Silver Coast


	*SILVER COAST* Portugals Silver Coast (Costa do Prata) is still largely undiscovered. It offers world-class golf facilities, golden beaches, and a rich culture - all within an hours drive of Lisbon. The area remains alluringly authentic Portuguese in its cuisine, language, and pace of life. Five minutes from the Atlantic coast, Quinta da Charlotte is close to the safe beaches of Foz do Arelho, where surfers and paragliders play, the Óbidos lagoon for novice sailors, and Sao Martinho do Porto an up and coming resort alive with markets, shops, and restaurants. The large "county" town of Caldas da Rainha is 15 minutes drive and boasts a daily morning market for vegetables and fruits, olives, and cheeses etc. as well as a colourful "gypsy" market on Mondays on the edge of town. Peniche a gorgeously quaint fishing town lies 30 minutes drive on from Caldas and offers excellent seafood in many outside restaurants. En-route a "must see" is the fortified medieval town of Óbidos, where once can walk the walls and enjoy lunch in one of towns many restaurants and Castle, now a Pousada, a stylish hotel run by the government. Óbidos also hosts year round cultural events.