Portugal - Praia del Rey - Silver Coast |
Description & Facts: Praia del Rey Golf and Beach Resort - come and enjoy the Silver Coast of Portugal.
Set along a beautiful sandy beach less than one hour from Lisbon, in an area of protected rural landscape of rolling sand dunes and pine tree forests, Praia D’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort is an oasis of relaxed style and world-class comforts created to reflect the unspoiled natural beauty of its location.
Few people know the recent history of the Silver Coast, but it's well known that until Praia D'El Rey was built on its rugged, unspoilt and savagely beautiful coastline few people outside the Western Region of Portugal appreciated or had even heard of the Silver Coast's natural allure.
The region includes the municipalities of Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, Bombarral, Cadaval, Caldas da Rainha, Lourinhã, Óbidos, Peniche, Rio Maior, Sobral de Monte Agraço and Torres Vedras but it is much more than an exotic list of names. The Silver Coast is rich in archaeology from pre-historic caves to Moorish castles and Roman villages, aqueducts and bridges, medieval churches and monasteries, 15th century forts, 17th and 18th century manor houses and a number of fortifications from the Peninsular Wars of the early 19th century.
For nature lovers, over 120 kilometers of paths have already been established and signposted around Salir do Porto and the protected landscape of the Serra de Montejunto. Or visit the Environment Interpretation Centre on the Berlenga islands (which is Portugal’s only marine nature reserve). North of Praia D’El Rey, the lagoa de Óbidos (lagoon) offers a wide choice of activities for watersports lovers.
Other attractions of the region include its foodie reputation. Although not necessarily famed for its upmarket restaurants (although there are quite a few) instead it is the simple, mouthwatering seafood and fish on offer in its small restaurants on almost every street corner or beachfront – including several in Peniche and Lourinhã/Porto Barcas. And the ancient recipes handed down from generation to generation can be tasted in the region’s egg rolls and “cavacas” (light crisp cakes) from Caldas da Rainha, the bean pies from Torres Vedras and the sponge cakes from Landal, Painho and Rio Maior.
The region also has a genuinely fascinating handicraft history and culture, including ceramics from the studio of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro in Caldas da Rainha and the bobbin lace produced in Peniche.
Real Portugal
Praia D'El Rey Golf & Beach Resort is in the heart of the Silver Coast, in an area of protected and outstanding natural beauty with unspoilt beaches and villages steeped in history. And unlike the Algarve, the Silver Coast delivers more than just a flavour of the real Portugal. It's a quiet and peaceful region blessed by mild winters and hot summers (cooled by the breezes off the Atlantic) as well as countryside dotted with medieval castles, ruins, manor houses and churches.
Drive along the coastline stretching from Lisbon to Figueira da Foz and you'll see how the Silver Coast (or Costa de Prata) gets its name. Fine sandy beaches shimmer like silver as they are washed by the Atlantic; cliffs, coves and fishing towns dot the coast; orchards, vineyards and tranquil, historic towns and villages are peppered over the countryside.
Another thing you'll notice about this region is how tranquil it is. Roads are empty. Beaches pristine. Towns and villages run at their own pace. In other words, the Silver Coast is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the Algarve.