Caldas da Rainha - Enjoy the art of quality living...

Located in Silver Coast Portugal, Caldas da Rainha is considered by many to be a perfect place to live in. Surrounded by beautiful beaches, century-old traditions as well as several modern amenities, this city is rapidly becoming one of the favourite spots for expats in Portugal!

 Offering a mix of age-old charm and modern living, Caldas da Rainha has an unbeatable lifestyle

The history of this vibrant city dates back to the days of queen D. Leonor, who gave this Silver Coast town its name.

It is believed that in 1484, during a journey from Óbidos to Batalha, this Portuguese queen was passing through these lands when she saw several sick people bathing in natural spring waters. They believed the intense smelling waters cured several health conditions.

Curious, D. Leonor decided to also test the waters' healing properties. Witnessing first hand its benefits, and bearing a kind heart that gave her the epithet "the perfect Queen", in 1485 she ordered a public hospital to be built so that all those who needed treatment could benefit from these sulphurous waters… The world's first thermal hospital was thus created.

To this day, the thermal hospital is still used for treating respiratory, muscular and rheumatic diseases.

The town of Caldas da Rainha (which in Portuguese means "waters of the queen") was built around the hospital, growing rapidly thanks to the popularity of its thermal treatments which attracted the upper class bourgeois, as well as the Portuguese nobles.

During the 19th century, the city witnessed another boom in its growth with the establishment of several ceramic factories. The abundance of clay in the region helped transform the town into one of the main ceramic production centres in Portugal, namely with the creations of the famous ceramic artist Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro.

The giant frog in front of Caldas da Rainha train station is a replica of ceramic art created by Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro 

In recent years, the so-called "louça das Caldas" (Caldas pottery) experienced a renewed rise in its popularity, both contemporary design and more traditional pieces inspired by naturalistic motifs. Among these, the most popular include pieces representing fruits and vegetables, namely the very iconic cabbage leaves, as well as the famous Bordallo andorinhas" and sardines.

Ceramics with themes inspired by humour, caricature and eroticism are also a symbol of Caldas da Rainha, with emphasis on the popular figure of Zé Povinho and the Caldas phalluses. 

A creative, young & trendy lifestyle...

Today, Caldas da Rainha thrives on this mix of much-loved traditions from the past and vibrant energy that pulses through various aspects of the city's everyday life.

Among the best known attractions of Caldas da Rainha is its "Praça da Fruta"! Here, you can find everything from local fruit, where the Maçã de Alcobaça (apples) and the Pêra Rocha do Oeste (pears) stand out, as well as vegetables, bread, nuts, cheeses, sausages, fresh flowers and even traditional handicrafts.

Caldas da Rainha is the only Portuguese open-air farmers' market that runs every day of the year

In Caldas city centre, there are also a wide range of cafés and restaurants, where you will find everything from international cuisine to family-run traditional Portuguese restaurants serving regional delicacies!

Restaurants such as "Adega do Albertino" serve Portuguese cuisine in a traditional setting inspired by Portugal

The famous "Rua das Montras" is one of the most popular shopping areas of this bustling city and a meeting point for residents and tourists alike.

At Rua das Montras you can by anything, from designer clothing to a "pastel de nata" in one of the outdoor cafés

Despite being a vibrant city, the laid-back Silver Coast lifestyle is very much present and there is always time to enjoy Portugal’s authentic pleasures. All year round, there are always reasons to leave the house! The mild climate and more than 300 days of sunshine per year are an invitation to enjoy everything the city has to offer.

For those who appreciate fresh air and green spaces, Caldas da Rainha also offers many reasons to live or visit! Starting with the D. Carlos I Park, an oasis of green located right in the heart of the city!

Museu José Malhoa, located in the D. Carlos I Park, is one of the city's many museums

Here you will find children's play areas, a tennis court, cafés and a lake where you can enjoy a lazy afternoon in a row boat... all surrounded by luxuriant gardens and beautiful sculptures.

On warmer days, local families gather for a stroll, spread a blanket on the lawn or sit on one of the terraces to relax.

