This is our closest big city, about 30 minutes drive away. The old town, with its castle and gardens, is perched on top of a hill, while the modern town and industrial zones span the base of the hill. It’s a nice city to stroll around and has some pretty squares for a coffee and cake, good shops including our favourite ‘Drogaria Nova’ (good for gifts and Portuguese brands), and restaurants including ‘Restaurante Santa Isabel’. Please remember that shops shut for a two hour lunch break from around 1pm, and on a Saturday they do not re-open in the afternoon.
