About the surrounding area
Quinta da Cal is situated in the green center of Portugal, surrounded by the hills and mountains that form Serra do Caramulo, Serra do Açor and Serra da Estrela (1991 meters high, this is the highest point in mainland Portugal).
The region is known by its ranges of hills, lots of green pine trees, terrace shaped landscape with vines, olive trees and many small farmed fields.
The rivers that cross the region (Rio Mondego, Rio Alva and Rio Ceira) have many little lovely beaches and places to swim.
The near environment of the Quinta gives a lot of opportunities to enjoy the quietness and the typical daily Portuguese village life.
The villages nearby, with their typical ribbon development, in general are populated by only a few hundred inhabitants.
During the month of August, the street scene changes somewhat because of the many Portuguese emigrants that come to Portugal every year to spend the holidays with their families.
In Vila Pouca da Beira there are two cafes (with a tiny shop) and an excellent restaurant at the Pousada.
The nearest town for shopping is Oliveira do Hospital (at about 8 km).
Markets
- Oliveira do Hospital: monthly, on Monday following the 8th of the month
- Tábua: weekly on Sunday mornings
- Arganil: weekly on Thursday mornings
- Seia: weekly on Wednesday mornings
- Avô: monthly, on the last Wednesday morning of the month
River beaches
- Ilha Picoto – Avô
- Ponte das Três Entradas
- Alvoca das Várzeas
- São Gião
- Ortigal – Barril do Alva
- Pomares
- São Sebastião da Feira
- Caneiro – Coja
Activities
- canoeing on the Mondego, from Penacova to Coimbra
- horse riding from Covas
- donkey riding from Lourosa (near the Quinta)
- walks from the Quinta in the near environment
- hiking tours in the Serra da Estrela
Restaurants
- Quinta da Geia – Aldeia das Dez
- O Lagar – Coja
- Casa da Beira – Venda de Galizes
- Alo Pizza – Venda de Galizes
- Casa dos Frangos – Senhor das Almas
- Cristina – Ponte de Três Entradas
- O Carlos – Ponte das Três Entradas
- Don Ramiro 2 – Coja
- Ilha Picoto – Avô
- Pensão Miradouro – Avô
- Johnnys – Oliveira do Hospital
- Pousada – Vila Pouca da Beira
- Rest. Museu do Pão – Seia
Tips for trips
Map of the area, click to enlarge
- Coimbra: Europe’s oldest university town
- Figueira da Foz, Praia da Mira, Praia da Tocha (Atlantic Ocean, beach near fishing-village), ± 100 kms
- Fraga da Pena (waterfalls in national reserve)
- Piódão (historical slate village, national monument)
- Torre (highest point in Portugal, 1992 m., in the Serra da Estrela)
- Conímbriga (the biggest and most important Roman ruin in Portugal)
- Luso, forest of Buçaco
- Linhares (ruins of medieval castle in granite, walled-in village)
