Pretty House in Coja Central Portugal for Rent

Coja is a pretty market town in Central Portugal and an ideal place for basing yourself to see the places of local interest.

You will find everything that you need here in Coja. There is a selection of cafes, bakers and various shops in the old town centre. The chemist (Pharmacia with large green cross) and bank are located on the right hand side of the Main Street. There are 2 small but well stocked supermarkets, one on the Main Street and the other on the road up to the main church.

There are several good restaurants in the town serving traditional meals where you will find the house red wine perfectly drinkable. The Lagar do Alva at the river beach is to the left of the house as you leave and is probably the most expensive in town and is set in an old olive press that still has the workings inside the restaurant. You can order a light lunch to eat outside next to the river if you want. Downstairs at the Verandhas de Alva is a pool table and this is where the local youth go for a drink.

The health clinic is located almost directly across the river from the house, instead of taking the cobbled street into the centre of town take the next left turning and approx. 100ms on your left you will see a car park with some low buildings opposite the wood yard, this is the health clinic. There is also a childrens play park and a toddlers play park over the bridge and turn left approx. 300ms on the left hand side of the road.

River Beaches

There are lots of places to swim.  Most places are designated River Beaches where you can swim in the crystal clear water. 

The nearest River Beach is just 200ms from the house in Coja and you can hire canoes from the local cafe `Lagar de Alva`.  There is a pretty River Beach at Avo approx. 15 mins drive from the house further up into the mountains with a cafe/restaurant and a toddlers pool.  The River Beach at Gois is near the old Roman bridge and there are showers and changing rooms.  There is a River Beach at Secarias approx. 5 mins drive from the house where you can hire pedaloes and where you will find 2 of the best restaurants in the area.

Barril de Alva has its own River Beach with a seating area and basketball court.  There is a cafe/restaurant here serving local food with a picnic area to the side.


Places to Visit

CONIMBRIGA
This is Portugal`s most important Roman site and is approx. 15 kms southwest of Coimbra. There is a museum with finds from the excavations that are still taking place and some reconstruction to give you an idea of what it looked like in the 2nd to 4th Century AD before it was abandoned when the population moved out to the comparative safety of Coimbra. Head to Coimbra, then south to Lisbon and pick up tourist signs for Conimbriga. Well worth a visit if this is your interest. Approx. 1hr and 15 mins to drive.

BUCACO
This is a National Heritage park that was first built by the monks in the 17th Century. The palace was built as a summer retreat for the Portuguese monarchy and today is a fine hotel set in the old grounds. You can wander around the grounds or picnic under the trees from all over the world that were planted by the monks, there is estimated to be over 700 varieties. There was a famous battle here during the Peninsula Wars (1810) when Napoleon suffered his first serious defeat. Wellington was billeted in the old Monastery . To get there follow the road to Coimbra past Penacova and look out for the tourist signs for Bucaco. Approx. 50 mins drive.


GOIS
This small town has a lovely river beach where you can go for a swim in the clear water that is straight off the mountains. It is nestled in a valley and a market is held here every Tuesday. Go into Arganil and pass the Intermarche on your right then just follow the signs for Gois.


FRAGA da PENA
This is a local beauty spot where you can take a picnic and sit under the shade of the trees whilst listening to the water playing over the rocks. There is a waterfall that falls into a natural pool and if you are brave follow the path that goes above the waterfall and find further small pools where you can cool off. Drive through the centre of Coja along the cobbled street towards Pisao. Pass through Pisao and approx. 1km take the right hand turn with the tourist sign for Fraga da Pena, also signed for Benfeita. Keep following the tourist signs for Fraga da Pena, you can park on the right handside of the road near the Information Board and then follow the path across the other side of the road. There is a small river beach in the centre of the pretty mountain village of Benfeita The village has a café and mini market.

 


Markets

ARGANIL Every Thurs morning till midday and slightly later during the summer.

COJA The 2nd Sat morning in the month.

TABUA Every Sun morning there are food and produce stalls and a full market on the 3rd Sun of the month. The market is placed above Tabua near the Intermarche.

GOIS Every Tues morning till midday, don`t leave it too late in the winter or they will have packed up and gone!

PENACOVA The 1st Sun morning of the month. A large monthly market held outside of Penacova. Exit the IP3 at junction 10 (turn off for Luso, Bucaco, Penacova) after passing turn offs for Penacova. Take care as the que for car park traffic can back up onto the IP3.

 


Serra de Estrela

These are the highest mountain ranges in Portugal and form the boundary to Spain.  The mountain is an extinct volcano and afforde spectacular views over great swathes of countryside.  In the winter there are ski slopes with gear to hire.  There is generally snow from Dec to March.


Barril de Alva

The pretty village of Barril de Alva is only 2kms from Coja.  It has several cafe/bars and a minimarket.  The restaurant next to the river beach serves good food at reasonable prices and you can also buy meals here to take away including pizzas.

The local river beach is only 500ms from the house and is provided with public outdoor showers.  There is a seating area and a picnic area for eating alfresco.