natural wonder
Nazare
A fishing town famous for producing the world's largest surfed waves, with 30-meter swells breaking at the Praia do Norte canyon.
10 km · about 20 min drive
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EuropePortugalLeiria
Alcobaça
Leiria, Portugal · Europe
About Alcobaça
Alcobaça works well as a base: 10 minutes from Aljubarrota, 10km from Nazare.
Alcobaça is in Leiria, Portugal, with about 16,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Aljubarrota, about 4 km away.
Alcobaça (Portuguese pronunciation: [alkuˈβasɐ] ) is a Portuguese city and municipality in the intermunicipal community Oeste and the region Oeste e Vale do Tejo, in the historical province of Estremadura, and in the Leiria District. The city grew along the valleys of the rivers Alcoa and Baça, from which it derivesRead more
its name. The municipality population in 2011 was 56,693, in an area of 408.14 square kilometres (157.58 mi2). The city proper has a population of 15,800 inhabitants.
The city of Alcobaça became notable after the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, decided to build a church to commemorate the Conquest of Santarém from the Moors in 1147. The church later evolved into the Monastery of Alcobaça, one of the most magnificent Gothic monuments in the country. In the church are the tombs of Pedro I of Portugal and his murdered mistress Inês de Castro. Over the centuries this monastery played an important role in shaping Portuguese culture.
A few kilometers to the north of Alcobaça is the Monastery of Batalha, another Gothic building constructed in memory of a different important battle, that of Aljubarrota. To the west of Alcobaça is the fishing village of Nazaré, now a popular resort town. To the south is the city of Caldas da Rainha and the medieval town of Óbidos. To the northeast is the town of Porto de Mós with its rebuilt castle.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Alcobaça?
Within an hour or so of Alcobaça: Nazare (10 km), Praia do Norte, Nazaré (11 km), Batalha Monastery (18 km), Obidos (26 km).
Are there any good drives near Alcobaça?
The nearest famous roads are N2: Portugal's Route 66, Sintra–Cascais Coast Road (N247) and Tram 28 Route, Lisbon.
Where is Alcobaça?
Alcobaça is in Leiria, Portugal, about 4 km from Aljubarrota.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 15,800
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Portugal
- Region
- Leiria
- Timezone
- Europe/Lisbon
- Coordinates
- 39.5522, -8.9775
Tags
Worth the detour from Alcobaça
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
beach
Praia do Norte, Nazaré
The beach where a submarine canyon generates record-breaking waves, overlooked by the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo.
11 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Batalha Monastery
A Gothic and Manueline masterpiece built to commemorate the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota, with its famous Unfinished Chapels.
18 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Obidos
A fairy-tale walled medieval town of whitewashed houses with blue and yellow trim, famous for its ginjinha cherry liqueur.
26 km · about 30 min drive
cathedral
Sanctuary of Fátima
One of Catholicism's great modern pilgrimage sites, built where three shepherd children reported Marian apparitions in 1917: a vast esplanade twice the size of St Peter's Square links the 1953 basilica and the 9,000-seat Holy Trinity church.
28 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Convent of Christ, Tomar
A UNESCO-listed former Knights Templar headquarters with a remarkable blend of Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architecture.
48 km · about 55 min drive
natural wonder
Berlengas Islands
A remote archipelago nature reserve off Peniche with crystal waters, sea caves, and a dramatic 17th-century island fortress.
48 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Convento de Cristo, Tomar
A UNESCO-listed Templar monastery with a Manueline round church and the celebrated carved Chapter House window.
48 km · about 55 min drive
Driving in Portugal
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€9.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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