| The Silver Coast - The Costa Prata - is north
of Lisbon. There are a number of interesting towns there: Leiria,
Alcobaça, Caldas da Rainha, all of which are attractive from a
historic and architectural point of view. Leiria has an attractive
restored castle whilst Alcobaça boasts of an impressive Monastery
of Santa Maria founded in 1153 to celebrate a victory over the
Moors in the Battle of Santarém.
Fátima is a must location for any devout catholic. Two smaller
locations are also worthy of mention, Batalha for its admirable
and historic abbey,
built by the orders of
Dom João I, which celebrates the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385 .
This Monastery acts as the resting place for many past Kings and
Queens of Portugal.
There is the town of Tomar with an impressive castle which was
also the home of the famous Order of the Knights of the Temple of
Jerusalem. In 1160 its master, Dom Gualdim Pais ordered the
impressive castle and temple to be constructed. The Order was
eliminated in 1314 by the French King, Philip of France IV, but
the power of this Order can still be appreciated by what remains
and the magnificent "Chorola" which is in the heart of the Temple.
Another location not to be missed is the walled small medieval
town of Óbidos with its charming picturesque character. The town
was once given by a King of Portugal in 1282 as a wedding present
in order to gain favour with his new wife.
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