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Portugal Attractions |
Lisbon City GuideBoasting springtime temperatures during the winter and cool summers freshened by a breeze blowing in from the Atlantic, Costa de Lisboa, on the southwestern coast, offers a rich and impressively integrated diversity. The capital of Portugal since its conquest from the Moors in 1147, Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of History. The Alfama is one of the oldest quarters in Lisboa. Since it largely survived the earthquake of 1755, the area still retains much of its original layout. Adjacent to the Alfama are the likewise old quarters of Castelo and Mouraria, on the western and northern slopes of the hill that is crowned by St. George's Castle. Every year in June, the streets of all three quarters come alive with the feasts in honour of the popular saints. The Graça quarter and the churches of São Vicente de Fora and Santa Engrácia are within walking distance of this area. Radiant skies brighten the monumental city, with its typical tile covered building façades and narrow Medieval streets, where one can hear the fado being played and sung at night. But Lisbon is also the stage for popular festivities, the place for exquisite shopping, exciting nightlife, and interesting museums, a place from where motorways branch off in different directions.Nearby, Sintra's lush wooded heights and verdant charms invite one to take a ride on a horse-pulled carriage, and gaze at the marvelous manor-houses, located within the grounds of century old farms, as one drives up to Pena Palace, built by Fernando Cobourg Gothas on the ruins of a monastery from the 16th century, the style of the palace is a blend of Gothic, Manueline, and Romantic influences which make for a very explosive combination, and keeps the atmosphere of a royal residence. Lisbon is the kind of place where you can sit at street cafes - sampling food or fado - and watch the world go by. But for the eager there are also plenty of cultural activities. In addition to architectural masterpieces at Belém, Lisbon has over 50 museums to visit. Lagos Lagos, on the south coast of the Algarve, is one of the country's most
popular tourist resorts. Most visitors are drawn to the superb beaches,
which include Meia Praia, a vast strip of sand to the east, and the more
secluded Praia do Pinhão to the south.
The town has abundant facilities for renting bicycles, mopeds and horses, and there are also boat trips from the main harbour. Apart from the sun and sand, the resort's other highlight is the Museu Municipal, which has eccentric displays of ecclesiastical treasures and other intriguing curios. AlbufeiraAs a result of the tide of tourism, this "once upon a time" fishing village has expanded since the 1960s into a major holiday resort and now has over 12,000 permanent residents. As the sun sets the centre of the town changes its character. A plentiful collection of bars, restaurants and clubs start to fill-up with people, until they spill over into the narrow streets. A fine selection of good beaches extend east and west from the town. Praia de Balaia, Praia de Castelo, Praia de Falésia, Praia de Galé, de Olhos d’Agua, Praia de Maria Luisa, and Praia de São Rafael, being the main ones. There is a small museum of 15th and 17th century Ming ceramics and a Municipal art gallery that holds regular exhibitions during the season. A further addition to the town is a new Virtual Archaeological Museum. A new Marina has been completed on the west side of the town and offers a different and attractive aspect.Vilamoura Vilamoura
is the name given to an area rather than to any actual town. It is
outstanding in that it is one of the largest single tourist complex in
Europe and covers some 2.000 hectares of land. The land is variable in its
vegetation, some parts covered in pine forests whilst others open recovered
marshland. Vilamoura is a special place, a unique leisure and recreation
resort community where the pace of life is so easy it feels like summer all
year round.
