MEDIEVAL ROMANCE
It is impossible not to become enchanted by Portugal's perfectly-preserved medieval villages such as Obidos, Marvão, and Monsaraz. It is inescapable falling under Sintra's spell with its bewitching atmosphere of surrealist palaces and lush vegetation. Portugal is a country that invites you to travel back in time and scale walls of ancient castles and wander around extravagant royal palaces, many of them converted into fabulous hotels where you can live like a king amid lavish old furnishings or stylish modern design. It tells tragic love stories and episodes of epic battles as you admire World Heritage monuments in Alcobaça and Batalha. In Portugal it is possible to experience a fairytale.
SUN, SEA, & SAND
Algarve, the southernmost province, has the most annual sunshine hours in Europe and some of the continent's most beautiful beaches. In the island of Madeira, with its exuberant landscape, it is spring all year long. Throughout the country, the climate is mild and the entire coastline offers sandy beaches, many of them deserted, others among the most popular in the world for water sports such as surfing and windsurfing. The islands of the Azores have always been one of the world's best sites for whale-watching. The country's golf courses were designed by the world's most renowned architects and rank among the best in the world. In charming fishing villages it is still possible to feel ultimate relaxation and the breeze and spray of the ocean without maddening crowds. Award-winning resorts such as Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago, and Vilamoura are among the best you'll find anywhere in Europe. Best of all, in Portugal you can have a beach all for yourself – just head to the Alentejo coast or to a secluded cove in Algarve.
FIND HOTELS IN PORTUGAL.
Visiting Portugal
Our information about Portugal is divided into 3 sections:
CITIES AND VILLAGES - All the charming cities, picturesque coastal villages, enchanting medieval towns, mystical sites, and magical landscapes around Lisbon, in Central Portugal, in Coimbra and the east, Porto and surroundings, Minho, Tras-os-Montes, and Alentejo.
ALGARVE - The stunning coastline, golden beaches, and magnificent scenery of Portugal's playground. Some of the best beaches in Europe, crystal clear waters, secluded coves, whitewashed villas, Moorish architecture, fishing villages, glamorous resorts, Europe's largest leisure complex, golfing paradise, "the end of the world".
THE ISLANDS - The wonders of Madeira and Azores islands, scattered in the middle of the Atlantic and easily accessible from the mainland. Madeira and Porto Santo are popular holiday destinations famous for their subtropical flora and some of the world's greatest hotels, while the Azorean archipelago has fascinating volcanic scenery, magnificent landscapes, natural wonders, whale-watching, and a spectacular volcano.
WORLD HERITAGE Portugal
Portugal is proud of its UNESCO-protected World Heritage Sites, since no other country of comparable size has more. There are currently 14 sites on the list, with several others expected to join soon (Marvão, Lisbon's Baixa district, Vila Viçosa, Arrabida, Mafra Palace, Coimbra University, Buçaco Forest). Portugal's 14 World Heritage Sites are:
Jeronimos Monastery
Belem Tower
Sintra
Evora
Batalha Abbey
Alcobaça Abbey
Tomar's Templar Castle and Convent
Guimarães
Porto's Old Center
Douro Valley
Prehistoric Rock Art of Côa Valley
Angra do Heroismo
Pico Island Vineyard Culture
Laurisilva Forest
THE SEVEN WONDERS OF Portugal
On the 7th day of the 7th month of the year 2007, 7 national monuments were chosen as the 7 Wonders of Portugal, from a list of 21 finalists. So what are the "7 maravilhas de Portugal"? Find out here.
The BEST of PORTUGAL
These 3 experiences capture the essence of Portugal
THE AGE OF DISCOVERY
All of Portugal recalls the Age of Discovery -- in ornate stonework inspired by India (Batalha Abbey, Convent of Christ, Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower), in marvelous blue and white tile panels evocative of Chinese porcelain, in the gastronomy influenced by the sea and with the flavors of Africa and the Americas, in the art, Indo-Portuguese furniture, and porcelain that decorate the royal palaces and fill Lisbon's museums, and in the fantastic gilt and baroque church interiors made with the gold discovered in Brazil. And gazing into the horizon from dramatic capes (Cabo de São Vicente and Cabo da Roca) is just as inspiring today as when Prince Henry the Navigator, Vasco da Gama, or Magellan stood on the same spots and dreamed of discovering the world.
