Mealhada
Mealhada is a small city in Bairrada, an agro-viticulture zone of central Portugal,sub Region:Baixo Vouga,district of Aveiro;Metropolitam Area:Coimbra.
Understand
Bairrada, situated between the urban centers of Agueda, Aveiro and Coimbra, stretches 40 km from north to south. The region mainly comprises vineyards and contains the municipalities of Anadia, Cantanhede, Mealhada and Oliveira do Bairro. From east to west the region runs from the base of the Caramulo and Bucaco mountains to the sands of the Atlantic.
The area of Bairrada is 108,000 ha. Vineyards occupy around 15,000 ha. In the 1970s, this corresponded to 37% of the volume of the total agricultural production in the central region.
Get in
By car
A1 motorway exit:Mealhada.Trains between Aveiro & Coimbra.
By train
The principal stations in the area are: Linha do Norte: Pampilhosa, Mealhada, Mogofores, O.Bairro, Oia, Paraimo/Sangalhos, Curia, Aguim.
Linha da Beira Alta: Pampilhosa, Luso/Bussaco, Quinta do Valongo/Vacarica, Trezoi.
Ramal da Figueira/Cantanhede: Pampilhosa, Mala.
Get around
walk
See
Luso/Bussaco
Do
central Mealhada/jardim/cafes.
Carnaval da Bairrada/Mealhada
Buy
Eat
- Rei dos Leitões, ☎ +351 23 120-2093. 17 Avda. da Restauração, Mealhada; dinner for two €$40.
- Restaurante Pedro dos Leitões, ☎ +351 23 120-9950. Estrada Nacional 1 - Sernadelo 3050 - 382 Mealhada, dinner for two €$40
Drink
Regional spumantes (wines/vinho espumante da Bairrada).
Sleep
budget
- Estalagem Azevedo dos Leitões, ☎ +351 23 120-9800. Rue São Domingos, Pedrulha; doubles from €$80.
splurge
- Bussaco Palace Hotel Mata do Bussaco, ☎ +351 23 193-7970. Luso; doubles from €222.
Go next
Coimbra,a university town with several monuments, city museuums,parks.Aveiro,the Venice of Portugal,a city with canals.Beaches:Mira,Figueira da Foz.Serras do Bucaco & Caramulo.Rivers:Vouga,Dao,Mondego.
The bucolic town of Luso, the villages of Bucaco (Bussaco Palace hotel), Forest/Mata do Bussaco, Cruz Alta.
Also: Curia (spa/garden and lagoon).
- Aveiro/Barra/Costa Nova/Ilhavo (Vista Alegre/ceramics)/Ria de Aveiro/Sao Jacinto peninsula.
- Coimbra, hub city, university & other monuments in the capital of central Portugal.
- Mira/Praia de Mira (beach).
- Agueda/Fermentelos (lagoon).
- Figueira da Foz, a panoramic city at the mouth of Mongedo; beach/Costa de Prata, casino.
- Porto, monumental city (cidade Invicta), capital of Norte.
- Viseu, historic city,museum.
- Penacova, a town by the Mondego river.
- Lousa, a lovely mountain town.
Plus:
- Pinhel, castle and Coa valley.
- Guarda, cathedral/Se and Serra da Estrela.
- Tomar, Templar city.
- Leiria, castle and Pinhal de Leiria(pinewood).
- Espinho, beach casino/Costa Verde.