Portugal never tires, you always want more
1. Sit on the golden dunes of the beach Or Guincho , one of the most beautiful in Portugal, to watch the acrobatics of surfers and bodyboarders on the waves of the furious Atlantic.
two. Get intoxicated by the absolutely magical landscape in the Lagoon of the Seven Cities in the **Island of San Miguel in Azores**. Called "the Hawaiian Islands of the Atlantic" by one of the world's greatest travel writers, Chris Leadbeater , the Azores are an orgy of volcanoes, waterfalls and wild waters ideal for diving or whale watching. One of the best secrets of Portugal that will not take long to be discovered.
3.**Feel the chills in Sintra**, one of the most magical and mysterious places in all of Europe. Especially in the enigmatic Quinta da Regaleira , built by an eccentric Portuguese aristocrat, Carvalho Monteiro , who longed to live under the influence of the power of the symbolism of the Masonic Lodge. The exuberant nature and the maritime mist give it an esoteric aura, difficult to forget.
At Quinta da Regaleira, magic reigns
Four. Try the cakes from Belém from the Antiga Confeitaria de Belém in Lisbon, an authentic pastry work of art, whose secret has been preserved unaltered since 1837, when a monk from the Jerónimos Monastery transmitted the enigmatic recipe to the owners of the Antiga Confeitaria. The bearers of the prescription, say that only three, cannot travel together by plane. Take them hot and sprinkled with cinnamon in the room full of tiles, it is priceless.
5. Take a swim in front of the Atlantic, in the unusual Piscina das Mares (Leça de Palmeira, near Porto), conceived by the eminent architect, Alvaro Siza Vieira . Carved into the rocks and with salt water, it is, without a doubt, one of those unique places in the world.
Piscina das Marés, salt water and cliffs
6. Discover Porto's connection with the famous Harry Potter saga, and specifically the fascinating Bookstore Lello and Irmão , (considered one of the most beautiful in the world) where J.K. Rowling during her stay in Porto in the 90s. Its extraordinary staircase and wooden bookcases would inspire, they say, the Hogwarts library of her famous books.
7. Relax in the famous Sao Joao Festival (June 23), in Porto. The longest night of the year is celebrated in this city in the craziest way possible. Eat some grilled sardines in one of the barracks installed in the city and, once you feel energetic, take a rubber hammer and get ready to hit everyone who gets in your way on the head. Yes, as crazy as it sounds...
8. Take a bath in the magical setting of the River pool of Piódão , one of the most beautiful villages in Portugal, whose slate-based architecture and customs have remained practically intact over time due to the difficulty of access.
9. Learn all about Port wine , the Portuguese elixir par excellence, in one of the Vilanova de Gaia wineries in Port and of course, celebrate this new knowledge with a glass (or two) of fine port.
Bookstore Lello and Irmão
10. Strolling on the back of an imposing horse along a deserted beach, almost wild, in behaves the new destination boho chic where the creamiest of European royalty meets.
eleven. eat a Lingueirao rice (rice with razor clams) in the beautiful Tavira (Algarve) and more specifically in the ** Restaurante Noélia & Jerónimo ,** a classic.
12. Explore the ** Costa Vicentina ** and take the opportunity to drive along the road that borders the Atlantic to Cabo Sardào to spot the famous marine storks that, instead of in bell towers, build their nests in towering stone needles.
13. tour the enchanting Beira Mar neighborhood and get lost in its network of canals in the so-called Venice of Portugal, the city of aveiro . The streets of this neighborhood are lined with houses with beautiful architecture and traditional salt warehouses.
Aveiro, the Portuguese Venice
14. Give in to the party Queima das Fitas of Coimbra (May), the quintessential Portuguese university city. The Queima das Fitas literally means the burning of the bands of the university students finishing the academic year . To celebrate, the entire city surrenders for a week to university ecstasy in a succession of float processions, concerts and parties . Everything you have seen before falls short in Coimbra, I assure you.
fifteen. camping in the wonderful fluvial beach of Taboão , in the Miño area, and attend the Paredes de Coura Festival (mid-August), the dean of music festivals in the Portuguese country.
