How to get to Oliveira Portugal by train
Getting around is easy in this part of the country. The railway network can whisk you into big cities, while buses are ideal for exploring rural areas and remote parks and nature reserves. Speedy toll roads can help you cover long distances in no time, but there are also slower backroads to savour the scenery.
The town of Oliveira de Azemeis takes pride in this park on a hill east of the center, landscaped at the turn of the 20th century around a chapel that we’ll discuss later. It’s a refined spot for a stroll, with grand stairways, a gazebo and balustraded terraces. It also has an ornamental lake, a restaurant and cafe, a glass-blowing workshop, a campsite and playgrounds of all shapes and sizes.
Goncalo Castel-Branco didn’t grow up as a train guy, but when his daughter suggested he bring an historic train into service as a moving restaurant, he took her advice and invested EUR1 million in a two-year restoration. It was enough to make the Presidential Train, which had served kings and heads of state since 1890, rail-worthy, and it hosted dignitaries until its last ride in 1970.
Now it hosts Michelin-caliber chefs each weekend, including Dieter Koschina of the two-star Vila Joya in Porto and Pedro Lemos of the four-star Fortaleza do Guincho. You can also tour local factories, like the Torre da Oliva building that houses a footwear museum and a likeable one for hat-making. And, of course, you can sample local fare: pao de uro, the town’s type of bread; baked salted cod; and rojoada, a beans and pork casserole.
