Discovering Centro in Portugal
The seaside has huge appeal, but I’d rather go somewhere with plenty of sights to see, too.
Which makes me a demanding traveller who wants the best of both worlds.
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Hide AdStep up, Portugal. This beautiful country offers both postcard-perfect shores and centuries-worth of history and heritage to please every kind of visitor – and if you go to the Centro region, you can combine both in one trip.
Monarch’s new route to Lisbon offers easy access to Centro, and with three flights a week, it’s perfect for either a long weekend or extended stay.
Just an hour’s drive north of the Portuguese capital was my first stop, the wonderfully quirky town of Obidos.
Once upon a time, the town’s mayor and a local bookstore decided this pretty, cobbled spot needed a unique selling point, and so Obidos’ story as a literary town began. Anyone predicting the death of books by Kindle will be put firmly in their place here.
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Hide AdMany stores sell books of some kind, and so you can buy a bestseller or a rare second-hand treasure along with your vegetables in the greengrocer’s shop. It’s easy to while away time browsing the bookshelves while milling along the quaint, character-filled shopping street and enjoying a shot of local liqueur, ginga, served in edible, mini chocolate cups.
The theme extends into one of the town’s stand-out hotels, The Literary Man – one of the more memorable places I’ve stayed in. Books in a host of languages line every inch of the walls – with 35,000 in total dotted throughout the boutique hotel.
Visitors are free to pick out a volume to browse during their stay, and they are available to buy should you find a page-turner you can’t part with. It’s an excellent location for solo travellers, who won’t feel out of place reading a novel over dinner in the hotel’s excellent restaurant.
An afternoon trip to the awe-inspiring Batalha Monastery is another must to appreciate the rich history of Centro.
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Hide AdThis striking, 14th century building is an architectural gem, with its Gothic spires and rainbow of stained glass windows, and UNESCO agrees, having named it a World Heritage site. It’s worth getting a guided tour to learn about this beautiful building’s history – and there is even a Lancashire link with Phillippa of Lancaster, a Queen of Portugal, buried in a vast crypt there.
After a day of culture, I was finally ready to hit the beach and unwind.
It’s not just about lazing in the sun, however, in Centro. There are plenty of activities on offer for sporty travellers.
I enjoyed a bracing, guided cycle ride with A2Z Adventures in the sea breeze, from the pleasant fishing village of Nazare along a coastal path.
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Hide AdCentro’s beaches are also among the best in Europe for surfing. The stunning Praia Ribeira d’Ilhas is a prime example, having hosted the junior world surfing championships. It welcomes beginners too, and you can sign up to a surf school. But, with a beach this perfect, you’ll be forgiven for kicking back on the soft, sun-soaked sands and simply relaxing.
If you want coastline like the Algarve combined with the culture of Lisbon, then Centro is the perfect place in Portugal.
• Jenny flew from Manchester to Lisbon with Monarch. Prices start at £39 one way at monarch.co.uk
She stayed at the Literary Man (literaryman.pt) and Palace Hotel Monte Real (http://www.termasdemontereal.pt/palace-hotel-monte-real.html)
For more information on the region, see www.centerofportugal.com and – www.visitportugal.com