Caldas da RainhaCaldas da Rainha
Ramalho
Ortigão wrote that "Caldas da Rainha is one of the most historical
centres, one of the most picturesque regions in the whole country".
This city was founded by the Queen Leonor in 1495 and was born around its SPA Hospital, which, after five centuries of history, still receives, annualy, thousands of patients who look for traitment and relax in its steaming waters.
Caldas da Rainha has in its littoral the splendid beaches of Salir do Porto and Foz do Arelho, this one with the most wonderful natural seltting between Óbidos Lagoon and the sea, became, the ideal place for sports and fish.
The surrounding countryside, with landscape full of history and forests, where a prosperous agriculture in fruit and vegetables daily supplies the tradicional Fruit Market.
The people of this region are friendly and hard-working. Although they are mostly engaged in farming, there are also ceramic factories and commerce. Visitors can be sure of a warm wellcome from the people of Caldas, who are proud of the five centuries of history that is full of noble feats and great events.
Personalities
suach as Maria dos Cacos, Manuel Cipriano Gomes (know as "O Mafra"),
Francisco Elias, Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, have given Caldas pottery the
features which have made it famous, features that it has only been possible
to preserve thanks to a set of artists such as those who work in the factories
of this town. These people have succeeded in upholding and increasing the
prestige of their craft.
Other arts, like painting and sculpture are confirming Caldas da Rainha as a center of plastic arts, outstanding Mestre José Malhoa in painting and Mestres António Duarte and João Fragoso in sculpture, all of them born in Caldas da Rainha.
Visit the Museums with their names and works is to travel all over living cultural spaces.
