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| Getting There Edit This It is very easy to get to Chojnice Region from the most places around the region, because of very good roads and railways network. You can go to Chojnice from Gdansk (Trójmiasto), Bydgoszcz, Poznan, Pila, Koszalin, Gorzów Wielkoposlski by train or by car. If you want to get know more information about getting into Chojnice, go to : - PKP (Polish Railways) - http://rozklad.pkpik.pl/bin/query.exe/en? ; - PKS - Bus Time Table- http://www.rozklady.com.pl/ __________History Edit This The history of Portugal can be divided into seven broad periods. The first begins in the Paleolithic period and extends to the formation of Portugal as an independent monarchy. During this period Lusitania that portion of the western Iberian Peninsula known today as Portugal experienced many waves of conquest and settlement by Iberos Phoenicians Greeks Romans Swabians Visigoths and Muslims. Of these successive waves of people the Romans left the greatest imprint on present Portuguese society. The second broad period of Portuguese history runs from the founding of the monarchy in 1128 until the disappearance of the House of Burgundy Portugal's first dynasty in 1383. During this period the monarchy was established and expanded by reconquering territory from the Muslims and populating those lands with Christian settlers. Consolidation and economic development were furthered by policies designed to increase agricultural productivity. The third period begins with the founding of the House of Avis Portugal's second ruling dynasty. During this period Portugal experienced a dynastic struggle that brought the House of Avis to the throne a series of wars with Castile that threatened the independence of the new kingdom a social revolution a second dynastic struggle and the assertion of royal supremacy over the nobility. The fourth period begins in 1415 when the Portuguese seized Ceuta in Morocco thus beginning Portugal's maritime expansion. During this period Portugal explored the west coast of Africa discovered and colonized Madeira and the Azores opened the passage to India around Africa built an empire in Asia and colonized Brazil. The fifth period that of imperial decline begins with the dynastic crisis of 1580 which saw the demise of the House of Avis. During this period Portugal was part of the Iberian Union until 1640 when the monarchy was restored and a new dynasty the House of Bragança was established. This period includes the advent of absolutism in Portugal and ends with the Napoleonic invasions in the early 1800s. The sixth the period of constitutional monarchy begins with the liberal revolution of 1820 which established in Portugal for the first time a written constitution. This period includes a civil war in which constitutionalists triumphed over absolutists the winning of independence by Brazil and the exploration of Portugal's African possessions. It ends with the collapse of rotativismo (see Glossary) in the early twentieth century. The final period begins in 1910 with the downfall of the monarchy and the establishment of the First Republic. This period includes the corporative republic of António de Oliveira Salazar; the collapse of that regime on April 25 1974; and the establishment of Portugal's present democratic regime the Second Republic. ___________Practical Information Edit This Some tips on eating out for first time visitors: 1. Nothing is free - beware of those goodies brought while you wait for your order - start one and you pay for all of it. 2. However, there ay be a cover charge if you don't touch any of them, equal to the cost of, say, bread and butter, in which case you might as well eat it! 3. Portions are huge - be very cautious about ordering side dishes. 4. Many places do half portions - this may well be sufficient for you - if not ask whether you can share a full portion. 5. Soup is usually very cheap and their specialty, cabbage stew (caldo verde), can be delicious, far better than it sounds! 6. If you follow this advice you can eat really well without bankruptcy! __________Getting Around Edit This Air Portugal's national airline is TAP Air Portugal (TP). For free advice on air travel from the UK call the Air Travel Advisory Bureau on (0171) 636 5000 (London) or (0161) 833 200 (Manchester). Other airlines flying to Portugal from the UK are British Airways Go GB Airways and Portugalia. Approximate flight times From Lisbon to London is 2 hours 30 minutes and to New York is 8 hours. International airports: Lisbon (LIS) (Portela de Sacavem) (Web site: http://www.anaep.pt/lisboa) is 7km (4.5 miles) north of the city (travel time – 35 minutes). Greenline Bus nos. 44 45 and 83 runs every 15 minutes from 0530-0100 to the city centre and main railway station. A special 'Airbus' departs to the city centre every 20 minutes. Taxi services to the city are available with a surcharge after 2200. Airport facilities include 24-hour bureau de change tourist information (0600-0200) duty-free shops (0700-0130) and car hire (Avis Eurodollar Inter-Rent and Hertz). Faro (FAO) (Web site: http://www.anaep.pt/faro) is 4km (3 miles) west of the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Bus nos. 17 and 18 go to the city; taxis are available. Oporto (OPO) (Oporto Sá Carneiro) (Web site: http://www.anaep.pt/porto) is 11km (about 7 miles) from the city. Taxis to the city are available. Lisbon Faro and Oporto airports all have the following airport facilities: outgoing duty-free shop; bank/bureau de change (open normal banking hours); car hire and a restaurant/bar. Sea The principal ports for international passengers are Lisbon Leixões (Oporto) Funchal (Madeira) and Portimão (Algarve) served by P&O Union Castle Olympia Linea C Cunard and Italia. For details contact shipping lines. Rail There is a daily service between London Paris and Lisbon taking approximately 26 hours. The 'Sud-Express' runs between Paris and Lisbon offering first- and second-class seats sleepers and a restaurant car. Inter-Rail is valid in Portugal. Road The only land border is shared with Spain and there are seven frontier posts in the north and six on the western and southern border. Border posts are usually open 0700-2400 but close earlier in winter. Ferries from the UK (Plymouth) to Santander in northern Spain obviate the need to drive through France. Cars can be imported for up to six months. For information on documentation and regulations see the Travel - Internal section. _____________Economy Edit This Portugal ranks as one of the most developed nations in the world (26th rank IDC) with an open global economy. Its specific advantages include its geographical position, natural andowment and the economic and social environement. Solid economic, political and social stability during last decades continues to make Portugal attractive for foreign investment. It has a well trained, produtive and highly skilled labour force enhanced by solid private/public sector relationships. Portuguese economy grew by 5.3 percent annually from 1965 to 1980, the economic growth rate slowed to less than 1 percent during the 1980s; in the period 1990-1998 the gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual average of 2.3 percent. The GDP in 1998 was $107 billion. Portuguese is now the third more spoken European language worldwide (after English and Spanish) ranking sixth among the world's languages in number of native speakers (over 200 million) and first in South America (186 milion, over 51% of the population). Portugal has one of the highest penetration of mobile phones in the world and one of the highest penetration of broadband of Europe. GDP: purchasing power parity—$149.5 billion (1997 est.) GDP—real growth rate: 3.3% (1997 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$15 200 (1997 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 36% services: 58% (1995 est.) Inflation rate—consumer price index: 2.3% (1997 est.) Labor force: total: 4.53 million (1996 est.) by occupation: services 56% manufacturing 23% agriculture forestry fisheries 11% construction 8% utilities 1% mining 1% (1995) Unemployment rate: 7% (January 1998) Budget: revenues: $48 billion expenditures: $52 billion including capital expenditures of $7.4 billion (1996 est.) Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp paper and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (1996 est.) Electricity—capacity: 8.831 million kW (1995) Electricity—production: 31.446 billion kWh (1995) Electricity—consumption per capita: 3 072 kWh (1995) Agriculture—products: grain potatoes olives grapes; sheep cattle goats poultry meat dairy products Exports: total value: $23.8 billion (f.o.b. 1996) commodities: clothing and footwear machinery cork and paper products hides partners: EU 76% other developed countries 9% (US 5%) Imports: total value: $33.9 billion (c.i.f. 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment agricultural products chemicals petroleum textiles partners: EU 72% other developed countries 8% (US 3%) less developed countries 17% (1995) Debt—external: $13.1 billion (1997 est.) Economic aid: donor: ODA $220 million (1996) recipient: ODA $70 million (1993) Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents Fiscal year: calendar year ____________Museums Edit This Contributors June 11, 2004 new by jos_machado [Add Museum] The Baptista-Bastos virtual museum Edit This The Baptista-Bastos virtual museum is a museum of the written word, of emotions that have been experienced and spoken. It is a museum with people who have learned without having been taught. Rather than deeds, one can sample the passion of men and women who have achieved glory through portraying the collective, keeping memory alive, dignifying the past, the sum of our existence. In permanent exhibits and narratives, this museum will present timeless portraits of society, documented in thematic displays of universal interest. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] email: bb@baptista-bastos.virtual.museum url: www.Baptista-Bastos.virtual.museum address: EC Picoas - Ap. 1088, 1052-001 Lisbon, PORTUGAL tel: +351-213142451 __________Tours and Excursions Edit This [Add New] Sintra Edit This x Sintra photo by: K-Tours This village placed a few miles from Lisbon has an undisputable beauty. Once favourite resting place for the Portuguese Kings, Sintra is nowadays considered by UNESCO World Heritage. With its amazing palaces through out deep forests and with the Atlantic coast by horizon, you can find near Sintra many interesting places among which the peculiar Azenhas do Mar and also the most western point of the European Continent, Cabo da Roca. World66 rating: [rate it] Jewish History Lisbon Edit This A short distance away is the Baixa, traditionally the financial and commercial center of the city, whose parallel streets run into the vast Praca do Comericio the former Terreiro do Pa?o, where Dom Manuel I (who reigned from 1495 to 1521) built the royal palace. In this square, flanked by the river on one of its sides, is a beautiful statue of Dom Jose I on horseback. This part of the city was partially destroyed by a violent earthquake on 1 November 1755. From its ruins was to rise up the area known as the Baixa Pombalina, so called because its reconstruction was carried out more.. