paulo capital for the song “Sampa” and London for the poetic “London London”. In 2008, it was Portugal’s turn: during a show in Aveiro, the singer committed to make a song about the beautiful city. He composed the track “Menina da Ria” in a fun parallel with his already consecrated composition “Menino do Rio”. The song integrated the album Zii and Zie, as a simple homage of the Brazilian composer to the “Portuguese Venice”.
3 – Guard bats from the Joanina Library
Located inside the University of Coimbra, this library has a collection of about 200 thousand books, with very rare collections from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Protecting this heritage is a real challenge, ranging from the strict care of temperature and humidity to the control of pests like moths. To combat this inconvenient insect, the library has curious allies: bats. At night, they feed on the various little animals that corrode the papers, keeping all the copies safe.
4 – Coimbra Academic Suits
The academic costume is one of the greatest symbols of the university tradition in Coimbra. The uniform has been used since the fifteenth century to differentiate students from other people. Over time, the clothing has undergone several changes, but even today, wearing the cloak and the cassock of one of the oldest universities in the world is synonymous with prestige. The dress is accompanied by a folder where a kind of skein is made with ribbons of the color of the student’s course. They even say that it was inspiration for the Hogwarts uniforms, from the Harry Potter series of books and movies.
5 – The walls of Óbidos
Among the villages in the region, Óbidos stands out as a true fortress. Its medieval aspect draws attention mainly by its imposing wall, constructed to move away the enemies still in the time of the dominion of the Moors. Also used for the rapid displacement of soldiers, today the walls are used by tourists who visit the city to have a beautiful panoramic view of the village and its surroundings, embarking on a real trip in time the moment you cross its gates.
About the Center of Portugal
The most charming Portuguese region is full of popular destinations: Aveiro, Coimbra, Viseu, Nazaré, Óbidos, Tomar, Fátima and many others. Its beauties extend throughout the territory – occupied by 2.3 million inhabitants who have the gift of well receive. The Center of Portugal has many UNESCO heritage sites, a coastline that is a surfing paradise, historic villages, rich gastronomy, unforgettable wines, exuberant nature and lots of culture, which add to countless reasons for a visit. The main city, Coimbra, is only 200 kilometers from Lisbon and 135 kilometers from Oporto.
Google