In the summer of 1917 the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to three young shepherds in what is now the town of Fátima in Portugal’s Centro Region. The place where they saw her has become an immense sanctuary and one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage sites. There are two basilicas, a square where …
On the road between Setúbal and Évora, Vendas Novas is an understated Alentejano town embedded in farmland. Most Portuguese people know Vendas Novas for its sandwiches, “bifanas”, which are a pork steak in a bun, flavoured with garlic and spices. Drivers will even make a detour just to pick one up! The town was born …
The town of Cartaxo is in a sea of vineyards on the fertile right bank of the River Tagus. Wine is integral to Cartaxo’s story: Every autumn the town even elects a King and Queen of the Vineyards for the coming year. There are also lots of little things to see and do in the …
Not for from the Spanish border, Moura is a medieval town with rich Moorish heritage. Take the Mouraria neighbourhood , which looks much as it did 700 years ago when it was an enclave for a minority Muslim population. Moura is still defended by a castle, and on the ramparts there’s a park with endless …
A perfect day out from coastal Algarve, Silves is an adorable medieval town among citrus groves and vineyards. The town had its heyday in Moorish times when it was the capital of the Algarve. The castle at the top of the hill is a monument to Islamic rule until the 13th century. Great works of …
In easy reach of Porto, Espinho is a holiday resort with ample sandy beaches, rolling surf and a helping of seafood restaurants. What more could you ask for? A few things have put this former fishing village on the map: Competitors from around the world descend on Espinho in June for the high swells and …
In the Beira Alta region in central Portugal, Tondela is a placid town in pine coated mountains by the River Dão. The town sprang up quickly in the 1700s, and has clutch of Baroque townhouses from this time, one of which is now a neat museum about the area. ACERT in Tondela is a cultural …
Up in the Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro Province, Mirandela is a university town in Portugal’s far northeastern corner. The Tua River winds through Mirandela and is crossed by a 200-metre bridge, built in the 1500s and the town’s shining monument. The old town is on a hill and has palaces, a first-rate art museum, neat …
In the northeast of the Porto Metropolitan Area, Ermesinde has swift transport links to the city by train or Metro. The Caide Marco, Braga and Guimarães commuter line all stop at Ermesinde’s station and will get you to the centre of Porto in under 20 minutes. But if you want to see what these outskirts …
Half an hour north of Porto, Póvoa de Varzim is a coastal resort that first attracted tourists in the 1800s. In the 19th century it was a place where two worlds collided: Fishermen eked out a dangerous living in typical Poveiro sailboats, while the upper crust flocked to the town to bathe on its beaches, …