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: +351963857776 email: cristina.nbrito@gmail.com Estoril Edit This x Cascais photo by: KTours Placed just a few miles from Sintra lays Cascais once a small fishing harbour this village together with Estoril came out to be the perfect locations for some of the Portuguese Aristocracy and some of the wealthiest citizens of Lisbon to house their Summer residences. Come and see the glamour and beauty that involves such villages. World66 rating: [rate it] Lisbon Edit This Lisbon Lisbon photo by: K-Tours Placed on the right banks of Tagus river lies the Portuguese Capital – Lisbon. City that stretches between its hills and valleys, a city filled with monuments some of which dating from the Discoveries. But not only monuments make history and a whole lot more can be seen in this beautiful metropolis. World66 rating: [rate it] Sesimbra / Arrábida & Palmela Edit This Arrábida Arrábida photo by: K-Tours South from Lisbon you will find the region of Setúbal. Here three well known places may be visited: Sesimbra a fishing village and a popular summer sight; Arrábida a natural park with gorgeous beaches; and Palmela a village with its castle up above showing us magnificent surroundings. ________People Edit This i Population: 9 927 556 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 881 091; female 834 775) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3 283 273; female 3 429 233) 65 years and over: 15% (male 612 221; female 886 963) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: -0.07% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 10.63 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 10.26 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: -1.01 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.87 deaths/1 000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.66 years male: 72.27 years female: 79.25 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.35 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese Ethnic groups: homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland Azores Madeira Islands; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100 000 Religions: Roman Catholic 97% Protestant denominations 1% other 2% Languages: Portuguese Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85% male: 89% female: 82% (1990 est.) ____________Beaches Edit This In Nazaré in the west of Portugal, you can find the most Typical beach of This wonderful country. Two Kinds of Beachs, both Sandy. The first in the center of the Town, very calm, without waves, with a lot of space to relax. The second it's the best spot for the sea lovers, like surfers and bodyborder's; Praia do Norte in Nazaré. Contributors October 11, 2006 new by carqueijeiro (1 point) [Add Beach] Carapateira Edit This Carapateira is located in the Nature Reserve Costa Vincentina. Have a long walk in the sand and enjoy the desert like atmosphere. The enormous dunes stretch for kilometers but still you will find shrubs and plants of striking prettiness. World66 rating: [rate it] email: contact@jowolf.com ::::::::::Algarve Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Algarve Coast Algarve Coast Hettie Goverts - www.jowolf.com The Algarve is the best place to enjoy sun sea and sand in Portugal. The climate is great and there are over 100 miles of the finest soft golden sand beaches. The region runs from the Atlantic Ocean near Sagres in the West to Vila Real de Santo António in the East - on the Spanish border. Along the waterfront you will find championship facilities for water sports, golf, tennis, fine restaurants and horseback riding. The center of the Algarve is from Faro. Sandstone cliffs that open to modest bays and harbors line it. This area because, of it's popularity, also attracts the most people. From Lagos west to Sagres you have high granite cliffs, grottoes, small coves and especially scenic areas. It was here in Sagres that Prince Henry the Navigator resided and trained the Portuguese Navigators who participated in Portugal's Age of Discovery. :::::::::::Aljezur Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The old church The old church J.A.R.Militão Aljezur is a nice small town. It is located north from Sagres, near the Atlantic Ocean. :::::::::Amarante Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Amarante-The town Amarante-The town Dany55 Amarante is a beautiful town on the river Tamega, a tributary of the Douro. The best way to get there is by taking the Wye Valley line from Porto and changing on to the branch line at Livração [don’t blink or you might miss it!] You can enjoy sitting by the river for a picnic lunch and watching the innumerable yellow wagtails and women washing long carpets in the river and stretching them out to dry. An interesting monument in Amarante is the Bridge on the River Tâmega, built on the XIII century. An other ancient monument of notable interest is the convent of São Gonçalo, tied up to an ancient popular tradition: on the first Saturday of June takes place a pilgrimage in honour of the Saint, patron of the fiancés .During the party the fiancés give one another some typical sweetmeat as a present. In the old times the girls went to beg the Saint to find them a husband! Actually they do it now too! Enjoy photos on http://viajar.clix.pt/com/fotos.php?r=&d=&c=53&lg=en :::::::::: Arcos de Valdevez Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sasimbra Sasimbra Daniel Soares Arcos de Valdevez is the terminus of two separate bus routes from Ponte de Lima, both of which offer outstanding river scenery with mountains beyond. One route goes through the splendid little town of Ponte da Barca and the hamlet of Bravães with its idyllic Romanesque church. If it’s not too hot, it should be easy enough to walk to Ponte da barca and if it is, the immediate riverside walks are exceedingly good. http://biztravels.net/biztravels/europe/portugal/costaverde/sr.vianadocastelo-monuments.php?id=169&lg=en :::::::::Armacao de Pera Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Armacao de Pera Beach Armacao de Pera Beach Not very long ago this town was nothing more than a collection of small shacks where the local residents from the nearby town of Pera used to maintain their fishing boats. It is quite probable that the name "Armação" is a link with the distant past of the great Tuna fishing industry that existed along the Algarve from the 15th Century and before. This later fell under the protection of a small 18th Century fort that still remains in part to this day. Nowadays, the town is mainly composed of blocks of holiday apartments of which offer bars and restaurants on the ground floor. In the three summer months the town overflows with tourists but outside the top of the season it offers a wonderful peaceful holiday location. Meanwhile, the nearby rural village of Pera remains as a reminder of the un-spoilt typical sleepy Algarve. Boasting one of the finest longest sandy beaches in the Algarve this is a popular location for tourists. On the beach close to the eastern side of the town are a number of fish restaurants that pride themselves on their fresh fish. Happily, the major area behind this beach is now a zone protected against development of any kind. The spread of building from Armação de Pera has been mainly to the west with the creation of several holiday apartment complexes above the very charming beaches of Senhora da Rocha. ::::::::::Arouca Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Brazao Brazao Arouca.biz Arouca é uma vila portuguesa no Distrito de Aveiro, região Norte e subregião do Entre Douro e Vouga, com cerca de 3 100 habitantes. É sede de um município com 327,99 km² de área e 24 228 habitantes (2001), subdividido em 20 freguesias. O município é limitado a norte pelos municípios de Castelo de Paiva e Cinfães, a leste por Castro Daire, a leste e a sul por São Pedro do Sul, a sul por Vale de Cambra, a sudoeste por Oliveira de Azeméis e a noroeste por Santa Maria da Feira e por Gondomar. :::::::::::::Arrabida Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Along the coast between Setúbal and Sesimbra, the Serra da Arrabida stretches up. These chalky hills have the only surviving example of primitive Mediterranean vegetation. Tucked away in the heart of Arrábida's Natural Park, the formation goes back 180 million years. The soil and mild climatic features, considered the best in Portugal, have produced a lush vegetation rich in species. The Arrábida Natural Park was formed in 1976 and covers an area of 10,800 hectares. Setúbal, Palmela, Azeitão, Sesimbra and the sea make up its boundaries. The countryside is hilly and we can find the Serra dos Gaiteiros, S. Luís, S. Francisco, Louro, Risco along with the highest hills, the Serra da Arrábida which stands at 499 metres high. This ends abruptly and cuts into the sea, providing a scene of picturesque beauty with the lush green vegetation and the chalk white face of the cliffs, such beauty which inspired poets like Sebastião da Gama. On the coast, between the sandy beaches and clear water, up above, breeding grounds for birds of prey abound and one can also find a typical maritime flora which extends as far as the Serra do Risco, the highest coastal point of continental Portugal (300 metres above sea-level). In Creiro, around the Pedra da Anicha, an island traced above the sea leads us to the only zoological reserve of the Natural Park, named so because of the value of underwater plant species found there Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/costadelisboa/costazul/naturezu.html :::::::::::Aveiro Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Aveiro-Salt-works Aveiro-Salt-works Dany55 Aveiro is a beautiful city, located just an hour away from Porto. This small city has much to offer including lovely untouched beaches where you can just get away in 10 minutes from the city. There are many shops to visit, during the day and in the evening there are quite many restaurants to enjoy great portuguese food, whether it be seafood and all its varieties or great tasty traditional main courses, you're sure to find whatever your taste buds desire. After dinner, you can either take a stroll on the boardwalk located at the Barra beach or enjoy a night out in town. You have many bars along side the river to choose from and for an extraordinary night, you can dance at the most "in" club, Estacao da Luz, located a few miles from city center. The dance floor opens at 2 am and keeps going until dawn. To really enjoy Aveiro, I suggest you also try "ovos moles" as this is the origin of this delicious egg cream, used in pastries and cakes. Also known as the Portguese Venice, you can take a short ride on the Gondolas located in the city center where you can view Aveiro from its riverside. These gondolas are called Moliceiros and every year the most beautiful is rewarded. Walking along the oceanside at Barra, you'll end up coming to a tall lighthouse, actually the tallest lighthouse in the Iberian Peninsula built during 1885 to 1893. For anyone wanting to get away from the big city, but wanting to capture a bit of Portuguese modern culture, Aveiro is the place to visit. