Penacova

The village on the high bank of the Mondego, with its viewpoints and river beach.

Penacova sits on the high bank of the Mondego, upstream of Coimbra, where the river runs between wooded hills in one of the most beautiful valleys of the centre of Portugal. From the viewpoints of the village the Mondego opens below in great bends, and the riverside, the beaches and the old sanctuary of Loreto make Penacova a natural stop between the city and the mountains.

The Mondego at Penacova

From its viewpoints over the valley — the balconies of the village above the river — Penacova looks over the Mondego and the green hills of the valley, with the river beaches and the paths along the water below. The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Loreto, on its hill above the town, has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries, and the roads of the valley connect the village with the forests and the hills around.

What to see

The viewpoints over the Mondego valley and its bends.
The river beach of Reconquinho, below the village.
The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Loreto, above the town.
The valley roads and woods between Penacova and the mountains.

Visiting

Penacova lies on the road along the Mondego, within easy reach of Coimbra and the Buçaco. The village, the viewpoints and the river beach are explored on foot and by the local roads; the conditions of the beaches and the programmes of the sanctuary follow the official information of the municipality.