16. Discover the green wine route in the scenic Miño region, in the north of the country, to end up visiting the first capital of the country, Guimaraes , whose monumental castle, of Romanesque and Gothic styles will not leave you indifferent.
17. Rent a boat and watch the sunset while we cross the Tagus , against the backdrop of the decadent beauty of the city of Lisbon.
18. Travel back in time in the spectacular Roman ruins of Conímbriga , southwest of Coimbra.
19. shiver in the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) in the city of Évora, "decorated" with the skulls and bodies of nothing more and nothing less than five thousand bodies. The chapel was built by a Franciscan monk in the 16th century to remind the faithful that life is transitory.
Paper flowers to decorate a town
twenty. Be lucky enough to attend Flowers Festival of Campo Maior , where the different streets are decorated with flowers and other paper ornaments made by the inhabitants themselves and whose production takes more than seven months. This party only takes place when the town so decides, given the hard work that it entails.
twenty-one. Participate in the Lisbon half marathon and have the privilege of running on the April 25 Bridge , the only time of the year when it is closed to traffic.
22. Arm yourself with courage to climb the 686 steps of the impressive baroque staircase that culminates in the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios de Lamego . This one began to be built in the 18th century and was only finished in 1905.
23. Take a boat to visit the caves and rock formations of the “**Ponta da Piedade” in Lagos (Algarve)**.
Ponta da Piedade
24. Eat sardines in the Madragoa neighborhood , during the patron saint festivities of Santo Antonio de Lisboa (June) .
25. Feel the religious (and commercial) fervor in Fatima , the most famous place of pilgrimage in the Portuguese country, where the famous apparitions of the Virgin to three shepherd boys took place in 1917.
26. Rummage among the stalls in the Saturday market of the Alentejo city of Estremoz and be lucky enough to find a unique piece or an antique.
27. Get on board the steam train that, between June and October, runs between Peso da Régua and Tua and contemplate the incredible landscapes covered with vineyards in the Douro Valley.
28. Buy books in the city of Óbidos . Classified by UNESCO as “ literary city ” This beautiful city offers us infinite possibilities to enjoy literature in the most unusual places, such as the Church of Sao Tiago converted into a bookstore or a winery, where in addition to tasting the wines of the region, we can browse the national and international classics. The largest literary hotel in the world awaits you there.
The Literary Man
29. Eat fish in Porto Covo , on the Vicentine coast, an old fishing village perched on a cliff and with a breathtaking beach.
30. Immerse yourself in Portuguese saudade in a fado house (one of the authentic ones, please). I recommend Mr. Fado, in Lisbon.
31. Shiver with the roar of the waves beating the rocks in the mysterious "Mouth of Hell", near Cascais , where it will be easy to imagine what the entrance to hell itself is like.
Hellmouth
32. Visit the westernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, Cabo de San Vicente. What was called in the Middle Ages the end of the world is a natural reserve of exuberant beauty.
33. Chill-out on a Saturday afternoon at the meco beach , one of Lisbon's favorites, and realizing that night has fallen on us and we are dancing to the music of the Fish Bar .
3. 4. Feel in the middle of Rome, in the historical center of the city of panties , in the north of the country, a true unknown beauty.
35. Imitate the locals and eat the famous fried cuttlefish in the city of Setubal. Better if it is at Casa Santiago-Rei do Choco Frito.
36. Drink a bica (short coffee) at the cafe Martinho do Arcada in Lisbon, next to the table where the great person he wrote most of his poems, and that the owner, a lover of literature, has preserved as is.
Feel the immensity in the Peneda-Gerês National Park
37. Meet at the new MAAT - Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology in Lisbon, a futuristic construction on the banks of the Tagus River, the work of the British architect Amanda Levete , which has transformed the riverside landscape of the city.
38. Renew the towels of the house in the North of the country. Believe it or not, here are the factories that produce Turks for some of the most prestigious brands in the world.
39. Feel the immensity, camping a weekend in the Peneda-Gerês National Park , in the northwest of the country.
40. Discover the Portuguese culture through the objects that are part of the life of the Portuguese in one of the stores of A Vida Portuguesa desde Semper. Better if it's from Mayor in Lisbon , considered by many to be the most beautiful store in the Portuguese capital.
A Quinta de Regaleira, mystery and symbology