Area Information

The Central Region of Portugal lays approx. half way between Lisbon and Portugal. It is bordered by the coastal area is known as the Silver Coast, or Costa da Prata, and inland towards the Serra da Estrela mountain range, the highest mountain on the Portuguese mainland, where you will find ski slopes in the winter. The nearest city is Coimbra, which was once the capital of Portugal and has a long university history going back several hundred years. You can spend time wandering about the narrow, cobbled streets and along the banks of the River Mondego that winds its way through the city. There is a national railway station here connecting the North and the South and you can also get a connection to Spain and then on to France. There is also a national bus station here.

Alva Property is based in Central Portugal in the district town of Arganil approx. 40kms inland from Coimbra. Arganil is a market town, situated in beautiful countryside near the River Alva and has all the facilities that one would expect to find. There are banks, the main Post Office, a cottage hospital and both infant and secondary schools, there is also a nursery for pre-school children. The district Police (GNR) Station is here in Arganil as is the Fire Station and all the council office HQ's including the District Court. You will find a large selection of shops, restaurants and pavement cafes, a hotel and a library with internet access. There are 2 large supermarkets and several smaller ones and unlike the UK there are still the local butchers, bakers, ironmongers and chemists.

Alva Property has properties for sale in many of the local villages and market towns that are dotted in the beautiful valleys and mountains of Central Portugal. Properties that would make great investment properties, overseas holiday homes or a permanent residence within Portugal. Most of the proprties are within a radius of approx. 20 kms from Arganil. The ancient market towns of Coja, Penacova and Gois have their own facilities including council offices, police station, fire station, banks, shops and restaurants, with pretty river beaches where you can while away the time swimming and relaxing. Most villages will have a café/bar and will be within 10 to 15 mins drive of the other major towns in the area.

The countryside in Central Portugal is both beautiful and in places breathtaking. The quiet rivers meander through the valleys and into the lakes with a backdrop of green mountains. From the roads winding up into the mountains you will catch some of the most spectacular views, the best way is to judge for yourself with a visit! Come and let the magic of Portugal work on you and you will not want to leave!

Central Portugal

The area still remains a much cheaper alternative to most other European countries with daily living costs typically 1/3 cheaper here than in the UK. General goods are still cheaper her than in most other European countries although luxury goods can be quite expensive. Building materials and labour are much cheaper here in Portugal and it is possible to refurbish or renovate a property without the cost being prohibitive.

There is no television licence and car tax ranges from €15 to €50 per year depending on the type of vehicle. The infrastructure of the country has been modernised over the last 15 years and although to some the country may still appear behind the times the reality is that it is a modern and forward progressing country. The health system is good with only 10 million people in the whole of Portugal it is not under as much strain as back in the UK. Coimbra boasts one of the top training hospitals in Portugal with some of the best surgeons.

Roman Bridge at Gois

English is widely spoken although in the villages it is still a rarity with the older generation. Children are taught English in school from the age of 7 so most teenagers have a general grasp of the language, however if you are coming to live here some knowledge of Portuguese will certainly help.

Flights and tickets to Lisbon and Porto are easy to arrange. Companies such as Ryanair, Easyjet, TAP and BA all have regular, scheduled flights to Portugal. If you like the idea of driving to Portugal, ferry companies such as P&O Ferries have routes from the UK to northern Spain. The road systems are very good which makes travel easy. From Lisbon and Porto, it typically takes between 2 and 2 ½ hours to drive into Beira Litoral on the toll motorways. The rail system is very efficient and travel is cheap with a mainline station in Coimbra connecting to Porto in the North and the Algarve in the South and on to Spain. There is also an efficient national bus service that connects the cities with most of the towns.