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: Sandra Braganca :::::::::::Baixa da Banheira Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Baixa da Banheira é uma freguesia portuguesa do concelho da Moita , com 221 ha de área e 23 711 habitantes (censos 2001). Densidade: 9 879,6 hab/km². Foi elevada a vila a 28 de Junho de 1984. A Baixa da Banheira situa-se entre as vilas de Alhos Vedros e Lavradio que lhes ficam a nascente e poente respectivamente. A norte é banhada pelo estuário do Tejo, numa enorme reentrância que se estende do Bico da Passadeira (Barra-a-Barra) até à vila da Moita e a sul a extrema do concelho com o do Barreiro. :::::::Braga Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Fountain in Bom Jesus Fountain in Bom Jesus Jose Canedo Braga is the home of Portugal’s Archbishops. It is hardly surprising that there are many churches here to see, as well as the palace of the Archbishop dating from the 14-th century. But there are also many remains going back to per christian times, when the town was one of the more important ones on the Iberian peninsula. The 14th Century Torre de Menagem that stands in the City’s square is all that remains of the original fortifications. The much altered and extended 12th Century Cathedral was built on the site of an older church destroyed in the 6th Century. Another important sight is the 16th Century Palácio dos Biscainhos. Just east of the town is one of Portugal’s most famous tourist attraction, the Igreja de Bom Jesus de Monte. It is an impressive Baroque staircase symbolic of the 14 Stations of the Cross that leads upwards to a late 18th Century Church. Ornately carved figures and wall-fountains and Chapels decorate the steps according to the various stages of Christ’s last journey. You can either climb up or take a small funicular railway dating from 1882 that runs-up alongside the steps. ___________-Bars and Cafes Edit This ATRIUM CAFÉ The best "francesinha" of Braga, you can find at "Atrium Café". If you don'n know, the "francesinha" is a typical dish consisting of beef between 2 slices of bread, and delicious and spicy gravy poured on it. Some of them come also with sausage and other meats. You must tast it. Folow the GPS coordinates to get thers: LAT 41:32:54N (41.548323) • LON 8:24:10W (-8.402781) ::::::::Braganca Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x Unique council chamber, Cidadela, Bragança davidx Bragança in Tras-os-Montes is near to the Spanish frontier and accessible by bus [not every day] from Zamora in Spain as well as from other Portuguese cities. Coming from Spain it is amazing how much things change when the border is crossed - certainly nobody would take this for a Spanish town. The town is pleasant enough and there's a good museum but what catches the eye and holds it is the Cidadela - a separate mediaeval village on a hill-top above the city. There is a sort of castle which belonged to the Dukes of Bragança, who supplied the last royal family in Portugal, but it wasn't their main residence. Near it are two amazing things: the first is a pillory [pelourinho] rising from the back of a prehistoric stone pig. The other is a pentagonal Romanesque building, which was once a council chamber. It is quite unique in the world! Unfortunately www.bragancanet.pt is in Portuguese only but there are photos of all the above sights if you scroll down. :::::::::::Caminha Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sunset Sunset micael Caminha is the northernmost town on the Portuguese coast, after which the road and railway from Porto both follow up the Minho [Miño in Spanish] frontier river. It occupies a small peninsula at the confluence of the Minho and the Coura, 2 km from the sea. Probably a small Phoenician settlement, it prospered under the Romans. Refounded in Middle Ages, it followed a typical bastide layout here superimposed over a Roman plan. It was a major seaport from the 14th to the 16th centuries, trading extensively with Northern Europe, Brazil, Africa and Asia; its most impressive buildings date from this period. The border setting and difficult river mouth brought its decline. The town’s main square is very attractive, with a lovely renaissance fountain of 1553 and a clock topping a medieval tower. The town also has a grand late-gothic parish church in granite, with Manuelino and Renaissance elements; in the interior, the wooden ceiling is a major work of the 16th century showing mauresque and even Indian influences. Remains of medieval fortifications, later expanded, still remain. There is a camping ground set within a large pinewood, a five-minute walk to river and oceanic beaches. An old fortress occupies an islet barring the river estuary (boat required for the crossing; dangerous sea currents). The Vilar de Mouros rock festival is the oldest and one the largest in Portugal. The ferry setting out for A Guardia, in Spain, crosses the wide estuary of the Minho, and looks most appealing as the lights are just coming on. Like a number of places on this coast it makes an excellent setting for a meal late in the day if you are waiting for the last [second!] train of the day to Spain. Interesting excursions can be made up the Coura and Minho valleys, and up the Serra de Arga, a granitic mountain range reaching 823 m (waterfalls, wild horses, a small romanesque chapel). :::::::Castelo Branco Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Cruzeiro da Lavandeira Cruzeiro da Lavandeira AiresDosSantos The district of Castelo Branco is formed by 11 municipality (Belmonte, Covilhã, Fundão, Idanha-a-Nova, Oleiros, Penamacor, Proença-a-Nova, Sertã, Vila de Rei and Vila Velha de Ródão), the capital of the district is placed in the city of Castelo Branco, this, built the 472 m height, more or less in the place where if it found the old city Roman of Castra Lenco, between the rivers Ponsul and Ocreza, in the center of a planaltic region, and where in the top of a mountain of an isolated outeiro, still the remaining portions of the old castle of the Templários are delimited. Castelo Branco received charter between 1181 and 1211, and later was raised the city in 1771 during the ministry of the Marquês de Pombal house. The geographic delimitation of the district is made the North for the district of Guarda, the South for the district of Portalegre, the West for the districts of Santarém, Leiria and Coimbra , the East for the borders with the neighboring country, Spain . Geographically the district is characterized by the some mountain ranges that cross it, with part of the mountain ranges of the Star and the Lousã and with the mountain ranges of the Gardunha, Malcata, Alvelos, and Muradal. In its valleys Ergs run the Rivers, Ponsul, Ocreza, and the Zêzere, tributaries of the right edge of the River Tejo, which delimits the district the South. ::::::::::::Chaves Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_1 Located in the north of Portugal, Chaves is a city with a long history. Its originsdate back to Roman times when it was known as a spa. Today it is a lively market town with still a good spa, a nice historic centre and very good smoked hams, known as presuntos. Sights include the Chaves castle which overlooks the town. There is a small military museum in the Keep of the castle. The Misericordia church is a good example of Portuguese Baroque. The hot water springs are close to the center. Water here is pretty hot. at 73ºC (163º F). ::::::::::Citania de briteiros Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Citania de Briteiros -Completely reconstructed stone houses Citania de Briteiros -Completely reconstructed stone houses Dany55 Citânia de Briteiros, located near Guimarães, is one of the largest castros of North of Portugal . The hillfort is very impressive. The landscape is green and beatiful. To all which are interested to see the remains of Iron Age, in Citânia de Briteiros you can find: ramparts, ancient streets, family compounds, steam baths; the council house. The new visitor centre is already open. Now is available a new guide in English, with a lot of information about the site history and meaning. :::::::Coimbra Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Coimbra- Old street Coimbra- Old street Dany55 Coimbra is the third largest portuguese city with 150.000 inhabitants and it is the biggest city in the central area of Portugal. Coimbra, the first capital of Portugal, is home of Coimbra University, one of the oldest in Europe, founded in Lisbon in 1290 by king Dinis and then transferred to Coimbra in 1537 by King João III. The old University buildings are situated on the top of a hill, which overlooks the city and the river. It is well worth a visit. You enter the old part of the University through an Iron Gate with stone works from the XVII century in manierist style. Inside the gate is the enormous University Patio, with a large statute of João III. Beside the gate, to the left when entering, you will see the long low palace wing with several rooms that worth a visit. The University Library from the biginning of the XVIII century is in the far-left corner and is well worth taking the tours that are provided. The wood work is realy fascinating. If you're here in the end of April or beginning of May make it a point to see the students party Queima das Fitas, with all the students singing Fado and burning their ribbons at the end of the school year. It is the biggest student party in Europe with the participation of all the 30.000 students of the University The University's Eighteen-century clock stands in the right hand corner of the courtyard, domineering the skyline. Next to it is a double staircase leading to other parts of the University. Some of the students still wear their black suits and capes, pinned with a colorful ribbon indicating the student's course of study. There are also tears on their capes, which indicate the student's romantic conquests. Another highlight in Coimbra is the Baixa, on the way there you will visit the old cathedral from the XII century, in tipical portuguese romanesque style. The Baixa is the part of the city down by the river with most traditional shopping. It is full of narrow streets and crowded shops, banks, churches, cafés, hotels and walks to stroll along the Mondego rivers' banks. Around Coimbra within an hour drive there are several places that worth a visit: Buçaco, Luso, Curia, Figueira da Foz, Condeixa, Conimbriga, Montemor-o-Velho... You can settle in Coimbra for four or five days and visit all this area. :::::::::Douro valley Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The valley The valley Peter Eckersley Through a landscape speckled with granite houses with wooden or wrought-iron balconies, you enter the Port Wine region form the city of Oporto- the Douro Valley - by way of Amarante and Vila Real. In the mountainous hinterland lies. Viseu - a city of warriors and painters. ::::::: Elvas Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Later fortifications Later fortifications davidx Elvas, close to Badajoz in Spain, was almost bound to be fortified, both in wars between Moors and Christians and later in Spain/Portugal conflicts, particularly as it is located on a hill top. Actually it has seen new fortifications at many times and you would need to be in the air to get a complete grasp of what it has to offer. Just outside of the walls there is an amazing aqueduct - [photos] - looking almost like more fortifications but carrying only a very narrow water channel. Arab arches are to be seen at several places in the old streets and cntribute to some fine views. ::::::::::::Estremoz Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Castle and Pousada Castle and Pousada davidx Estremoz, easily reached from Evora, is best known as one of three 'marble' cities. It's only too easy to work out why! No prizes for guessing what the public toilets, the pavements and the stairs in quite humble buildings are made from. Saturday brings a large market into what may well be one of the largest open air car parks in Europe. It's like a cross between a flea market, a car boot sale and a produce street market and well worth a visit. There are about 5 adjacent stalls selling local ewe's