Designed from the start to be self-sufficient, Vilamoura is ideally located, features a wide choice of prime accommodation, offers the commercial structure for day-to-day needs and is bursting with sporting and leisure facilities for the whole family. It is a place for rest and relaxation but also for pursuing active pastimes and sports; a friendly and safe residential haven, but also a vibrant and exciting night-life centre. It is a luxury hotel, a private villa or a serviced apartment for the visitor, but also a home to the resident and seasonal population. It is Portuguese, but also truly cosmopolitan. Away from the hectic pace and the stress of the modern world, all who visit are revitalised by the lifestyle, the convenience and the hospitality of this truly special place. SintraThe town of Sintra, northwest of Lisbon, was long favoured by Portuguese royalty and English nobility (Lord Byron was mad about it) as a summer destination. Its appeal is still evident today, with its thickly wooded setting, romantic gardens, amalgam of Manueline and Gothic architecture, 16th-century hermitages, and ramshackle glamour.Funchal Madeira's
almost five-century-old capital is said to have been named 'Funchal' because
of the abundance of fennel (funcho) that was growing there. Funchal is located in an absolutely unique area. The amphitheatre of Funchal city begins at the harbour and rises almost 1200 m high on gentle slopes. This provides a natural shelter and was what once attracted the first settlers. The best harbour and the best climate combined with an excellent geographical position allowed Funchal to have a rapid population growth. Today Funchal is a very modern city with over 104.000 inhabitants. This does however mean that traffic congestion in the centre can become sometimes quite confusing. The city can easily be explored by foot and no matter where your hotel is located (as long as it is in the Funchal tourist area) you will find no difficulty in walking into the city centre to delight at its sights and sounds. Probably the most central point is the ‘Sé’ Cathedral. Built between 1493 and 1514 by Gil Eanes it represents one of Madeira's numerous treasures High above the capital, Funchal, and easily reached by the Austrian built cable car, in the village church at Monte is the tomb of the last emperor of Austria-Hungary. Among the gaudy shrines, Emperor Charles' sepulchre is a monument to Prussian imperial might. All black marble and spikes, it houses a huge plaque listing Charles' titles - all of which proved quite meaningless after he was banished from Austria in 1918 to spent his life in exile on Madeira. ÉvoraThe walled town of Évora is one of the architectural gems of Portugal. Situated in a picturesque landscape of olive groves, vineyards, wheat fields and brilliant spring flowers, it's a charming town whose attractions include a cathedral, a roman temple and a ghoulish ossuary chapel constructed from the bones and skulls of several thousand people.PortoThe second-largest city in Portugal was nominated European City of Culture for 2001 and the historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded by the Romans at the mouth of the River Douro, modern Porto (Oporto) is an industrial city with a wonderful atmosphere and plenty to see. The sights of the old town include the Cathedral (Sé), dating from the 12th to the 18th centuries, the Church of São Francisco, famous for its rococo interior, a splendid example of Portuguese gilt-work (talha dourada), the 19th century Stock Exchange and the Torre Dos Clérigos, which offers wonderful views. The old waterfront, known as the Cais da Ribeira (a World Heritage Site), caters for tourists with cafes, restaurants and an open-air market. Across the river, the 18th century Port wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia are open to the public for tours and tastings.SalemaYou'll find it at the end of a small road, just off the main drag between the big city of Lagos and the rugged "land's end of Europe," Cape Sagres. This simple fishing village has a few hotels, time-share condos up the road, some hippie bars with rock music, English and German menus and signs (including bullfight ads for "Stierkampf"), a lovely beach, and lots of sun.Situated where a dirt road hits the sea, Salema has three streets, five restaurants, a couple of bars, and a lane full of fisher folk who happily rent out rooms to foreign guests. Salema's flatbed-truck market rolls in each morning. There's one truck for fruit, one for vegetables, and one for clothing. A highlight of any Salema day is watching the fishing boats come and go as a tractor drags them in. The town's handful of small, family-run restaurants specialize in one thing: fresh seafood. Happily, those that face the beach are the most fun, with the best service, food, and atmosphere. The Atlantico is popular, right on the beach. It's especially atmospheric when the electricity goes out, and faces flicker around the candles. The Boia Bar, at the base of the residential street, is Salema's best value, with huge portions and a few tables a splashing distance from the surf. From Salema, it's a short drive to the rugged and historic southwestern tip of Portugal. This was the spot closest to the edge of our flat earth in the days before Columbus. Today, at Sagres, fishermen cast from its towering crags, local merchants sell homemade and seaworthy sweaters, and daredevil windsurfers skitter across the windy stretches of water. And here, tourists and fishermen sport the same stubble. This hideaway is just the place for some rigorous rest — and to enjoy some very fresh octopus. |