Portimâo is one of the largest cities and fishing ports on the Algarve Coast. During a visit to the city you don't have to settle with looking at fish. The city is also known for its furniture and basketwork and there are grounds for a bargain.
On the slopes of Santa Maria, the southern-most island, you can see huge terrace fields covered with wines. The charming island Santa Maria is one of the most beautiful spots on the Azores. Columbus visited the main city Vila Do Porto after his first voyage to America and one can easy understand why he chose to pick this spot, once you have experienced Santa Marias beautiful views and landscapes soothing in a constant ray of light.
On this island you get a sensation of unspoilt and original nature. The mountain topped with snow, the whales, the old fishermen and the vineyard farmers. A visit to Pico is like stepping into a miniature world build upon nature and where the only disturbance of the silence a tiny cosy villages overlooking The Atlantic Ocean.
In Cascais the Bay is the main attraction. It is an adventure walking on the trail that runs along the bay and experiencing the contrasts between colourful local fishing boats and the white luxurious yachts also arriving at the harbour.
Close to Estoril is the Estoril Hill 109 metre high. Perhaps not much in a country filled with mountains, but the place has something else to offer. The hill is famous for its trees, especially palm trees, eucalyptus trees and pines.
In the Nossa Senhora da Vitória Chapel you can see an image of saint Anthony. A local regiment of the infantry held the image as they fought against the French during the war on the Pyrenean Peninsula in 1808-14. the citadel is from the 17th century and is the residence of the Portuguese President. Close by are ancient burial grounds - worth a visit.
If you want a historical and cultural supplement to your bathing holiday, visit Faro. Faro is the capital of the Algarve Coast and has a lot of monuments to show. For instance the Roman cathedral Sâo Francisco and Nossa Senhora da Assuncâo. The city also has museums to show e.g. the Infante Dom Henrique, Antoniano and Ramalho Ortigâo museums.
Funchal is Madeira´s almost 500-year-old capital and with 120.000 inhabitants is the largest city on the island. It is said that the city got its name because of the huge amounts of fennel that once grew in the area. Funchal is uniquely situated on top the shape of an amphitheatre starting at the beach and towering up towards the city.
The building of the Jerónimis Monastery in Portugals capital Lisbon was initiated in 1502 and completed by the closing of the century. The monastery survived an earthquake in 1755. Close by you can see the Torre de Belém Tower, which is probably one of the most photographed monuments in Portugal.
The Ribeiro Frio, the cold river is on the north side of Madeira and is the most popular spot for initiating a hike. Ribeiro Frio has a lush green landscape. The green blanket use to cover the entire Madeira, but especially in this area the original vegetation of the island is preserved intact.
The church is placed close to the centre of the city of Funchal and is beautiful situated in a shady garden at Rue do Quebra Costas. The church is one of 44 dioceses within the English church. It is worth a visit because of the location.
This cosy fishing port is situated five kilometres from Funchal. The surroundings are so beautiful that the once inspired Winston Churchill to create a painting. The city is very picturesque and besides the special atmosphere, a special drink called Poncha originates from this city. Poncha is a mixture of lemon juice, honey and sugar and is available at any local bar.
The Cathedral of Porto near the Visigothic citadel was originally a roman building from the 12th century, but was extended during the 17th and 18th century. Notice the blue and white glassed tiles covering the walls. They are very beautiful and characteristic of the region. In connection with the Cathedral is the Torre dos Clérigos Tower. This tower mad from granite in the 18th century is 75 metres tall.
The French engineer Alavandre-Gustave Eiffel built the Dom Luís I bridge over the Douro River in 1881-85. Notice the arch, which is the largest in Europe.
Porto has several museums of which the best is Soares do Reis National Museum, which portrays Roman art, sculptures and paintings.
These neighbourhoods are among the oldest in Lisbon. Here you will find some of the older monuments of the city, while walking through cosy cobble-stone alleys and squares. The neighbourhoods have some of the most colourful buildings in Lisbon and have many markets where you can buy handmade crafts.
São Miguel. The largest island of the Azores has the most violent history. The island has been haunted by a cluster of earthquakes ever since the 15th century, but today it remains safe to visit and will give the nature lover a fantastic experience with its coarse, but green landscape. In São Miguel they grow many various fruits, wines, tea and tobacco. The largest city is Ponta Delgada, which definitely is worth a visit.
Almourol is the most romantic castle in Portugal. It is situated app. 130 kilometres north of Lisbon, near the town Tomar. The Tejo River very beautifully situates the castle. In the city Tomar you will also find a church from the 12th Century and it is worth a visit.
A day's journey from Lisbon you will find the Batalha Monastery, which took 100 years to build. For more than two centuries the monastery functioned as a residence for the Portuguese monarchy. The building of Batalha initiated a period of national gothic architecture.
Fátima is one of the most famous religious places in the world and it is very well visited. Fátima is named after a Moor princess. In 1917 a group of people witnessed a "miraculous eclipse of the sun", and the place has been visited by thousands of pilgrims ever since.
Lisbon has a line of interesting museums. Amongst others is the Museu Nacional do Aculejo, which shows a beautiful collection of decorative tiles. Do not miss out on the Museu Galouste Gulbenkian considered one of the most beautiful museums in Portugal. Her you can experience paintings, sculptures, ceramics from all over the world, coins and blankets.
This park is situated in the north of Portugal close to the Spanish border, it has a rich offer of various flora and fauna. By the National park you can rent horses and canoes. On the way to da Peneda-Gerês there are good opportunities for a swim.