and goat milk cheeses. The ewe's milk ones are very hard and make a tasty and long-lasting alternative to Parmesan. The monumental area above the city is very attractive. :::::::::Evora Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Evora's Main Square: Giraldo by nighyt @ didier Evora's Main Square: Giraldo by nighyt @ didier www.bikeiberia.com "Evora is the finest example of a city of the golden age of Portugal after the destruction of Lisbon by the earthquake of 1755." is the way the UENSCO described Evora when they put it on the World Heritage list. A city of Portugal's interior, Evora is located at the intersection of three river basins. About 100 km. east of Lisbon , it is constructed high above the surrounding plain. The founding of the city dates back to the dawn of the Christian era. Under the Aviz Dynasty (1385-1580), Evora became the second most important city of the kingdom after Lisbon. In the 16th century, Evora reached its golden era as witnessed by a number of architectural realisations. This was also the beginning of great Portuguese maritime expeditions, when the ports of call on the world's maritime route - Madeira, the Azores, and the Cape Verde Islands - were discovered. In the 17th century, a Vauban-type fortification was constructed. In the 18th century, the Company of Jesus, which had spread intellectual and religious enlightenment since the 16th century, was expelled, and Evora went into decline. Nowadays Evora is a real treat. The walls and the vestiges of walls, which are bordered with gardens are nice. The low white houses with their tile roofs, cast ironwork and azulejos look great. Furthermore there are numerous palaces and convents, there is an aqueduct which dates to 1537 and numerous fountains. Even if you are not a history buff, Evora should be on your itinerary. :::::::::::Fatima Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Fátima is a town in Portugal famous for the religious visions that are said to have taken place there in 1917. :::::::::Funchal Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Funchal bay Funchal bay G. Barradas Beautiful Funchal, capital of the stunning island of Madeira, is a lovely city surrounded by spectacular settings. Nice people, great climate, great prices and a wonderful atmosphere combine to make a great destination that today, is relatively unknown. Come visit before the rest of the world discovers this pleasant secret. Addition: Sadly, it's a bit late for that. two or three cruise ships a day are pouring out their multitudes. However the gardens at palheiro Frreiro, Monte and Funchal itselfare all easily reached and they retain all their appeal. :::::::::Gouveia Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Serra da Estrela Serra da Estrela Peter Eckersley Gouveia is a city in the Serra da Estrela. It's a good place to use as a base to explore the beautiful scenery of the Serra da Estrela. The Serra da Estrela is a moutain area which offers excellent hiking and trekking trails, horsriding opportunities. In the winter it is possible to ski. In the Serra da Estrela there are as well many old cities and villages to be seen, where time has stood still. Also many roman ruins, medieval castles and monastries are present. The Serra da Estrela is famous for its regional cheese, as well as the Serra Da Estrela dogs. ::::::::Guarda Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Rotunda do G Rotunda do G guardaonline.com Guarda is the highest city in Portugal, standing 1000 meters above the sea. Founded in the twelfth century by King Sancho I, the town has interesting historic sights, including stretches of the citywalls and three of the main gates. The cathedral (dating back to 1390) is worth a visit as well. ::::::::Lagos Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Praça in the old center Praça in the old center ©Hettie Goverts - www.jowolf.com Lagos is Portugals' most vibrant party town. Not far from Faro, Lagos is a melting pot of different cultures from local Portugeasers, Germans and Dutch on holiday to Aussies and Kiwis on round the world tickets. Lagos has enough bars to cater for them all. A good place to pick up a lift with fellow travellers. A good time is pretty much guaranteed. Attractions Good fish market. YHA hostel clean and affordable. The best beaches on the Algarve. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: lonelyplanetexchange.com :::::::::Leiria Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Castelo de Leiria Castelo de Leiria pmms@iol.pt Located in the centre of Portugal, Leiria is a city with a long history. The town gained prominence in the 12-th century as the southern outpost of the early Portuguese kingdom, in the defence against the Moors. Leiria castle was attacked and destroyed repeatedly. Sights in town include Leiria's castle, the present version was built in 1324 by King Dinis as a fortress and summer palace for himself and his queen, Isabel of Aragon. Below the castle is the small 12th-century Romanesque church of São Pedro. Excursions can be made to Marinha Grande 12 km to the west of Leiria, which has a glass factory originally founded by Englishman John Beare in 1748. Another option is a trip to Batalha, sopme 10 km to the south of Leiria, where the Abbey of Batalha is the main attraction. ________Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This The nightlife main sceene is located in the old town, between the triangle Terreiro-Rua Direita- Praça Rodrigues Lobo. The bars start to open arround 9pm, and get crowded arround 11/12pm. You can find them for all taste - Dance, Rock, Pop, etc. To start, you should take a bica in the Rodrigues Lobo Square - its surrounded by small cafes - suggestion Praça Caffe. From here to Chico Lobo, just 10 f away, for a spirit. from this time on, you can choose between the Nektab, Soho, Cristo, Abadia, etc. Arround 2.30am, go to Fish, a night club, which will be open until 6am. If you are an animal party, move to Sushi Club, and if you are lucky in meeting the right people, you may end arround 11am in one of the bars above, which will be opened only for usuals. Leirienses dinner late - places like "Malagueta Afrodisiaca" serve meals until 24h. Leiria has some of the best restaurants in Portugal. Locals with be happy to help you. Recomendations are: Malagueta Afrodisiaca, O Manel, Casinha Velha, Cesar (Seafood), Babo Santi, and many others. [Add Entertainment place] Sushi Disco Club Edit This All the first Friday in the month, there is a special Sushi Eletronic Party. Apart from that, is simple the best disco in town and surroundings. www.sushidiscoclub.com type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] ClosingTime: 8am tel: 244852264 url: www.sushidiscoclub.com accessibility: Taxi address: Rua Tecnologia e Gestao email: info@sushidiscoclub.com Fish Night Club Edit This The door is selective and dificult, but once there you will find beautifull people, with some sofistication. A must in the Leiria sceene. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] ClosingTime: 5am accessibility: Citz Center - Bus + Taxi address: Rua Machado dos Santos Lote 43 :::::::::::Madeira Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Entering the port of Funchal Entering the port of Funchal Jan Moonen Madeira island is one of Europe's oldest travel locations and many thousands of tourists return year after year. Why? Madeira offers not only a pleasant year round climate and wonderful fauna and flora - Madeira is also virtually crime free and one of the safest holiday destinations in the world! _______History Edit This Madeira is a relatively new island in geological age, being the result of volcanic eruptions. Its existence was known to the Romans but it wasn't until the Portuguese established their presence in the 15th century that it had any premanent population. ________Things to do Edit This Madeira is riddled with water courses called levadas. In many cases there are paths beside them, hwich provide for magnificent walking. Don't get the idea that it's all easy. it varies in difficulty from very simple - almost level broad paths to very demanding mountainous walks. Public transport is not very good for much levada walking but there are several travel agencies that arrange levada walks and these, of course, provide transport. There's a good Cicerone Guide. ::::::: Marvão Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Gate into the village. Gate into the village. davidx Marvão is a small hilltop village in the Serra de Mamede in Alto Alentejo, accessible by bus from Portalegre. It's completely walled with a great castle on top of the mountain - very like a child's dream and free, unless you want to go in the museum there when you will have to sacrifice the princely sum of €1. It's well worth an hour or so just wandering along the top of the village and feasting on the views - and if you stay there, it's a real treat floodlit. ::::::::::::.Melgaço Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Forist fire in melgaco Forist fire in melgaco micael Melgaço is reached by a scenic bus ride up the Minho from Valença do Minho. There is a large castle and a market on a Friday, on which day [only] a midday bus runs out to the Peneda-Geres National Park as well as the daily early morning bus but sadly the midday bus does not run on holy days. ::::::::::Monte Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see View over Funchal View over Funchal davidx Monte us a short distance north of Funchal in Madeira. It can be reached by bus [cheaply] or cable-car [scenically.] Alternately the return can be done in what they call the 'Monte toboggan.' Monte is a good place for starting easy wals to the small village of Curral dos Romeiros and then along the Levada dos Tornos - or back by a diffwrent route to Funchal. The principal glory of Monte lies in its Palace Tropical Gardens, part of which is made into a Japanese garden. Among the sights is an ancient olive tree that was producing olives for the Romans in 300 AD. There are numerous azulejos [tile] pictures depicting Portuguese history and a museum at htree unconnected levels ::::::::Nazare Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_2 J. Barras Part of the town by the beach (greater part) is awful (it is said that it is far nicer in August...but June is awful). Higher part of the town, situated on the rock above the beach seems nicer...at least there is more wind so it is dryer). Also...locals are "drying" fish one the beach...so you can feel the smell very, very far. ::::::::::Obidos Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_2 J. Barras Midway between the royal towns of Coimbra and Lisbon, the castle in Óbidos was a regular stopover for the royalties. During one such stay, in 1282, the queen Dona Isabel fell completely in love with the whitewashed hilltop town inside medieval walls. Consequently the king, Don Dinis, gave it to her as a gift. Since then and up until the 19th century, every portugese queen got Óbidos as a wedding gift. It is not too hard to understand Dona Isabel's fascination. Óbidos is a perfectly walled city north of Lisbon, reputably [and believably] terribly crowded in high season but wondrous at other times. And outside of the two main streets you can have a minute to yourself even when the town is brimming with tourists. The old castle at the top of the town is now a pousada and it is worth going in, if only for a coffee - which is regarded as quite legitimate. Th old stocks are in the village streets. There is a strange Palm Sunday procession. On