Portugal from above is better
Sâo Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint
The viewpoint of Sâo Pedro de Alcântara is a balcony overlooking the Baixa, the center of Lisbon , and the hillside that supports the castle of Sâo Jorge. It reaches it with the Glória funicular, which bridges the distance between Plaça dos Restauradores and the Bairro Alto. It was King Pedro V who transformed the land destined for the extension of the Águas Livres Aqueduct into this two-storey garden, dotted with sculptures and monuments dedicated to numerous Portuguese great men. A panel of tiles (of what else) indicates right on the railing of the lower level what are the points you should look for in the panorama.
Sâo Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint
Sanctuary of Santa Luzia Viana do Castelo
On Mount Santa Luzia, inspired by the Sacré-Coeur in Paris, stands a Neo-Byzantine temple dedicated to the same saint, which is the perfect spot for enjoy a unique sunset over the Lima River estuary , its beaches and the beautiful city of Viana do Castelo. Go up to its dome to dominate the panorama from a bird's eye view. And if what you want is to capture the moment with the temple starring in the postcard, you must add a little more height to get the perfect photograph. While you wait for the right light, have a good wine in one of the Pousadas , also with views. Impossible to close a day with a better perspective.
Santa Luzia, the Sacré-Cœur of Portugal
São Jorge Castle. Lisbon.
The name of the Lisbon castle was given by King João I, who, married to the English princess Filipa de Lancaster, decided to place it under the protection of the patron saint of England. Many go up to it to explore its labyrinthine complex, first Visigothic, then Arab and then Christian. More are its walls and towers that have made it famous among searchers of 'views' . Thus, this fortified viewpoint boldly overlooks the Baixa, the Barrio Alto and the Tagus River, in one of the best views of the city.
The views from the Castelo de Sâo Jorge
Castelo dos Mouros, Sintra.
The weathered walls of Castelo dos Mouros wind through the heights of Parque da Pena. Stationed on cliffs that look into the void, the towers and watchtowers follow one another on a path that culminates after 500 steps in the homage tower, from where the Serra de Sintra, the city and the villages that dot the landscape that surrounds the fortification, and on clear days the blue of the Atlantic, are exposed. With this view, the climb through the castle walls, which is now more than a thousand years old, is more than rewarded.
Take your time, and think of your big sentence , Well, there were not a few celebrities who were captivated by the profile that this Muslim fortress wears and the city it spies on and they threw one to the wind. Like Richard Strauss, who said that Sintra had a castle worthy of the Holy Grail, or Lord Byron, who defined the city as a glorious Eden, stating that it was the most delicious town in Europe.
Sintra, from the Castelo dos Mouros
Santa Luzia viewpoint
The roofs of Alfama and the Tagus estuary the views from Lisbon's Miradouro de Santa Luzia dominate. Next to a church dedicated to the Order of Malta, it is in its neglected garden that this viewpoint opens onto the city in the form of a terrace, on top of what was once part of the Arab wall. Hundreds of tiles cover its walls and railings , and although they are dwarfed by the incredible panorama of the city, they also have views. Just the two that are located at the exit of the garden show the panorama of the city dominated by the Castelo de Sâo Jorge and the Plaça do Comércio before the 1755 earthquake, when it was known as Terreiro do Paço. Look out for them when you stand in front of Lisbon's skyline at this viewpoint.
Monsanto Castle
Monsanto is a 'little town' in the interior of Portugal, with a castle with history and a privileged location at 758 meters above the so-called Cabeço de Monsanto. The views that are reached from the highest point of the Monsanto fortress and its viewpoint on the stones of the hillside , speak of the Portuguese rural spirit, for something it is known as 'the most Portuguese village in Portugal'.
Lisbon from the Santa Luzia viewpoint
Pena Palace. Sintra.
These views had the kings on their days off . In the past, Portuguese monarchs and nobles spent the summer in these lands, with a cooler climate than nearby Lisbon and much more idyllic and mysterious views. The Pena Palace stands on a promontory above the Serra de Sintra, full of leafy forests and stately villas it is a kind of beacon of a thousand colors standing out on the green. It is quite an architectural rarity, with extravagances in stone and tile and all kinds of whims, such as the so-called Portico do Tritão, carved in stone in the shape of shells, corals and vines symbolizing the union between land and sea. A series of viewpoints surround its walls and towers , from which spectacular views of the city and the surrounding landscape are obtained, reaching the sea on clear days. The charm of the place is the sum of each panorama and the feeling that the profile of the castle awakens, changing at every step. Without a doubt, an essential in Portugal.
View of the Sintra forests
Cabo da Roca
this promontory, where the Atlantic collides with all its might It is, among many other things, a natural viewpoint open to the sea with impressive features, 140 meters high and 360º views over the landscape of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. It is the westernmost point of the European continent and a milestone marks the exact place on the rock, so that in addition to the beauty of its surroundings, the place is surrounded by an almost magical halo due to its meaning. The Tourist Office located in its beautiful lighthouse issues certificates that certify the arrival to these coordinates, a relative end of the world where the beauty of the landscape encompasses everything.
Cabo da Roca: views of the Atlantic
Porto from the Serra do Pilar convent in Vilanova de Gaia.
The most recognizable and charming profile of Porto is obtained from Vilanova de Gaia, full of cellars and charming terraces. This side of the Duero is where you get the best views of the city, with all its beauties exposed. Right at the viewpoint of the Serra do Pilar convent, with a certain height, the wonderful iron bridge of Luis I, a symbol of the city, dominates the landscape, and the old town of Porto, with its cathedral and the Stock Exchange Palace rising above the sky. Take your time, and enjoy this panoramic view, while the river continues its course towards the Atlantic.
Port and good wine
Terraces of Marvão. Alentejo
Like other fortified cities in the Alentejo, such as Estremoz or Mértola, the profile of Marvão rises from the ground to climb to the heights. On a promontory 900 meters high stands its castle, known in these lands as the 'eagle's nest', from where you can see an unparalleled panoramic view that brings together the town of Marvão itself at a glance, with its whitewashed houses and its labyrinthine alleys; the Sierra de San Mamede Natural Park, a natural marvel; he he forests of the Sierra de Estrela and up to Valencia de Alcántara , already in Cáceres lands, on the other side of the border. Thus, what once served as a defensive bulwark, today shows the beauty of the interior of Portugal from a bird's eye view, or should we say from an eagle.
* This article was originally published by Condé Nast Traveler on the Visit Portugal website
Terraces of Marvão