Caldas da Rainha: Thermal History, Ceramics and Culture

Discover Caldas da Rainha through its thermal history, ceramics and public culture. The Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor, several museums and historic markets each offer a different perspective. You can tailor your stay according to whether you are more interested in the origins of thermal bathing, art collections or the market offerings.

Thermal History and the Mata Rainha Dona Leonor

The Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor was founded in 1485 by Queen D. Leonor and is the oldest thermal hospital in the world still in operation. Wellness treatments on offer include massages, full-body baths and Vichy showers. Its architecture also tells a story of different eras: the hospital preserves Gothic, Renaissance, Neoclassical and Baroque elements. Its founding story, preserved architectural styles and treatments offer different insights into the institution.

The Mata Rainha Dona Leonor extends this history beyond the hospital. The woodland was laid out in the 16th century as an extension of the hospital and was also intended to protect the springs that supply it. The protection of the water supply is thus part of its origins.

Museums Exploring the City’s History and Ceramic Art

The Museu do Hospital e das Caldas is housed in the former Casa Real and traces the founding and development of Caldas da Rainha. The Museu José Malhoa offers a different focus: it is housed in Portugal’s first building designed specifically for museum use. Its permanent exhibition includes 19th- and 20th-century painting and sculpture, as well as ceramics. The museum’s cultural programme includes guided tours, concerts, talks and film screenings, complementing its collections and temporary exhibitions.

The Museu da Cerâmica is housed in the Quinta Visconde de Sacavém, a historicist architectural complex dating from the late 19th century. The Quinta is near Parque D. Carlos I and the former Fábrica Bordalo Pinheiro. The collection includes ceramics from Caldas da Rainha, as well as a collection of works by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro. The museum thus focuses on both the town’s ceramic tradition and the artist’s work.

Sculpture, Architecture and Public Culture

At the Museu Barata Feyo, the sculptor’s work is presented through three themes: portraiture, official sculpture and religious sculpture. The Centro de Artes brings together the António Duarte and João Fragoso Atelier-Museums, the Museu Barata Feyo and Museu Leopoldo de Almeida, as well as Espaço da Concas and Casa Amarela. Exhibitions, workshops and events are held there. The various spaces thus combine several artistic focuses with a programme of events.

Individual works of architecture and art also stand out in their own right. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pópulo has been a National Monument since 1910. The Rota Arte Pública de Ferreira da Silva includes a large, colourful tile mosaic in the town’s railway underpass. The last and most imposing fountain in the Chafarizes Joaninos, on Rua Diário de Notícias, is notable for its size, five spouts, volutes and cascading basins.

Parque D. Carlos I has areas for cultural and sporting events. The Museu do Ciclismo preserves documents about the Cycloclube Caldense of 1901, the I Porto-Lisboa race of 1911 and the first editions of the Volta a Portugal. The cultural offering thus covers documented aspects of cycling history as well as art and architecture.

Markets and Local Produce

Praça da Fruta is a daily open-air market that has been running since the 15th century. It offers fresh produce, homemade bread, flowers and handicrafts. As the daily schedule may change, check the market hours before your visit. The Mercado do Peixe has a different focus, offering fish and seafood from regional fish auctions. The two markets differ both in what they sell and in their respective focus.

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For the main travel overview: Leiria.