this day of rejoicing in the Church calendar, the procession is led by a barefoot figure of gloom. ::::::::::Odemira Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The largest County in the Alentejo and Portugal. This is also one of Portugal's best kept secrets in terms of it's beauty (both in the mountains, the damn, streams or by the sea). The quality of it's delicacies, from the cheese, wine, black Alentejo Pig, prociuto, choriços, etc... the quality of it's many traditional crafts, from cork to pottery and basketery, this regiuon is particularly rich. Most of it's wealth in traditions, handcrafts, mysticism, folklore and history is due to the many peoples who have populated the peninsula over the centuries and especially thanks to the Arab invasions and their influence of over the 500 years of occupation, visible in all the architechture, the tastes, flavours, the language, the place names, and the genetic heritage. Other visible inheritances come from roman times in the shape of thermal spas, brigdes and other impressive engineering works. Then there are also the many pre-historic megalithic monuments, the renaissance architecture, etc. All part of a 1000 year old country history, too long to describe in just a few lines and best experienced in loco. :::::::::Palheiro Ferreiro Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see This is a small and not particularly interesting village north-west of Funchal in Madeira. However, it has one feature of great beauty and interest, the Palheiro Gardens - or as they are usually called, Blandy's Garden. Blandy is a name found frequently in Madeira, being that of one of the great vintners. The gardens are very extensive with fine views out to sea. :::::::::::Ponte de Lima Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Shrine at Ponte de Lima Shrine at Ponte de Lima Peter Eckersley The Romans are supposed to have thought the Lima was the mythical river, Lethe, which was so beautiful that it took men's memories away. The story is that they wouldn't touch the river until their commander had swum across and shown that he still remembered their names. However that may be, this is a beautiful town on a beautiful river, not far inland from Viana do Castelo and on two bus routes from there. Unlike a number of Portuguese towns, there is a very good website in English - http://www.di.uminho.pt/mpc2000/plima.html :::::::::::Ponte de Lima Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Shrine at Ponte de Lima Shrine at Ponte de Lima Peter Eckersley The Romans are supposed to have thought the Lima was the mythical river, Lethe, which was so beautiful that it took men's memories away. The story is that they wouldn't touch the river until their commander had swum across and shown that he still remembered their names. However that may be, this is a beautiful town on a beautiful river, not far inland from Viana do Castelo and on two bus routes from there. Unlike a number of Portuguese towns, there is a very good website in English - http://www.di.uminho.pt/mpc2000/plima.html :::::::::::Portalegre Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The cathedral The cathedral davidx Portalegre is not a large city but it is important as the capital of the highest part of the Alto Alentejo area of Portugal. Historically it was a place associated with tapestry and there is a museum of tapestry as well as the main town museum. The latter together with the cathedral are reached from the bus station by the ascent of a long steep hill and the castle is a short walk away across the top. [SOMEBODY EDIT PLEASE AS IT WAS SWAMPED BY REPAIR WORKS] There are buses, albeit inconveniently timed, to most of the neighbouring villages - in particular Marvão and Castelo de Vide. ::::::::Porto Moniz Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Road out east Road out east davidx Porto Moniz is at the far north-west of the island of Madeira. It's possible to take different routes from and back to Funchal, giving a round trip of the South Coast and the mountains. Tunnel construction has reduced the outward [coastal] bus journey from 4 hours to 3. The village is delightful with fine views both ways along the coast and inland. There are natural rock pools which are used as swimming pools and the old fort is now an aquarium. ::::::Praia da Rocha Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i Praia da Rocha was the first resort to be developed on Portugal's Algarve. It now consists of numerous multi storey hotels, shops, bars and restaurants perched on a cliff top running along the edge of the beach. As it was purpose built, it may seem to lack some of the character of the other Algarve resorts but this is more than compensated for by the beauty of the sandy beach that runs for about 2km set against the sandstone cliff. However the cliffs could be potentially dangerous, and the climb down to the beach may not suit some, while the beach is washed by the Atlantic not the Mediteranean and the water is therefore liable to be rougher and colder, so care should be taken particularly with young children. Despite this, the resort is suitable for families and its central location on the Algarve means it is ideally placed for renting a car and visiting the rest of the Algarve or maybe even taking a day trip to Spain. Excursions are available to the Portugese capital Lisbon (2'30 hours away) or to the Andaluzia capital Sevilla (2 hours away) and the pilgrimage town of Fatima. The resort itself has three golf courses nearby, a water park and a casino. It is just over 30 minutes from Faro airport. :::::::: Praia da Rocha Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i Praia da Rocha was the first resort to be developed on Portugal's Algarve. It now consists of numerous multi storey hotels, shops, bars and restaurants perched on a cliff top running along the edge of the beach. As it was purpose built, it may seem to lack some of the character of the other Algarve resorts but this is more than compensated for by the beauty of the sandy beach that runs for about 2km set against the sandstone cliff. However the cliffs could be potentially dangerous, and the climb down to the beach may not suit some, while the beach is washed by the Atlantic not the Mediteranean and the water is therefore liable to be rougher and colder, so care should be taken particularly with young children. Despite this, the resort is suitable for families and its central location on the Algarve means it is ideally placed for renting a car and visiting the rest of the Algarve or maybe even taking a day trip to Spain. Excursions are available to the Portugese capital Lisbon (2'30 hours away) or to the Andaluzia capital Sevilla (2 hours away) and the pilgrimage town of Fatima. The resort itself has three golf courses nearby, a water park and a casino. It is just over 30 minutes from Faro airport. ::::::::Redondo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The municipality is composed of 2 parishes, and is located in the District of Évora . The present Mayor is Alfredo Falamino Barroso, reelected for the second mandate in an independent list after losing the political support of the Portuguese Communist Party during the first mandate. The municipal holiday is Easter Monday . rishes Montoito Redondo Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: www.wikipedia.com :::::::Setubal Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Jesus Monastery Jesus Monastery Mario Sadino Setubal is a city located on the northern bank of the Sado river estuary approximately 40 Km south of Lisbon. ::::::::Silves Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Castle Arch Castle Arch Kay Siddall Whilst visiting the Algarve it is an absolute must to spend at least one day in the ancient capital of the Algarve - Silves. This historic town contains one of the best castle fortifications in the region, dominating the surrounding skyline and countryside around it. On approach to the town it cannot be missed, particularly stunning at night, when lit up. A powerful citadel favoured by the Romans, further enhanced by the subsequent conquering Moors, to become the cultural centre of the region. Vsited by poets, artists and scholars alike the area became known as the birthplace of Arabic poetry. Reconquered by the Christian Crusaders the castle is steeped in myth and legend. Silves also boasts the most important Sé (cathedral) in the Algarve, once being the home of the tomb of King João II until his mortal remains were transferred to Batalha Abbey in the 1400's. Towering Gothic arches stand upon impressive pillars of varying size, to dominate its interior, whilst the Gothic and Baroque façade stare out across the white washed buildings of the town below. Many architectural digs can still be seen going on today, as the area is scrutinised for ancient relics, some dating back to Paleolitic man. Stolling round this lovely town with its streets of calçada (cobblestones) is a joy, but beware of low flying storks going about their daily business of feathering their nests. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: Kay Siddall resident of Silves __________Bars and Cafes Edit This The Café Inglês sited at the lower edge of the castle is definately the place to be in Silves. Music, dancing and local vinho all add to an afternoon of great enjoyment - Sunday afternoons being the most popular, when it is almost impossible to get a courtyard table after 2.00pm. Local bands appear at 3.00pm to rock the area with Brazilian sounds and classic old favourites. An absolute holiday atmosphere of party,party,party! [Add Bar] Suzies Bar Edit This Sited on the wharf. Sit ouside watching the world go back on the cobbled terrace overlooking the River Arade. This British owned café/bar great for snacks or just a drink. World66 rating: [rate it] :::::::::Sintra Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Walls of the Castelo do Mouros Walls of the Castelo do Mouros Dany55 Sintra is a small town that looks like an illustration in a fairy tale. Made famous by Lord Byron, Sintra was once the royal town of Portugal. Many castles and palaces can be found in its vicinity. One of them is Pena Palace, perched atop a steep hill and straight out of Disneyland. It is a yellow heap of small domes and turrets filled with a wide array of decorative arts. The most notable palace is the Sintra National Palace, whose white twin towers are the most distinctive landmark in Sintra. It is a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Manuelian styles. Inside is a beautiful collection of ancient and rare tiles and murals. The Castelo dos Mouros, unlike the two palaces, is a ruin. Even so it should be regarded as a requisite stop when the bus arrives there on its way to Pena. The old battlements stretch for some way along a ridge and offer magnificent views of the town, Pena Palace and the area generally. Sintra also has a fine collection of international contemporary art in the Sintra Museu de Arte Moderna. Other museums include the Toy Museum, the International Sculpture Centre, with Portuguese sculpture, and the São Miguel de Odrinhas Museum and Archaeological Site. In fact, the whole town looks a bit like a museum, filled with amazing buildings. A good way to get to Sintra is by taking the train from Lisbon. You will get a good view of the Águas Livres Aquaduct (built in the 18th century, and still in use) and arrive in the magnificent, cathedral-like station. From there, it’s only a short walk into the old town with its many shops and restaurants. ::::::::São Bras de Alportel Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Cork oak harvesting 3 Cork oak harvesting 3 Hettie Goverts - www.jowolf.com The area that is now the municipality of São Brás de Alportel, in common with the Algarve as a whole, was inhabited in prehistoric times and in the days of the Romans. Birthplace of the Moorish poet Ibne Ammar in the 12th century, São Brás de Alportel was by the 16th century a small village with a Hermitage. From the 17th century onwards it was the summer residence of the bishops of the Algarve, who were drawn to it by its agreeable climate, and in the 19th century it became the crossroad of the routes linking Loulé to Tavira and Faro to Almodôver. The area's extensive plantations of cork oak provided a spring board for commercial and industrial development and for years São Brás de Alportel was the biggest cork producing centre in Portugal and the world. Its increasing population and economic importance led to the creation of the municipality in 1914. The gradual transfer of the cork manufacturing industry to the centre and north of Portugal has prompted the municipality in recent decades to diversify its sources of economic prosperity. