Why move to Central Portugal
From villages frozen in time and medieval citadels, to skiing on the mountains and surfing on the shores, the Centro Region of Portugal is packed with the promise of adventure.
Central Portugal is scattered with historical villages and World Heritage monasteries. The coastline is excellent for water sports including surfing and among the peaks and troughs of the interior, you’ll find lagoons, thermal springs and waterfalls inside a plethora of rocky national parks. The region includes 8 sub-regions; Beira Baixa, Beiras e Serra de Estrela, Medio Tejo, Oeste, Aveiro, Coimbra Leiria and Viseu Dao Lafoes. The arable plateaus and abundance of water make the Centro Region economically dynamic, and roast suckling pig, cheese, sausages and honey are local delicacies. The cities are populated without being overcrowded and are well connected with one another.
Almeida is a fortress town complete with ruins, cobbled streets and traditional architecture that has been everything from a stronghold to a political prison. Castelo Rodrigo is home to the remains of both a castle and palace, a Gothic church and a working Roman bridge. Coimbra is a medieval walled city that was once the country’s capital and hosts the oldest Portuguese university. Viseu and Oliveira do Bairro have active wine industries, being surrounded by the world-renowned Dao and Bairrada DOCs (Denominacao de Origem Controlada – a registered designation of origin).
There are 27 Schist villages around the Lousa and Acore mountain ranges named after the local stone used to construct the homes. These peaceful mountain communities retain unique traditions, crafts, food, museums and monuments, but the biggest draw is their surroundings. They offer river beaches, forests to explore and rocky outcrops to climb. Extreme sports such as abseiling, canoeing and mountain biking are encouraged, with extensive mountain bike trails called Schist Paths traversing the hinterlands.
The Serra da Estrela Mountain dominates the interior of the region. This verdant peak is covered in pine and chestnut forests. In the winter season, skiing is popular and throughout the year people arrive for hiking and fishing. Along the border with Spain, several historical villages keep ancient traditions and religious festivals alive. On the banks of the Tagus River, you’ll find the Naturtejo Geopark, home to 16 UNESCO heritage geo-monuments dating as far back as 600 million years.
Central Portugal’s Silver Coast beaches are broad and flat. The crashing Atlantic waves attract everyone from bathers to birdwatchers. Popular spots include Mira, Figueira da Foz, Ilhavo, Nazare, Peniche and São Martinho do Porto. The northern beaches remain wild, unspoilt nature spots but as you go further south, towards Lisbon, beachside cafes, restaurants and bars begin to appear.
Because so many of the towns and villages on the coast were historical defence posts, the region hosts an annual ‘bikepacking’ sporting event called The Castle Quest every September. Participants bike and camp along a stretch of the G-22 road, taking in each of the ruins as they go.
There are plentiful opportunities in Central Portugal to build from scratch, as nearly a third of all property listings in the region are for plots of land. If you don’t fancy building your own property, there is an abundance of abundance and villas in all sizes and price ranges.
