The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Central Portugal, Portugal

A must-see for people interested in the history and design of ceramic tiles, this specialty museum houses a splendid collection of decorative tiles dating from the 15th century to the present.

The final seventeen kilometres of the Coa valley contain hundreds of Palaeolithic engravings along the river’s banks, extending all the way to the River Douro. This zone has been made into Portugal’s first Archaeological Park. This Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 2 December 1998. This entire open-air art collection, which buries the old myth of rock art only existing in caves, is exhibited in the Museum through original pieces of movable art, replicas of “rock panels” and interactive zones that use modern digital technology. The art can also be viewed in loco on organised visits to the valley with specialised guides (advance booking required). Visit also (no advance booking required) the Museum which provides an overview of the Ice Age Coa Valley rock-art, its archaeological context as well as magnificent views over the Coa and Douro rivers. Museum opening times: High season: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM; Closes at lunchtime (01:00 PM - 02-00 PM) in low season from the 20th of October until the last day of February. Closed on Mondays, 1st of January, 1st of May and 25th of December.

This is a collection of decorative arts including furniture, tapestries and statues in an unfinished palace.

This tour takes you to the heart of Obidos region and with a history linked to wine and sparkling wine production dating back to the XV Century, the Quinta dos Loridos estate is a unique place, where tranquillity and nature play a special role. It is from these vineyards that the grapes are picked for the production of top quality sparkling wines - those of the Loridos brand . Produced in the age old winery, a rod-press dating from the XVII Century can still be found here. The Classic Method ("Methode Champenoise") is used to produce the wine, the whole process of which is conducted manually. This is followed by a period of ageing in the cellar. The surroundings of the cellar perfectly complement its purpose: terraced gardens, a lake, a forest, vineyards, and the largest oriental gardens in Europe, the impressive Buddha Eden. Buddha Eden Garden: With circa 35 hectares, the garden was created and devised by the Comendador Jose Berardo, in response to the destruction of the Buddhas of Banyan, in which one of the greatest acts of cultural barbarity took place, erasing masterpieces of late-period Gandhara art. From Buddhas , pagodas, terracotta statues and the various carefully-placed sculptures which can be found among the gardens, it is estimated that some six thousand tons of marble and granite were used to create this monumental work of art. There are seven hundred hand-painted terracotta soldiers, each of them unique, copies of those which were buried, some of them 2,200 years ago. At the central lake, KOI (Japanese carp) fish can be seen, and sculpted dragons rise out of the water. The central staircase is the focal point of the garden, where the golden Buddhas offer you a calm welcome. This is the Quinta dos Loridos estate, a place which awakens the senses...

The "Capuchos Convent" or "Cork Convent" was established in 1560 by Dom Alvaro de Castro, Counsellor of State to King Sebastiao, with the name Convento de Santa Cruz da Serra de Sintra. It is noteworthy for the extreme poverty of its construction, which represents the ideal of the Order of St. Francis of Assisi, and for the extensive use of cork in the protection and decoration of its small spaces.