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: Virtual Portugal :::::::::The Azores Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Angra do Heroísmo's Bay Angra do Heroísmo's Bay José Toste The Azores (Açores) is an autonomous region of Portugal far out in the Atlantic, nearly one third of the distance to America. They are volcanic and, like Iceland, Ascension Island and St. Helena, part of the Midatlantic ridge. There are nine inhabited islands: an eastern group with Santa Maria and São Miguel, a central group with Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, and a western group consisting of Flores and Corvo. Travel between the islands is mainly by air. There is a parliament in Horta on Faial. In Ponta Delgada on S.Miguel there is the President of the Regional Government and in Angra do Heroismo on Terceira is the Minister of the Republic representing the Portuguese Government. The Azores were uninhabited until the 15th century. The first colonisers settled at Porto on Santa Maria. Christopher Columbus visited this island in 1493. The population is about a quarter million. Fishing is an important source of income as well as agriculture. The climate is very maritime and frost is unknown. Therefore, tropical crops like bananas and pinapples can be grown. Tourism is increasing and there are now charter and regular flights from both Europe and North America. The flora is related to the other Macaronesian islands and contains many endemic plants (i.e. plants not found elsewhere), but the indigenous vegetation is highly threatened by planted conifers and also by intruding garden plants. One of these is the Hortensia that is planted everywhere along the roads. This is a plant with beautiful flowers but it becomes a nasty weed in the natural vegetation where it outcompetes indigenous species. The Azores is not the first choice for sunloving people who want to spend their leisure time on sandy beaches. Most travelers to the Azores more appreciate the very beautiful landscape. Daylong walks can be made in many places along mountain ridges or crater lakes with numerous breath-taking views. ::::::::::::Valença do Minho Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Fountain Fountain micael Valença do Minho is on the northern border by the Eiffel rail bridge across to Tuy in Spain. It is worth a visit to see the old fort area overlooking the river and Portugal’s northern neighbour. However there is not a lot else for the traveller and you might well want to catch a bus to Monção or Melgaço upriver. :::::::Viana do castelo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Dude, Where's my Hummer? Dude, Where's my Hummer? Peto Viana do Castelo was founded in 1258 but it also has a pre-roman evidence of human occupation in the ruins of a city at the top of Santa Luzia hill, which you can visit. In the centre you will find many small streets with old houses. The main attractions include the Cathedral (15 th century) and the surrounding streets, the Misericórdia (16 th century) and the Old Town Hall right in the main old square. And obviously, dont miss the neo-Byzantine Church of Santa Luzia, located on top of the Santa Luzia hill and with an astonishing view of Viana do Castelo, the river estuary and the sea _______Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This [Add Entertainment place] Bar Galeria Nazoni Edit This One of the best places for night tour in the north Portugal. A lot of high quality DJ´s do their mixes/live acts in a mytical place where dancing and having fun is almost a religious experience, wasnt NAZONI sharing a wall with a Church!! Not to miss by the true underground lovers!!! From D&B, Electro, Progressive, Dub, Trance to... the sky!! type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Rua do Espirito Santo, 10 tel: 827 215 ClosingTime: 6 am Indian Bar Edit This . type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Rua Nova de São Bento, 131 tel: +351 258 828 794 ClosingTime: 2am Bar Glamour Edit This Nice and friendly, mostly for people on the twenties. The best day is thursday. type: Bars & Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Rua da Bandeira, 177 tel: 822 963 Off Edit This Open on Thursday and Saturday. type: Discos World66 rating: [rate it] address: On the road to Spain Bar Jardim Edit This By night, have your drink alone or with company, while listening to a piano, in the Bar Jardim of the inn. A sofisticated place for enjoying a couple of great night hours. type: Bars & Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 810 8200 addres: Av. Conde da Carreira, 28 ::::::::::::Vila do conde Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sculpture of lace worker Sculpture of lace worker davidx Vila do Conde (74 057 inhabitants) has an area of 149,1 km2 and is one of the 18 municipalities in the Porto district. It attracts a number of visitors but doesn't seem in the least like a resort, out of season at least. It has a history of lace making. There is a nice old town and you may well find no other visitors in the main street of it; the beaches lie in the other direction. There is also a big Friday market - though it may be only the food that appeals. One extraordinary building, with a guide who manages to convey a lot of information without having any English to mention. It was the Convento de Santa Clara and then became a school for delinquent boys. There is an aqueduct which is supposed to be 99 arches long coming from well up in the hills which seeems to have been made exclusively to feed quite a small fountain in the cloisters! There is also much impressive sculpture. http://www.portugaltravelguide.com/en/vila_do_conde.htm _________Museums Edit This [Add Museum] MUSEU DAS RENDAS DE BILROS Edit This Museum of Bilros Lace Society for the Protection of the Arts and Crafts and Patrimony of Vila do Conde. Established in 1991 in the Vinhal House, a typical 18th Century urban manor-house, the Museum generated great interest around the famous Bilros Lace, focusing on its exposure. Some time ago, the “Escola de Rendas” or school for the manufacturing of laces had been meeting at this same building. There is lots of history connecting this building to the craft of laces of Bilros. The Bilros more.. World66 rating: [rate it] email: museus@cm-viladoconde.pt address: Rua de S. Bento, 70 tel: 252248470 zipcode: 4480-782 Vila do Conde Museu de Vila do Conde Edit This Vila do Conde Museum HOME OF JOSÉ RÉGIO Municipality of Vila do Conde Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 – 18:00 Throughout his life, José Régio was a great art collector. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] email: museus@cm-viladoconde.pt address: Ave. José Régio tel: 252631532 Naval Museum Edit This From the 15-th century Portugal was one of the main maritime powers. This museum is dedicated to Naval history. Closed Sundays. Open from 10h00 – 18h00 on all other days. World66 rating: [rate it] email: museus@cm-viladoconde.pt address: Rua Cais da Alfândega tel: 252240740 Museum of the Firebrigade Edit This Mainly for educational purposes. Two rooms and audiovisual material. World66 rating: [rate it] address: Rua D. Sancho I tel: 252240740 Museum of Sacred Art Edit This Located in the Igreja Matriz church. Mostly religious artefacts form XVI century and onwards. World66 rating: [rate it] address: Igreja Matriz de Vila do Conde tel: 252631424 ::::::::::Viseu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Aerial View Aerial View Located in "Beira Alta" (Central Region of Portugal-507,2 Km2), a very large plateau of ever changing beautiful landscapes, Viseu is half way between the Ocean and the Spanish border. Surrounded by high mountains - Leomil, Montemuro, Lapa, Arada, Estrela and Caramulo - the tops of which are covered with thick layers of snow in Winter time, the district is crossed by a rich network of rivers and streamlets - "Mondego", "Vouga", "Paiva", "Mel", "Pavia"... The climate of the region is characterized by a mean maximum temperature of 28.4ºc, a mean minimum temperature of 2.1ºc, mean rainfall levels of 1230 mm3, and an annual mean temperature of 13ºc. Although there are several micro-climates throughout the region, winters are usually cold and wet and summers hot and dry. But you can enjoy sunny and fairly warm days in February and March. With 93501 inhabitants, a predominant tertiary sector (67.78% of the resident working population) and a growing secondary sector (27.48% - 2001 Census data), Viseu has undergone a considerable economic growth, especially in the areas of telecommunications, industry, trade and education. |
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Itinerario 1 Alla scoperta del Portogallo del Nord Testo e foto di Cristiano Zambon Punto di partenza e arrivo: Porto Lunghezza: 250 km circa Durata: 6 gg. Mezzo di trasporto: auto Difficoltà: nessuna Prezzo: € 260 circa Primo - terzo giorno: Porto Porto, seconda città del Portogallo, si estende sulle rive del fiume Douro ove questi sfocia nell’Oceano Atlantico. è certamente questo fiume alla base dele fortune della città, sin da quando le barche cariche di vino e merci provenienti dalle aziende vinicole (“quintas”) dell’alto Douro, approdavano sulle banchine del porto di Vila Nova de Gaia. Oggi la città, fiorente centro commerciale ed industriale, è in rapida espansione soprattutto nella zona del porto che si affaccia sull’Oceano Atlantico, ma mantiene ancora abbastanza intatto il centro storico che è abbarbicato sulla collina Penaventosa intono alla cattedrale. Un buon periodo per visitare Porto è sicuramente il mese di giugno sia per il clima, che nonostante temperature medie intorno ai 25-30°C risulta mitigato da una leggera brezza proveniente dal vicino Oceano, sia perché tra il 18 e il 24 del mese si festeggia Sao Joao do Porto (24). Tre giorni per la visita paiono un periodo sufficiente per la conoscenza dei principali monumenti e dei quartieri più caratteristici della città. Un giorno potrebbe essere dedicato alla visita dei quartieri della cattedrale, del centro e della Cordoaria. Tra i monumenti più significativi ricordiamo la Sé (cattedrale), imponente chiesa fortezza (la costruzione iniziò nel XII sec. ed ebbe numerose ristrutturazioni la più importante delle quali nel XVIII sec.) e i suoi splendidi chostri; la chiesa rinascimentale di Santa Clara; la stazione ferroviaria centrale di Sao