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The town is home to several museums, including a likeable shoe museum in the Torre da Oliva building and a hat-making museum. Other highlights include a historic castle, which offers beautiful architecture and stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
1. Visit La Salette Park
Whether you’re a family with kids or an active traveler, Oliveira offers plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. From a relaxing walk through La Salette Park to exploring the historic Oliveira de Azemeis Castle, there’s something for everyone here.
The town’s most cultural sight is the Parque de La Salette, a cultured hill plotted around a 19th-century chapel and dedicated to a Marian apparition in France. The hill also holds a century-old watermill and bakery, along with a quirky museum stuffed with a jumble of exhibits—ancient and modern.
Throughout the historic center, eye-catching architectural details point to different trends and periods in Oliveira’s 900-year history. Look for carved stone figures in the Camara Municipal (Town Hall), and sculpted motifs on the wooden upper parts of tightly packed, stone town houses.
2. Visit Catedral das Beiras
Oliveira do Bairro is a place where the sea and the mountains meet. This central Portugal municipality is a land of music and art, history and heritage, and modernity and nature.
Take a cable car ride to the top of Penha Hill and enjoy panoramic views of the city. You can also visit the Church of Saint Ildefonso, which features gilded carvings and altarpieces as well as an ossuary.
Whether you’re looking for a souvenir or reinventing your artistic aesthetic, the city has a wide variety of unique things to do. Shop at boutique stores, eat in small restaurants, or explore a new cultural venue.
When you tour with a Showaround local, you can make on-the-fly decisions based on what interests you. Your guide will be happy to share their insider tips and personal insights.
3. Take a Tour of Oliveira de Azemeis Castle
In a region like Oliveira de Azemeis, there’s no shortage of activities and attractions. Choose from a variety of local guided tours that connect you to the culture, history, and nature that Oliveira do Bairro is known for.
There’s an abundance of cultural equipment to explore here, from the Arts Garrison to a quirky museum devoted to hat-making in a converted factory. The gastronomy of the town is also impressive, with local specialties such as roast veal and pao de linha – a kind of bread made from milled wheat.
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4. Visit the Sao Miguel Church
Oliveira do Hospital may not be as well known as Portugal’s capital, but that doesn’t mean this quaint little town isn’t worth a visit. The city has plenty of hidden gems for you to discover, including exciting activities and attractions.
The park on the hill overlooking Oliveira do Hospital is a refined spot for a stroll, with grand stairways and a gazebo. It also houses a cafe, a typical glass-blowing workshop and a campsite.
Spend some time in Bobadela and explore the city’s parks, gardens and mountain views. You can even take a trip to the Gruta do Carvao, a subterranean cave that has a unique set of geological features. In Bobadela, you can also enjoy a variety of museums and art galleries. The city is also rich in popular handicrafts that highlight the region’s history and culture.
5. Visit the Padrao dos Descobrimentos
The Padrao dos Descobrimentos is one of the most famous landmarks in Lisbon, and for good reason. This monument to the Portuguese Age of Discovery is awe-inspiring and features a ship-like structure with dozens of larger-than-life statues of prominent explorers and navigators.
When viewed from the water, the monument’s design closely resembles the prow of a caravel, the type of ship that Henry the Navigator used on his explorations. The three swooping arches at the top are meant to represent sails, and the cross within the shape of the monument symbolizes the close relationship between Christianity and Portuguese exploration.
The monument’s most impressive feature, though, is the Mappa Mundi, a giant marble map of the world that highlights key discoveries made by Portugal. It’s the perfect way to learn about the country’s rich history and the many people who contributed to it.
