Discover Caldas da Rainha, a UNESCO Creative City, with a long-standing and rich arts tradition. Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro, arguably, the greatest Portuguese artist of the XIX century, founded in Caldas da Rainha what would now be called a “ceramic arts startup”. Bordallo’s factory produced original and creative pieces (utilitarian and/or decorative) that were a game changer in the cultural and industrial landscapes of the day. Some of those pieces became no less national icons to this day: “Zé Povinho” is perhaps the best example.
We will take you to the only open-air daily market in the country (open every single day of the year- come hell or high water) where you will have the chance to see a real example of local commerce and to taste some local treats… and there are plenty.
One of the tour’s highlights is a visit to the oldest thermal hospital in the world, which has been operating for over five hundred years. Portuguese Queen D. Leonor had her own private pool here, which was very likely the first “SPA” (of sorts) of the country- it´s still there and you will be able to see it. The name of Caldas da Rainha translates as “Hotsprings of the Queen”, referring to this very queen, D. Leonor, who founded not only the hospital but also the city itself.
Next door, you can visit (subject to availability) the Church of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo (“Our Lady of the People”), a small yet artistically rich place of worship, which holds some of the earliest examples of the “Manueline Architecture”, a famous and unique Portuguese architectural style.
Visit the beautiful, scenic, and romantic D. Carlos I Park and learn about the city’s golden age in the 19th century, when it became an industrial and artistic hub and Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro, José Malhoa and Ramalho Ortigão became household names.
In front of Caldas da Rainha tourism office
