Location

Portugal, a perfect and unforgettable country!

Portugal has a mild climate throughout the four seasons, with almost 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. It is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and is just a few hours away from the main European capitals.

Discovering Portugal through Quinta da Foz

In Portugal, a country with the oldest borders in Europe, there are marvellous landscapes, unforgettable activities and countless exciting experiences.

All this, and much more, in a land that has a unique historical and cultural heritage and where there is a perfect union between tradition and contemporaneity.

There are so many memorable stories in the Portugueseness of our beaches, in the flavour and taste of our gastronomy and wines, in our popular and folkloric heritage, in our golf courses and in family farms like ours.

Quinta da Foz is located in the Western Region of Portugal, in the village of Foz do Arelho, a few minutes from the beach, in front of Óbidos Lagoon, next to the historic city of Caldas da Rainha and close to the medieval town of Óbidos.

Discover the Western Region of Portugal

The Western Region is located in the centre of Portugal. The region has a huge variety of beaches, landscapes, towns, villages and cities.

You can quickly find yourself on the beach of Foz do Arelho or the beaches of Peniche or Nazaré, as well as in a medieval town or in a historical village. So serenely you admire the Óbidos Lagoon or a monument in the town of Óbidos. How calmly you marvel at the nature of a farm or the streets of a city…

There is so much to choose from, to see and do in the West of Portugal, depending on the emotions you want to feel and experience.

Quinta da Foz is located in the Western Region of Portugal

A 10-minute walk from Foz do Arelho beach.
A 1-minute drive from Óbidos Lagoon
30 minutes by car from the beaches of Peniche and Nazaré.
15 minutes by car from the historic city of Caldas da Rainha.
A 20-minute drive from the medieval town of Óbidos.

The Western Region has…

The personality of the sea, the sun that illuminates history, territories with surprising routes, vast landscapes as far as the eye can see or ecological sanctuaries with unbelievable biodiversity.

There are many more reasons to visit this region during the different seasons of the year.

Foz do Arelho Beach

At Foz do Arelho beach, which is excellent for water sports all year round (surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking, stand up paddle), the water temperature is between 16°C and 22°C.

At Foz de Arelho beach you can choose between two types of sea:

The beauty of Óbidos Lagoon, with its calm waters.
The beach open to the sea and with a long stretch of sand, as far as the eye can see.

From the huge wave beach you’ll find the tranquil Óbidos Lagoon, which once stretched as far as the fortified town of the same name.

Óbidos Lagoon

The town of Foz do Arelho is situated at the mouth, on the north side of Óbidos Lagoon, which is the longest lagoon system on the Portuguese coast.

Due to its size, Óbidos Lagoon is very attractive in ornithological terms. It is one of the most important ecological wetlands in the Western Region.

Due to the diversity of birds found there, birdwatching is an experience to consider in the lagoon. Watching birds such as the thrombeter duck, the parasitic miller, the little yellowlegs, herons, redshanks, sandpipers, lapwings or elegant flamingos offers moments of rare beauty that are well worth experiencing.

In the tranquillity of the Óbidos Lagoon, which once stretched all the way to the fortified town, many fishermen still harvest local shellfish that can be found in the town’s restaurants.

Caldas da Rainha

Voted a creative city by Unesco, Caldas da Rainha is a therapeutic and artistic haven. Whether it’s the spa complex, which includes the old Thermal Hospital and Hospital, Caldas Museum or the fame of its ceramics.

Caldas da Rainha’s ambassador is Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, who left an immortal mark on the city’s history in artistic and creative terms: the Fábrica de Faianças das Caldas da Rainha, the Casa Museu de São Rafael or the human-scale sculptures (Rota Bordaliana) that pay homage to him in the streets.

The city also has a romantic legacy in Parque D. Carlos I: where an artificial lake and tree-lined boulevards dignify the Arts Centre and the Cycling Museum.

In the heart of Caldas, a visit to Praça da República, known as Praça da Fruta – a popular market open to the public almost every day, where local and regional delicacies are the order of the day – is a must.

Óbidos

Óbidos is a town of Roman origin with an immense history. Visigoths and Muslims lived there, and the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, conquered the town from the Moors in 1148.

Today, Óbidos is an impeccable emblem of medieval fortresses. At the top of the town stands the imposing castle, whose walls surround the town where the houses adorned with bougainvillea and honeysuckle are the subject of many photographs.

Obidense’s buildings, churches, monuments, many bookshops and museums punctuate the town’s identity. Blue, yellow, red and grey abound in the colourful, well-preserved streets.

And throughout the year there are countless themed events not to be missed in the town: Literary Festivals, the Medieval Market, the Christmas Village, the Piano Festival, the Chocolate Festival, Holy Week…

Nazaré

The soul of Nazaré merges with the sea: boats and nets on the beach, fishermen returning from the sea, women in their traditional seven skirts, fresh fish markets that also dry in the sun, golden sands, giant waves…

On the promontory, you have to visit the Sítio – a place of devotion to Our Lady of Nazaré – a place that overlooks the cove and houses the oldest Marian shrine where, even today, there are ‘pilgrimages’ to see the power of the giant waves and the imposing ‘Canhão da Nazaré’.

Nazaré is also home to the ‘pilgrimage’ to Pederneira, a visit to the viewpoint, a journey through the narrow streets, a trip to the fishing harbour, not to mention walks and sunbathing on the beach.

Peniche

Peniche was an island in the 15th century. But the sea currents and winds, over the centuries, resulted in the silting that today consolidates the union of the island of Peniche with the mainland.

