The Area
Penela is one of Portugal’s best kept towns and is dominated by its castle.
All day to day requisites can be obtained in Penela, with several restaurants and cafes. There is an indoor swimming pool and a modern library in which there is free access to the Internet, should you wish to collect your Email.
There are many good restaurants within easy reach of the house and eating out is very inexpensive.
In the hills close by there is an outdoor swimming pool (pria fluvial) which is also maintained by the local council.
The local council also maintain an excellent web site of their own which is well worth a visit
Coimbra is Portugal’s third city and the home of one of the oldest universities in Europe. The old town is a maze of narrow streets winding their way up to the old university. There are two large indoor shopping centres close to the city.
For those interested in things Roman, Conimbriga, the site of the largest Roman ruins in Portugal is a short drive away at Condexia. At Rabacal, close to Penela are the excavated ruins of a Roman Villa. Rabacal is also famous for its cheese.
Tomar, overlooked by the Convento de Cristo, headquarters of the Knights Templar, is less than an hours drive away. A visit to the Convento is strongly advised as is a visit to the old town.
Should you wish to visit Lisbon or Porto there are frequent fast trains from both Pombal and Coimbra.
The Silver Coast with its wide, sandy and uncrowded beaches is about 50 minutes drive away
