Travel to Portugal

Alentejo - On the vast golden plains of Alentejo, the peaceful landscape is but a curtain that opens on to an unimaginable heritage. One is first taken by surprise by the remarkable traces of successive cultures: dolmens and cromlechs, Roman and Arab vestiges mingling with the most recent signs of Christianity, of which the numerous medieval castles that stand out in the vast plain are but one example.

Algarve - Gorgeous beaches, warm water and glorious sunshine year-round, Algarve is the dream holiday. Situated on the extreme South of Portugal, this part of the territory was the last to be conquered from the Moors by the Portuguese king Dom Afonso III, in 1292. Traces of the Moorish presence are still seen in its unique terraces, chimneys and whitewashed houses.

Azores Islands - Situated 907 miles from the European coast and 2330 miles from North America, the archipelago of the Azores was discovered during the first half of the 15th-century by Portuguese navigators. Consisting of nine islands, it is divided into three groups: the eastern (S'o Miguel and Santa Maria islands), the central (Terceira, Graciosa, S'o Jorge, Pico and Faial islands), and the western (Corvo and Flores islands). Apart from international airports of Santa Maria, Ponta Delgada and Angra, there are flights to the islands (operated by the regional airline SATA) and ferry boats between the islands.

Beiras - The Central Region of Portugal This region is made up of two contrasting areas. The extensive beaches and fishing villages which lie along the coast and the interior where mountains and plateaus dominate the landscape. 'Beiras' is the traditional name of a region running south of Douro river and north of Tagus river. The region is one of deep contrasts: the Atlantic coastline, where a temperate climate, white sandy beaches and the Atlantic pine forests are typical, and the interior where more forbidding mountains and rocks set the tone.

Lisbon - Lisboa, the capital of Portugal since 1255, was conquered from the Moors by Portugal's first king in 1147. It lies on the right bank of the Tagus river and in a region that offers a rich landscape diversity. The imposing Tagus river (Tejo) flows alongside Lisboa from east to west. Its source lies in Spain, but a good part of its journey to the sea lies inside Portuguese frontiers before it meets the Atlantic ocean. As it approaches Lisboa, the river bed widens to create a green and fertile plain called the lez'ria. The effect as it nears the capital is to grace the landscape with its broad blue estuary. The special beauty of the riverbank enriches a number of towns past which the Tagus makes its way: Abrantes, Const'ncia, Vila Nova da Barquinha and Santar'm. The whole green river valley is like a stage setting upon which deeply-rooted cultural traditions are enacted. There is popular music and dance, and the traditional costume worn by the horsemen still seen rounding up their cattle in rural pastures is a real feature.

Madeira Island - Between the verdant hills and the blue ocean, Madeira lies 621 miles southwest of Lisbon and 497 miles from the coast of Africa, offering the delights of a subtropical climate. An archipelago of volcanic origin, discovered in 1419 by Portuguese navigators, it consists of the island of Madeira (the largest and more populated, with its capital in Funchal), the island of Porto Santo, and two groups of uninhabited islands: the Desertas and the Selvagens (bird sanctuaries).

Porto and North of Portugal - (Classified by UNESCO World Heritage site) The North's most important city lent its name to the famous wine and to Portugal. One must stroll around its typical quarters (especially the area on the waterside, the 'zona ribeirinha') and its bustling downtown. Visit: the Stock Exchange Palace, the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, the church of Cedofeita (Romanesque), the Cl'rigos tower (Porto's ex-libris of Baroque architecture) and church; the church of S'o Francisco, of Romanesque origin, with its interior covered in gilded carvings, and the church of Carmo, with tiled fa'ades. Museums: Soares dos Reis, Casa de Serralves (modern art), Casa-Museu de Guerra Junqueiro and the Romantic Style Museum of Quinta da Macieirinha. One should not miss a visit to the Port lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia and free tasting of the famous port wine.

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