Environment
Alcobaça is located in the central Portugal - in region Centro - a region of diversified landscapes.
There is the coastal plain with golden beaches
(Silver Coast)
- well known and favored by surfers from all over the world!
Here you will also find some of the best golf courses in Europe.
There is also the mountainous inland - dominated by the Serra da Estrela mountain. The green, rugged landscape
of this region is crisscrossed by rivers.
Outdoor activities are fishing, horse-back riding, hiking, tennis and canoeing (and, in the Winter season,
skiing in Serra da Estrela).
Some distances of interest
The closest airport is Lisbon Internationale Airport, located 150 km away.
It is more than 50 km to the mountains and less than 1 km to the nearest river.
In Portugal the Atlantic Ocean is always "close by" - distances from estern inland border will
maximum be a two hour drive. The closest beach is 10 km away.
Climate : Inland clima with nice hot humid summers and temperatured winter Town character : Cultural-town Primary Industry : Manufacturing Industry
Population in the city proper: 6.500 inhabitants. Population in the municipality of Alcobaça: 55.300 inhabitants.
The city grew along the valleys of the rivers Alcoa and Baça, from which it derives its name.
The city of Alcobaça became notable after the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, decided to build there the largest church in Portugal, to celebrate the conquest of Santarém to the Moors, in 1147. The church later evolved into the Monastery of Alcobaça - one of the most magnificent gothic monuments in the country.
A few kilometers to the north of Alcobaça is located the Monastery of Batalha - another wondrous gothic building constructed in memory of a different important battle, that of Aljubarrato.
To the west of Alcobaça is the popular holiday resort of Nazaré - former a small fishing village. Close by you will also find the Nature Reserve Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros. These 390 square kilometres of limestone-covered landscape is also known for its underground caverns. The most well known can be visited and consists of tunnels, caverns with stalactites, stalagmites, lakes, and a music and light finale.
Wine from the region of Centro
Portugal produces some of the world's finest, oldest, unique and highest value-added wines.
The country has a large variety of native breeds - about 285 - producing a very wide variety
of different wines with distinctive personality.
