Few people know much about the recent history of the Silver Coast, but it's well known that until Praia D'El Rey was built on its rugged, unspoilt and savagely beautiful coastline few people outside the Western Region of Portugal appreciated or had even heard of the Silver Coast's natural allure. The region includes the municipalities of Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, Bombarral, Cadaval, Caldas da Rainha, Lourinhã, Óbidos, Peniche, Rio Maior, Sobral de Monte Agraço and Torres Vedrasbut it is much more than an exotic list of names. The Silver Coast is rich in archaeology, from pre-historic caves to Moorish castles and Roman villages, aqueducts and bridges, medieval churches and monasteries, 15th century forts, 17th and 18th century manor houses and a number of fortifications from the Peninsular Wars of the early 19th century.