Central Portugal Tourist Information, Portugal

Central Portugal, called Regiao Centro or the Central Region, spans a large area from Spain on its eastern edge to the Atlantic Ocean at the west. Its northern boundary is set by the Douro River, and it is bound on the south by the Tagus River. Home to both beautiful beaches and picturesque ski ranges, the Regiao Centro is an area you must visit when on holiday to Portugal. In a region with well over two million residents and that covers nearly thirty thousand square kilometres, you will easily be able to find the perfect rental villas for your Portugal holiday.

Some of the best known provinces in Central Portugal include Coimbra, Viseu, and Guarda. Ensure that you plan plenty of time for your Portugal holiday, as these areas are fairly spread out, and you will not want to miss seeing any of them! One idea would be to secure rental apartments for your holiday in each location, which will allow you to spend time in each of those three areas.

Coimbra is the capital of the Regiao Centro. Once upon a time, Coimbra was the capital of Portugal, and it is home to the oldest University in Portugal. The history of the University of Coimbra dates to 1290. The historical buildings on campus are nearly as big a tourist draw to the area as the academic tradition is a draw to students. Coimbra ceased to serve as capital to Portugal shortly after the formation of the University, but has long retained its tradition as a cultural centre. Prior to autonomous Portuguese rule, Coimbra was governed by a number of foreign forces, including the Visigoths, the Moors, and the Castiles. Coimbra is easily reached by auto, located on the A1 highway that runs from Porto to Lisbon. As an academic and cultural centre, there are a huge variety of vacation villas and rentals available for you to secure for your holiday.

Guarda, located in the eastern portion of the Regiao Centro, is situated along the Serra da Estrela. Geographically, Guarda is the highest town in Portugal, which is not surprising, since the Serra da Estrela is the main and highest mountain range in the country. Guarda is more than one thousand kilometres above sea level. With transportation provided by several train lines as well as highway A25, it is an often visited stop on many Portugal holidays. While in Guarda, you will not want to miss seeing the Se da Guarda, which is a beautiful and historic cathedral. Construction on the Se da Guarda, which is located in Guarda’s central town square, began in the fourteenth century and continued until the sixteenth century. If you are able to plan your holiday for the winter months, fabulous skiing can be enjoyed nearby on the Serra da Estrela. Like Coimbra, Guarda has been ruled over various centuries by a variety of foreign forces, including the troops of Julius Caesar, the Visigoths and the Moors. The region in and around Guarda is home to a wide variety of options for vacation rentals; you’ll be able to choose between luxury villas close to the Spanish border or simple hostels that will leave room in your budget for excursions to other areas of Portugal.

The town of Viseu is in the centre of the Centro Region. Located nearly exactly halfway between the Atlantic Ocean and Spain, you can use Viseu as your base from which to visit many other areas, combining those sightseeing excursions with your explorations locally. Viseu, adapted from the Roman word for view, was first settled during the Roman Empire. Like Guarda, Viseu is located along highway A25. Highway A24 also runs through Viseu, from north to south, making the town the home of an important crossroads of highways. Unfortunately, there is no rail in Viseu, but you’ll easily be able to reach by auto. After choosing between holiday accommodations here, you can settle in and enjoy your stay!