Living in Caldas da Rainha

Despite its small-town charm, Caldas da Rainha offers everything you would normally find in a big Portuguese city such as Lisbon, Porto, Cascais or Coimbra. However, properties for sale in Caldas da Rainha are much more affordable and it's family-friendly atmosphere is unbeatable!

Some services in Caldas da Rainha include:

• Hospitals: Centro Hospitalar do Oeste (public hospital), Montepio Rainha Dona Leonor (private hospital), Hospital Termal Caldas da Rainha (thermal hospital)
• Culture / Leisure facilities: CCC - Centro Cultural e Congressos de Caldas da Rainha, CinePlace (movie theatre)
• Museums: Museu da Cerâmica, Museu José Malhoa, Museu do Ciclismo, Museu Barata Feyo, Atelier-Museu António Duarte, Museu do Hospital das Caldas, Museu Leopoldo de Almeida
• Sports facilities: Bowling Caldas, Caldas da Rainha Municipal Pools, Bombeiros Voluntários pool, Os Pimpões (pool), Centro de Alto Rendimento de Badminton, Caldas Rugby Clube, Clube de Ténis Caldas da Rainha
• Shopping Centres: La Vie, Rua das Montras...

At any local café, don't miss Caldas' most traditional pastry: the "cavacas"

Schools in Caldas da Rainha:

• Pre-Schools: Escola Básica do 1.º ciclo com Jardim-de-Infância do Bairro dos Arneiros, Jardim de Infância Infancoop
• Elementary Schools: Escola Básica D. João II, Escola Básica da Encosta do Sol, Escola Básica Integrada Santo Onofre, Escola Básica do 1.º ciclo com Jardim-de-Infância do Bairro dos Arneiros, EB 1 do Bairro da Ponte, Escola Básica dos 2º e 3º D. João II
• Private schools: Colégio Rainha D. Leonor
• High Schools: Escola Secundária Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, Escola Secundária Raul Proença, Escola Técnica Empresarial do Oeste
• Universities: ESAD.CR - Escola Superior Artes e Design, Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo do Oeste
• Language Schools: The English Centre, Wall Street English - Caldas da Rainha, Lancaster College Caldas da Rainha
• Special Education: Centro de Educação Especial Rainha Dona Leonor,
• Dance schools: Escola de Danças de Salão, Os Pimpões
• Music schools: Conservatório de Caldas da Rainha, Academia de Música de Caldas da Rainha

Also, very nearby you will find beautiful beaches and a natural lagoon, with ideal conditions for water sports or hiking/cycling surrounded by natural landscapes and plenty of fresh air!

• Óbidos Lagoon

Divided between the municipalities of Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos, this Óbidos lagoon is the most extensive coastal lagoon system on the Portuguese coast. With an area of approximately 6.9 km2, it is an important natural habitat for several species, especially migratory birds. The lagoon waters are also ideal for sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, rowing, kiteboard, jet ski, nautical ski and stand-up paddle.

• Foz do Arelho beach
  

Considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the Silver Coast, Foz do Arelho offers the choice between two very different beach types: lagoon and sea.

Joining Óbidos Lagoon and the sea, the lagoon side is ideal for families with young children due to its calm waters. The lagoon beach is also perfect for windsurfing, benefiting from the wind that is normally felt here.

On the other side, the beach is open to the sea, providing excellent conditions for surfing. Foz do Arelho beach has a Blue Flag and is supervised during the bathing season. It also has a wide range of services available, such as tents and sun umbrella rentals, parking, bars and restaurants.

• Salir do Porto beach

Further north, you will find Salir do Porto beach, which also belongs to the municipality of Caldas da Rainha.

Located on the south bank of São Martinho do Porto Bay, this beach is famous for its giant sand dunes, the highest in Portugal! The beach is also extremely popular with families, due to its calm waters, natural beauty and golden sand.

Here, you can also practice various water sports, including canoeing or stand-up paddle.

As you can see, Caldas da Rainha offers an unbeatable lifestyle!

BLOG originally published in PORTUGAL THE SIMPLE LIFE, an insider's perspective to living, visiting and buying property in Portugal.