On the coast of Peniche there are majestic cliffs, long bathing beaches and surfing beaches.

The Fort of Peniche, a must-see, and the Berlenga Archipelago are representative examples of a territory that rises in front of the Atlantic Ocean.

Throughout the year, Peniche hosts a series of events: the festival in honour of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, the Fogueiras night race, the world surfing championship at Supertubos beach, the Peniche city triathlon, the Sabores do Mar festival and the international bobbin lace exhibition.

Fátima

Fatima is the Altar of the World. A place of worship consecrated by the apparitions of Our Lady to the Three Little Shepherds on 13 May 1917 in Cova da Iria. This is where the Shrine of Fatima stands today.

Fátima is a place of pilgrimage, of living the Faith and a destination where you can have an intimate experience.

And in this place of light and stillness, tranquillity can also be witnessed in many places where “you don’t need to book a place. It already exists and all you have to do is turn up”:

Little Chapel of the Apparitions,
Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima,
Basilica of the Holy Trinity,
Fountain and monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Colonnade architectural complex,
Monument to the Berlin Wall,
Nativity scene in the Sanctuary grounds,
John Paul II and Pius XII Squares and the High Cross.

Alcobaça

This is the city where the Alcoa and Baça rivers meet.

Since Alcobaça is a land of passion, this love can be seen in the protection of endogenous products that reflect the region’s tradition: apples, crockery, chintz fabrics, sour cherries, the malhado pig (one of Portugal’s main indigenous pig breeds), the gastronomic tradition inherited from the Cistercian monks and nuns of the Alcobaça and Coz monasteries.

The Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça, dating back to the 12th century and currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1989), is the motto for being dazzled by a territory full of countryside to explore, Cistercian chronology and historical heritage linked to the founding of Portugal.

Batalha

Batalha has ‘so much to discover’.

The city offers a masterpiece of Portuguese architecture: The imposing Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose Gothic arches eternalise the symmetry of great architectural and stonemasonry geniuses.

There are civil and religious monuments, there is folklore and tradition, there is the Estremadura Limestone Massif and unique limestone formations, there is a network of cycle trails, there are plateaus, landscapes and green farmland.

There is also a year-round programme of cultural, religious and pagan events: craft and food fairs, exhibitions of local products, historical re-enactments, theatre and folklore festivals, concerts and many traditional festivals.

Bombarral

Quinta dos Loridos, in the parish of Carvalhal, is home to the largest oriental garden in Europe.

Spanning 35 hectares, Buddha Eden is a garden of peace that is home to Buddhas, pagodas, terracotta statues and sculptures that are strategically and harmoniously framed by the immense vegetation.

Opening hours
– January to April and October to December: 9am to 6pm (last entry at 5.30pm).
– May to September: 9am to 7pm (last entry at 6.30pm).
Prices on request.

Images courtesy of Turismo Centro de Portugal:
West Delegation.

The beauty of Foz do Arelho

Quinta da Foz is located in the village of Foz do Arelho, one of the parishes in the municipality of Caldas da Rainha.

With its unmistakable atmosphere, the town of Foz do Arelho is the ideal place for nature walks, boat or canoe trips, fishing or water sports. There is some nightlife and street shopping.

Within 300 metres of Quinta da Foz there are several restaurants, some on the beach, with traditional Portuguese or international dishes and different atmospheres.

Quinta da Foz is located in the village of Foz do Arelho

A 10-minute walk from Foz do Arelho beach.
A 1-minute drive from Óbidos Lagoon.
30 minutes by car from the beaches of Peniche and Nazaré.

Foz do Arelho is bordered to the north by the Atlantic Ocean and the parish of Serra do Bouro.

To the south by the ocean basin of the Óbidos Lagoon and the parish of Nadadouro. To the east by the border between Serra do Bouro and Nadadouro. To the west by the ocean basin of the Óbidos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean.

Some curiosities about Foz do Arelho

The highest average temperature is 28°C (August).
The lowest average temperature is 15°C (January).
The water temperature at Foz do Arelho beach is between 16°C and 22°C.
The climate is suitable for sunny holidays.
The weather conditions are favourable for water sports all year round.

Some secrets about Quinta da Foz

In 1568 António Vaz Bernardes, a knight of the royal house, acquired Quinta da Foz.
Quinta da Foz was known as Quinta de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe.
King Sebastião stayed at Quinta da Foz. It happened in the summer of 1569, when an outbreak of the Black Death spread to Lisbon.
In 1581, King Filipe I instituted the morgadio at Quinta da Foz, the only building in the area, which would be renamed Foz do Arelho.
King João V’s brother, Prince Manuel (1697-1766), lived in Quinta da Foz.
King Carlos I (1863-1908) chose Quinta da Foz as his favourite destination and ‘liked to come to Foz do Arelho to shoot mullet, a fish that often jumps out of the water’.
At the beginning of the 19th century, General Junot (who commanded Napoleon’s troops in the first French invasion of Portugal) was caught. The population wanted to lynch him. The general was hidden and transported in the carriage of the Paiva Calado family to the borders of the municipality of Santarém. That carriage is in the Quinta da Foz riding arena.

Country Home and Nature

A farm dedicated to residential tourism since 1990 and integrated into nature. At Quinta da Foz you'll feel like you're in your own country house, because nature surrounds you, the family stories lull you to sleep and there are rooms and cottages where peace reigns and the voice of silence envelops you.