Bento, con un interno rivestito di azuleios; la torre e chiesa dos Clerigos. Un altro giorno si potrebbe dedicare alla visita dei quartieri sul fiume: Ribeira e Vila Nova de Gaia. Il primo è un caratteristico quartiere con tipiche stradine affollate da cui poi, attraverso il ponte de Dom Luis I (progettato da un assistente di Gustave Eiffel ed aperto nel 1886), si giunge a Vila Nova de Gaia. Qui ancora oggi è concentrato il centro di produzione del famoso vino porto, che viene tagliato e invecchiato nelle 50 case o armazéns, le quali organizzano visite gudate alle proprie cantine (gli orari sono variabili: 8.30-12.30 e 15.30-18.30; in alcune si paga un biglietto di ingresso, ad es. Porto Sandeman £5000, in altre invece la visita è gratuita, ad es. Porto Calem; in tutte è comunque previsto un assaggio di porto al termine dell visita). Dal porto di Vila Nova de Gaia è poi possibile effettuare una crociera sul fiume Douro a bordo di una tipica imbarcazione locale in legno alla scoperta dei caratteristici ponti sul fiume fino alla sua foce nell’Oceano (durata circa 50 min. – costo £10000, una di queste dà diritto con il biglietto della crociera all’ingresso omaggio alle cave Sandeman – verificare quale sulla locandina esposta sulla riva). Un altro giorno dopo aver visitato Sao Francisco, con il suo fastoso interno settecentesco (vis. a pagamento: biglietto unico anche per le catacombe ed il tesoro del monastero), si può prendere l’ultimo caratteristico trenino eletrico ancora rimasto, che parte proprio ai piedi della scalinta del monastero, che ci porta sino alle spiaggie di Mathosinos e al porto commerciale facendo poi ritorno percorrendo una splendida passeggiata lungomare. Per quanto riguarda l’alloggio le possibilità sono numerose; una buona soluzione potrebbe essere il Grand Hotel do Porto (prezzi medi) per la sua posizione nella pedonale Rua de Santa Catarina. Quarto giorno: Porto- Viana do Castelo-Parque Nacional de Peneda-Geres (122 km) Il Tajo di Ronda Porto, imbarcazioni sul fiume Douro e sullo sfondo il Ponte de Dom Luis Da Porto percorrendo la litoranea statale N13 si giunge a Viana do Castelo (75 Km.) situata all’estuario del fiume Lima (per l’auto consigliamo di parcheggiare in un dei numerosi parcheggi custoditi lungo gli argini del fiume). Da non perdere l’Igreja Matriz, chiesa-fortezza del XV° sec., e dopo una passeggiata per le caratteristiche vie del centro storico, Praca da Republica. Da qui dirigendoci verso il Museu Municipal, ci si può fermare a mangiare al Ristorante Laranjera, ottima cucina di pesce fresco e a buon prezzo. Lasciata Viana per la N202 lungo il fiume Lima attraversiamo Ponte do Lima ed il suo caratteristico ponte romano, dirigendoci poi per la N203 a Ponte da Barca, dove è un grazioso ponte del XV sec. costruito in sostituzine del traghetto che un tempo trasportava i pellegrini oltre il fiume Lima, per arrivare infine con la N101 ad Arcos de Valdevez (Km. 46), dove merita una visita la chiesa di Nossa Senhora da Lap, gioiello barocco costruita nel 1767. All’ufficio del Turismo di Arcos è possibile richiedere informazioni sui percorsi e i sentieri da percorrere per gli amanti delle escursioni, nonché informazioni sulle possibilità di pernottamento con prima colazione presso case private nei tipici paesini del Parque Nacional de Peneda-Geres. Per chi preferisse proseguire il tour in auto consigliamo di non perdere una puntatina a Lindoso o a Soajos dove si possono vedere i famosi espigueiros (strutture architettoniche in granito simili a tombe ma in realtà granai), oppure al santuario di Nossa Senhora da Pereda, copia del Bom Jesus. Per mangiare potete fermarvi in uno dei veri locali tipici dove potrete assaggiare la specialità del posto: il maialino da latte cotto allo spiedo). Quinto giorno: Parque Nacional de Peneda-Geres – Bom Jesus do Monte (circa 45 km) Dopo aver trascorso la giornata al Parque, dove non sarà difficile rilassarsi tra splendide colline e paesaggi incantevoli, partiamo alla volta di Bom Jesus do Monte, splendido santuario situato su una collina boscosa a 7 Km. da Braga. Con l’auto si può arrivare sino alla sommità della collina e dopo aver visitato la chiesa ed esserci soffermati ad ammirare il magnifico panorama che si apre davanti ai nostri occhi, scendere la scenografica Escadaria (scalinata a rampe incrociate) soffermandoci ad osservare le 14 cappelle raffiguranti gli episodi del cammino di Cristo verso la crocefissione, sistemata ai lati di questa ripida via Crucis. Arrivati ai piedi di questa scalinata possiamo ritornare alla sommità con l’Elevador (funicolare) che risale alla fine del ‘800 e che ci riporta in circa 3 min. in cima alla collina. Una volta qui vi consigliamo di pernottare all’Hotel do Elevador, che si trova proprio accanto alla stazione di arrivo della funicolare (prezzi medi), chiedendo una delle numerose stanze con vista su Braga, da cui godrete di un imperdibile panorama sia diurno che notturno. Sesto giorno: Bom Jesus do Monte-Braga-Guimaraes-Porto (80 Km) In meno di 10 min. seguendo la statale N103 si raggiunge Braga, il cui centro storico si concentra intorno a Praca da Republica. Percorrendo Rua do Souto incontriamo dapprima il Paco dos Arcebispos e il vicino Jardim de Santa Barbara e quindi la Sé Catedral. Dopo un giro per il centro storico di Braga possiamo ripartire alla volta di Guimaraes seguendo la statale N101. Per chi desiderasse fare una deviazione consigliamo, giunti all’altezza di Caldas das Taipas, di svoltare a sin. sulla N310 per circa 7 Km. fino a Citania de Briteiros (visita a pagamento) uno degli scavi più impressionanti del Portogallo che ha portato alla luce un esteso insediamento delle popolazioni celto-iberiche risalente al VI sec. a.C. Quindi ritornati sui nostri passi e ripresa la statale N101 raggiungiamo Guimaraes. La cittadina considerata la “culla della Nazione” e scelta come capitale dal re Alfonso Henrique nel 1139, merita una visita per il suo centro storico medioevale candidato come Patrimonio culturale dell’Umanità. Il suo castello è raffigurato sul blasone del Portogallo. Per segnalazioni e correzioni all'Itinerario si ringrazia: Giulio Valdinoci ::::::::Portogallo Itinerario 2 Tour del Portogallo centrale Testo e foto di Cristiano Zambon Punto di partenza: Lisbona Punto di arrivo: Porto Lunghezza: 565 km circa Durata: 8 gg. Mezzo di trasporto: auto Difficoltà: nessuna Prezzo: € 465 circa Primo giorno: Lisbona – Sintra – Cabo da Roca – Mafra (79 Km.) Usciti dal centro di Lisbona si prende la N249 che porta direttamente a Sintra (Km 27), incantevole cittadina situata sulle colline a nord della Serra de Sintra e dichiarata dall’Unesco Patrimonio dell’Umanità. Sintra, residenza estiva dei Sovrani portoghesi, comprende due tappe d’obbligo: il Palacio Nacional e il Palacio da Pena. Il primo si trova nel cuore della città vecchia ed è ben visibile per i due strani camini conici che si innalzano su di esso e che altro non sono se non gli enormi camini delle antiche cucine (orario di visita: 10-13; 14-17); il Palacio da Pena è invece situato sulla cima più alta della Serra de Sintra e domina il paesaggio dell’intera regione. è un palazzo fiabesco costruito per il re Ferdinando II nel XIX sec. ed è un eclettico insieme degli stili più diversi. (orario di visita: 10-18, la visita richiede un paio d’ore). Terminata la visita di Sintra ci dirigiamo sulla N247-3 diretta verso la costa e precisamente a Cabo da Roca punto estremo occidentale del continente (Km 14), da cui possiamo godere di un panorama straordinario sull’Oceano. Ritorniamo sui nostri passi per circa 2,5 Km. e una volta incrociata la statale N247 svoltiamo a sinistra (nord) seguendo la statale per circa 15 Km., a Lourel de Baixo svoltiamo a destra (est) sulla N9 per 19 Km. quindi svoltiamo a sinistra (ovest) sulla N116 per un paio di Km. fino a raggiungere Mafra (complessivi 37 Km). L’imponente palazzo barocco ed il Monastero, che sovrasta la cittadina di Mafra, risalgono al regno del più stravolgente dei reali del Portogallo, Joao V. Da non perdere la visita alla biblioteca del Palacio de Mafra, considerata una delle più belle e ricche d’Europa. Secondo giorno: Mafra – Alcobaca – Batalha (117 Km.) Da Mafra riprendiamo la statale N116 per 9 Km. quindi svoltiamo a destra (nord ) sulla N8 (strada a pedaggio) per 18 Km. fino ad Alcobaca. Qui ha sede la chiesa più grande del Portogallo, il Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaca, edificio medioevale famoso per la sobrietà delle sue linee. L’Abbazia fondata nel 1153, è legata all’arrivo dei cistercensi in Portogallo nel 1138 ed alla nascita della nazione. Da vedere le tombe di Pedro I e della sua amante Ines de Castro. Da Alcobaca riprendiamo nuovamente la N8 per 14 Km. quindi incrociata la N1 in direzione nord dopo 5 Km. troviamo Batalha. Bellissima l’Abbazia domenicana di Santa Maria de Vitoria, capolavoro dell’architettura gotica in Portogallo, costruita nel 1388 per celebrare la vittoria di Joao I nella battaglia di Aljubarrata contro i castigliani. Nel chiostro reale gli occhi gotici sono abbelliti da trafori manuelini che li rendono eleganti ed armonici; bellissimo anche il portale nel medesimo stile. Terzo giorno: Batalha – Fatima – Tomar - Conimbriga – Coimbra (132 Km.) Il Tajo di Ronda Scavi archeologici a Conimbriga Partiamo da Batalha sulla statale N356 che ci porta direttamente a Fatima (Km 18), famosa in tutto il mondo come meta di pellegrinaggio al Santuario, che commemora l’apparizione della Vergine Maria ai tre pastorelli il 13 maggio 1917. Migliaia di fedeli si recano ogni anno per chiedere grazie o in segno di voto. Il luogo è ricco di emozioni per tutte le dimostrazioni di Fede che i penitenti offrono. Da Fatima proseguiamo sulla N356 per circa 8 Km. fino ad incrociare la N113, svoltiamo a destra (est) e ci dirigiamo a Tomar (Km 32). Qui ha sede l’esempio più bello e comunque meglio conservato di chiesa dell’Ordine dei Templari in Portogallo. I Templari aiutarono i portoghesi nelle battaglie contro le invasioni arabe del XII e XIII sec. diventando un ordine ricco e potente; l’Ordine fu soppresso da Papa Clemente V nel 1314 ma si trasformò nell’Ordine di Cristo il cui emblema , la croce quadrata, si stagliava sulle vele delle caravelle che attraversavano i mari inesplorati. Il luogo è ricco di storia e di elementi architettonici di grande pregio: le finestre in stile manuelino disegnate da Diogo de Almeida; la Charola, cuore del Monastero era l’oratorio dei Templari e rievocava la Rotunda del Santo Sepolcro di Gerusalemme. Lasciamo ora Tomar in direzione est sulla N110 per 53 Km. quindi, giunti a Penela, svoltiamo a sinistra (ovest) sulla N347 per altri 16 Km. fino a Conimbriga, la principale e più estesa zona archeologica di epoca romana in Portogallo. Il sito testimonia la presenza dei Romani già nel II sec. a.C. I reperti più interessanti sono sono le terme, le botteghe e due case patrizie con splendidi pavimenti a mosaico ben conservati. Lasciamo Conimbriga sulla N342 fino ad incrociare la N1, svoltiamo a destra (nord-est) e dopo circa 13 Km. giungiamo a Coimbra, dove possiamo pernottare presso l’Hotel Ibis (Avenida Emidio Navarro – prezzi medi e parcheggio privato). Quarto giorno: Coimbra è sede della più antica Università del Portogallo e tutta la città è costruita attorno ad essa. Fu fondata nel 1290 da re Dionigi, ma fu nel 1537 che l’istituzione acqistò importanza nel panorama europeo per merito di Joao III che promosse una prima riforma e fissò la sede nell’ex Palazzo Reale di Coimbra, ancor oggi utilizzato come sede di alcune facoltà. Dal piazzale antistante gli antichi