Caldas da Rainha
Caldas da Rainha-whose name translates simply to "Queen's Hot Springs"-is a city established entirely by royal decree and defined by two enduring traditions: healing waters and earthenware artistry.
The city's foundation is traced back to the late 15th century, when Queen Leonor, recognizing the curative properties of the local sulphurous springs, ordered the construction of a hospital and a church. The Thermal Hospital, one of the oldest purpose-built institutions of its kind in the world, remains a central figure in the city 's story, lending the center a historical weight.
Caldas is perhaps best known today as Portugal's foremost center for ceramics. This heritage is beautifully displayed through the work of the renowned artist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, whose whimsical, often satirical, designs-including the famous cabbage-leaf crockery and irreverent figural pieces-gave the city a distinct, playful artistic identity.
The daily Praça da Fruta (Fruit Square) market, held in the open air for centuries, serves as the city's heart, a colorful showcase of the region's agricultural output. Surrounded by historic architecture and the serene, landscaped elegance of Parque Dom Carlos I, Caldas da Rainha presents a charming balance of historic therapeutic purpose and lasting artistic creativity.
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