The curative springs and the lush vegetation of secular forests have preserved all the rewards of their unspoilt nature. The monasteries, convents, castles, churches, and museums witness the priceless historic and artistic heritage of renowned universal value. As one of the most economically developed regions in the country, Costa de Prata is also home for famous traditional art treasures, such as its porcelain and crystal, as well as its gastronomy, strongly influenced by the sea and counterbalanced by its tasty Bairrada wines and mouth-watering sweets. In the fishing villages or urban historic centres, the kindness of the people is but another asset to add to this bountiful area's vast list of qualities.

Places of interest

Alcobaça Monumental Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria, founded in 1152 (classified in UNESCO's International Heritage list). Inside: Gothic tombs of King Pedro I and Inês de Castro; cloisters; the Chapter House and immense kitchen. Churches: Misericórida (Renaissance portal and 17th century tiles) and Conceição (17th century).

Aveiro Famous for its lagoon, this town is criss-crossed by canals where colourfully painted moliceiro boats sail. Deserving special mention: Cathedral (15th-18th centuries) and Gothic cross; Misericórdia Church and São Bartolomeu Chapel; 18th-century churches of Santo António and São Gonçalo. Regional Museum, housed in the ancient Convento de Jesus.

Batalha Portuguese Gothic masterpiece and classified in UNESCO's International Heritage list, the Santa Maria da Vitória Monastery (14th-16th centuries) is a national landmark. Special mention must be made to the Founders' Chapel, with its magnificent stain-glassed windows, cloisters, Unfinished Chapels (Manueline) and Chapter Hall.

Coimbra One of Europe's oldest university towns, it has kept its secular academic traditions, as seen in the black caped students, in the soulful tones of the fado and in the Burning of the Ribbons (Queima das Fitas). Overlooking the city is the University, with its famous tower and a sumptuous Baroque library. In the adjacent quarters you will find the Old Cathedral (Romanesque) and the Machado de Castro Museum, with its Roman cryptoportico. In the ancient streets, with their medieval walls, arches and stairways, are the Santa Cruz Monastery (founded in 1131), the Church of Santiago and the Monastery of Celas (13th century). On the other bank of the Mondego stands the Santa Clara-a-Nova Convent (Baroque, 17th century).

Fatima One of the most important Marian centres of pilgrimage in the catholic world. Basilica and Capelinha das Aparições. The famous sanctuary of Fátima attracts thousands of pilgrims each year, specially on the 13th of May and the 13th of October, to celebrate the appearances of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children.

Figueira da Foz Summer resort on the mouth of the Mondego river (long, sandy beaches and water sports facilities). Special mention to the mother-church, Casa do Paço (17th century), Municipal Museum, Santa Catarina Fortress (16th century) and Pelourinho.

Leiria A striking royal castle hangs above the graceful town of Leiria. Other important monuments: the Cathedral (16th-17th centuries, with an archaeology museum on its premises), São Pedro Church (Romanesque), Nossa Senhora da Pena Church (Gothic), Nossa Senhora da Encarnação Sanctuary (16th century).

Obidos Resembling an open-air museum, this walled medieval town has been preserved to look like a picture-postcard, with its monuments, narrow winding streets and whitewashed houses with windows and terraces full of flowers. Its charm has crossed the ages: in 1282, the town was given as a present by king Dinis to his Spanish bride, Isabel of Aragon. From Porta da Vila, the southern town gate whose interior is decorated with 18th century tiles, to Rua Direita, a street filled with small shops where visitors can buy traditional ceramics, wicker baskets, miniature windmills and handmade embroidery and woolen articles, and to the 15th century royal castle that has been converted into a Pousada.

Tomar Christ Convent, classified in UNESCO's International Heritage list (12th-16th centuries). With its famous Manueline window, it is the town's supreme landmark. Other places to visit: Templars' Castle (12th century); churches of Santa Maria do Olival (Gothic), Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Renaissance) and St. John the Baptist (Manueline); and 15th century Synagogue.

REGIONAL GASTRONOMY

Fresh fish and crustaceans enhance all the regional dishes, like the popular "caldeirada" but you can also enjoy the eel "caldeirada" of Aveiro. You can also try the relishing meat dishes, like the grilled pork kebab made in Barraida, the kid "chanfana" from Coimbra.

The regional pastrymaking also enjoys a well deserved reputation. There is the "pão de ló" from Alfeízerão and Ovar, the "arrufadas" from Coimbra and Aveiro, the delicious TentugaI, pastries or the famous "cavacas" (dry cookies) and 'trouxas de ovos" from Caldas da Rainha. Not to mention the Aveiro "ovos moles" or the "S. Bernardo" bread, the almond paste from Arouca, the "brisas", the Aljuborrota pie, the flavourful beans paste cakes from Torres Vedras ("pastéis de feijão").

As for as wines are concerned, you will have to hesitate between the various liquor wines, the sparkling Bairrada wines, the buçaco wines and the, wines from Cantanhede and Rio Maior.