edifici si gode di una splendida vista sulla verde valle del rio Mondego. Si deve visitare la biblioteca Joannina e si deve ascoltare con particolare attenzione la spiegazione della guida che con un italiano quasi perfetto vi svelerà con grande passione ogni segreto della Biblioteca se ,e solamente se, dimostrerete vero interesse: ne varrà la pena! Quinto giorno Coimbra – Parco Nazionale del Bucaco – Viseu (97 Km.) Da Coimbra partiamo sulla N1 in direzione nord fino a Mealhada dove si svolta a destra (est) per la N234 fino a Luso, qui si svolta a destra (est) sulla N235 fino al Parco Nacional Del Bucaco (Km 30). Se si vuole trascorrere una giornata all’aria aperta immersi nel verde, ci si può recare al parco forestale del Bucaco, fresca oasi alberata di 105 ettari tra le colline a nord di Coimbra. Il parco si può visitare a piedi o in macchina (ingresso a pagamento per le auto € 2,5; biglietto valevole per tutta la giornata, è permesso uscire e rientrare a piacimento con lo stesso biglietto). Nell’oasi ci sono molte specie di piante anche esotiche, vari punti panoramici interni ed anche esterni al parco per godere di uno splendido panorama, ed anche il Bucaco Palace Hotel ex casino di caccia ora adibito ad esclusivo Hotel (€ 155 circa per la stanza). Usciti dal Parco ritorniamo a Luso e ritorniamo sulla N234 in direzione est per 24 Km.; incrociata la IP3 [E801] svoltiamo a sinistra (nord) per circa 40 Km. fino a Viseu. Qui possiamo pernottare all’albergo Grao Vasco situato al centro della città (Rua Gaspar Barreiros – prezzi medi). Sesto giorno Viseu - Aveiro (72 Km.) Un tempo grande porto di mare la piccola città di Aveiro si visita per le caratteristiche stradine tra le case dei pescatori. I colorati moliceiros, le barche utilizzate per la raccolta delle alghe, tuttora usate dai pescatori in laguna, sono a disposizione anche dei turisti per una breve escursione (della durata di circa un’ora previa prenotazione presso l’ufficio turistico). Volendo soggiornare in un luogo veramente caratteristico si consiglia la Pousada da Ria, raffinato albergo vicino a Torreira con splendida vista sulla laguna di Aveiro (prezzi medi, si consiglia di prenotare prima della partenza dall’Italia); in alternativa si può soggiornare ad Aveiro all’albergo Pomba Branca (Rua L.G. de Carvalho 23). ::::::::Portogallo Itinerario 3 Il Portogallo del Sud Testo e foto di Cristiano Zambon Punto di partenza e arrivo: Porto Lunghezza: 954 km circa Durata: 7 gg. Mezzo di trasporto: auto Difficoltà: nessuna Prezzo: 450 euro circa Primo giorno: Lisbona - Evora - Elvas (Km. 216) Partenza da Lisbona sulla A5 continuando poi a sinistra (Sud) sulla A2 per 98 Km. fino all'incrocio con la N114, svoltare quindi a destra (Sud -Est) su N114 [E90] per 2 Km., svoltare quindi sulla sinistra (Est) su N4 [E90] per 3 Km. continuando poi sulla destra (Sud) su N114 [E90] per 28 Km fino ad Evora. Antica capitale dell'Alentejo questa città, importante nodo di comunicazione tra i centri sud-occidentali della penisola iberica (Lisbona-Beja-Merida) già in epoca romana, divenne in epoca medioevale seconda città del Portogallo nonché residenza a fasi alterne dei re portoghesi della dinastia d'Avis fino al 1580, diventando centro di arte e cultura con sede di una rinomata Università dal 1559. Dal 1986 designata dall'Unesco "patrimonio dell'Umanità". Lasciata la macchina subito fuori la cinta muraria di epoca medioevale, in parte ancora visibile, prendiamo la via del centro fino alla Praça do Giraldo, quindi seguiamo la Rua 5 de Outubro per recarci a visitare la Cattedrale. Chiesa fortezza di epoca medioevale è senz'altro il monumento di più grande interesse della città assieme al tempio romano del II-III sec., uno dei meglio conservati della penisola iberica. Completano la visita le suggestive atmosfere ed i tanti piccoli dettagli di cui sono ricchi i suoi edifici. Da Evora si prosegue su strada locale verso Nord-Est fino alla N18 [E802] che si segue in direzione Nord-Ovest per 40 Km. fino a all'incrocio con la N4 [E90] dirigendosi a destra (Est) per 45 Km. fino ad Elvas. Situata a soli 12 Km dal confine spagnolo in direzione di Badajoz, Elvas è una tipica città di frontiera con i suoi bastioni difensivi, tra i meglio conservati d'Europa, costruiti secondo le direttive dell'architetto militare francese marchese di Vauban. Percorrendo le stradine del quartiere medioevale si giunge sino al Castello romano-moresco dalla cui torre si gode di un bel panorama. Piatti tipici alentejani da gustare al ristorante sono la sopa alentejana, zuppa a base di pane con uovo in camicia, il cabrito assado, capretto arrostito abbondantemente condito con aromi vari, e le Empadas, tortine di pollo specialità di Evora. Per dormire potete rivolgervi all'Elxadai Parque, complesso situato appena fuori città sulla N4 in località Varche (prezzi medi). Secondo giorno: Elvas - Villa Viçosa - Beja (Km.141) Da Elvas si riprende la N4 [E90] che si segue per 28 Km., quindi prendere a sinistra (Sud-Est) su N255 per 6 Km. fino a Villa Viçosa. Questa cittadina, il cui nome deriva dalla Val Viçosa (valle fertile), nel XV sec. divenne sede ufficiale dei duchi di Braganza, i quali qui vi costruirono un lussuoso palazzo che fu iniziato nel 1501 da Dom Jaime. Una visita al Paço Ducal ed ai suoi giardini all'italiana, è senz'altro raccomandata. Da Villa Viçosa rimanere sulla N255 quindi svoltare a destra (Ovest) su N254 per 20 Km. fino a Redondo quindi dirigersi verso sinistra (Sud) su N381 per 15 Km., poi si segue verso destra (Sud) strada locale per 8 Km. in direzione Montoito-Vendinha. A Vendinha svoltare a destra (Ovest) su N256 per 3 Km., quindi dirigersi verso sinistra (Sud-Ovest) su strada locale (5 Km.) fino ad incrociare la N18 [E802] che si prende verso sinistra (Sud-Est) per 54 Km. fino a Beja. Principale centro economico del Baixo Alentejo, possiede un centro storico con un significativo patrimonio monumentale. Particolare attenzione alla visita dell'ex convento delle clarisse de Nossa Senhora de Conceiçao, oggi sede del Museu Regional Rainha Dona Leonor. Per mangiare ci si può rivolgere al Ristorante "A Floresta" di fronte al Museu Regional, dove gustare il coelho em vinho, coniglio cotto nel vino, o il borrego ensopado, stufato di agnello. Per dormire l'Hotel Melius situato poco fuori la cittadina medioevale di Beja offre camere moderne e confortevoli (prezzo medio). Terzo giorno: Beja - Tavira - Faro (Km.179) Da Beja torniamo sulla N18 [E802] svoltando a sinistra (Sud) per circa 2 Km. quindi dirigersi verso sinistra (Sud) su N122 [E802] per 113 Km., quindi svoltare a destra (Sud-Ovest) su E1 [IP1] per 25 Km., poi svoltare a sinistra su N270 e poi su strada locale per 4 Km. fino a Tavira. Graziosa cittadina e porto di pesca sorge sulle sponde del fiume Gilào, con un ponte romano a sette arcate che congiunge i quartieri settentrionali alla centrale Praça da Republica. Da Tavira si ritorna su N270 e si riprende la E1 [IP1] verso sinistra per 22 Km., quindi svoltare a sinistra (Sud) su N2 per 10 km fino a Faro. Per dormire c'è solo l'imbarazzo della scelta a seconda del desiderio di dormire in centro città o vicino al porto (prezzi variabili medi-medio alti) soprattutto nel periodo estivo. Quarto giorno: Faro Capoluogo dell'Algarve, ne è il principale centro economico, porto di pesca e rinomata località turistica. La cidade velha (città vecchia) si visita facilmente a piedi, ed è limitata dal piccolo porto e dalle antiche mura; vi si accede attraverso l'Arco da Vila (proprio al fianco della porta si trova il centro di informazioni turistiche) e la visita non può non comprendere anche una visita alla Sé (cattedrale), la prima chiesa cristiana della zona. Da Faro è anche possibile una visita guidata in barca della laguna e della Reserva Natural de Ria Formosa, che comprende un tratto di costa di circa 60 km, fondata nel 1987 ed in cui si possono ammirare varie specie di uccelli rari tra cui l'airone guardabuoi, il pollo sultano o il fistione turco (per informazioni rivolgersi all'ufficio del turismo o alla sede del Parco in Rua Teofilo Braga 15 - tel: 27514). Per chi volesse passare una giornata diversa dal solito, nel periodo estivo, la zona offre numerose possibilità di svago per la famiglia, dai Parchi acquatici con giochi per i bambini ai lussuosi Casinò, per gli appassionati del golf consigliamo di visitare uno degli accoglienti campi della costa. Quinto giorno: Faro - Albufeira - Portimao - Lagos (Km.84) Da Faro prendere verso Nord la N125 che si segue per 31 Km. quindi dirigersi verso sinistra (Sud) su N595 per 4 Km. fino a Albufeira. Vera e propria capitale turistica dell'Algarve, si trova in una bella posizione incorniciata da una spiaggia sabbiosa tra le movimentate formazioni rocciose della costa. Il centro della cittadina è costituito da una serie di caratteristiche stradine strette e tortuose. Da Albufeira dirigersi su strada locale verso ovest, quindi svoltare a sinistra (Ovest) su N125 per 23 Km. fino a Portimao. Oggi seconda città dell'Algarve è stata un porto storicamente importante, il Portus Magnus romano, mentre oggi è un importante centro economico e sede di industrie conserviere. Numerosi sono i ristoranti della città che offrono una delle specialità del posto, le sardine alla brace. Da Portimao si riprende la N125 per circa 15 Km. fino a Lagos. Vivace città situata in una delle baie più belle dell'Algarve ebbe storicamente un ruolo importante al tempo delle spedizioni dei navigatori portoghesi lungo le coste dell'Africa. Il luogo è anche tristemente ricordato come il luogo del primo mercato di schiavi africani in Europa, qui condotti dalle navi portoghesi. Per dormire l'Hotel Rubi-Mar, affacciato sul mare può essere una buona scelta. Sesto giorno: Lagos - Cabo de Sao Vicente - Setubal (Km.240) Da Lagos si riprende la N125 verso ovest per 22 Km. fino a Villa do Bispo, quindi dirigersi verso sinistra (Sud-Ovest) su N256 per 24 Km. fino a Sagres. Da Sagres su strada locale verso sud per 1 km fino a Cabo Sao Vicente. Si tratta del punto più occidentale del promontorio di Sagres, uno sperone di pareti rocciose e faraglioni proteso nelle acque dell'Oceano. I romani lo chiamavano Promontorium sacrum per la reverente soggezione che incute il panorama che si gode da qui; se con un po' di fortuna vi giungiamo in una giornata di mare mosso e con una leggera brezza in mezzo a questa natura ancora incontaminata si possono godere sensazioni davvero uniche. Sul promontorio sorgono il forte ed un convento di antica fondazione (XV sec) che ospitano un faro ancora oggi tra i più potenti d'Europa. Da Cabo Sao Vicente si prende verso nord la N268 per 40 Km., quindi si prosegue sulla N120 per 99 Km. fino a Santiago do Cacem. Cittadina abbarbicata su di una collina dominata dal Castello di origine araba, ricostruito dai Templari nel 1157, e dalla Igreja Matriz (XIII sec). Da Santiago do Cacem svoltare a sinistra (Ovest) su N261 per 45 Km., dirigersi poi verso sinistra (Nord-Ovest) su N253-1 per 17 km fino Ponta do Adoche. A Troja prendere il traghetto per Setubal (informazioni sugli orari in loco). Setubal è una moderna città, importante porto di pesca sull'estuario del fiume Sado, vi si trovano industrie alimentari e cantieri navali. Meritevole di una visita è la Igreja do Jesus, imponente chiesa gotica costruita su disegno dell'architetto Diogo Boitac nel 1494, con un interno ornato da caratteristiche colonne in pietra calcarea rosa. A nord si snoda la città vecchia con stradine pedonali e piazze piene di caffè e negozi. Per dormire l'Hotel Ibis situato sulla N10 in località Vale de Rosa, offre l'abituale comfor |