This gorgeous door is located in the city Caldas da Rainha (80km north of Lissabon) in Portugal. The city of Caldas da Rainha (Queen's Hot Waters), like the name suggests was founded by a queen. Leonor, wife of King Joao II. The construction of a Thermal Hospital and the setlement near it was her decision. One day, when going from Bidos to Batalha, to attend mass in honour of former king Afonso V, she saw several people bathing in water banks, fumegating and with an intense smell. Told that the water had healing properties she reportadly tried the waters herself, because she suffered from angina, a tumour or another unknown disease, and it aparently cured it her later on. So in sign of thanks for this, she decided to order the building of a hospital where the poor could seek a cure.
Foto by Francisco Ourique