The Silver Coast or Costa de Prata as it’s known locally, is the stretch of coastline running north from the Lisbon Coast to just south of Porto.

The region is characterised by long golden sandy beaches interspersed with rocky outcrops and dramatic cliffs falling away to the Atlantic surf below. Hills dotted with white windmills roll inland, punctuated by historic towns exhibiting traditional Portuguese architecture.

The Costa de Prata's beautiful undulating countryside is lush with forests of eucalyptus and pine. In the valleys, natural springs provide the source for health spas, while ancient churches, castles, monasteries, convents and museums provide visitors to the Silver Coast with a magnificent cultural heritage to explore.

Up to very recently the Silver Coast was almost unknown as a holiday destination, but now that the region is less than an hour’s drive from Lisbon, thanks to the recently opened motorway, and plans to site the new Lisbon airport close by at Ota, the Silver Coast is beginning to open itself up to tourism.

Nevertheless, the Silver Coast remains unspoilt and really does offer holidaymakers a genuine experience of Portugal and one that is poles apart from the busy sun, beach and golf holidays of the Algarve.

For lovers of food and wine, the Silver Coast offers a host of gastronomic delights like the eel stew from Aveiro in the north, roast suckling pig and sparkling wine  from Mealhada in the centre and fabulous seafood from Peniche in the south.