It is so close to Spain that sometimes we forget that Portugal is a most desirable international destination. And it is that, although we share, peninsula and some cultural traits, traveling to the neighboring country can be a very exotic experience. The good thing about its proximity is that we can escape on an express weekend trip or organize a longer stay to get a good look at it. We guarantee that in a week you will not have time to get bored.
Lisbon and Porto (and Sintra)
If you are going to spend a whole week in Portugal, the basic thing is to start with its two most important cities. Lisbon, the capital (which is not less beautiful because it is known) is, without a doubt, a place to fall in love with. It is known as the city of the seven hills and has everything: coast, a wonderful history to discover full of monuments and an amazing gastronomy in which we find much more than the Belem cakes that have become so fashionable lately.
Porton the other hand, is the second most important city in Portugal with the beautiful tiles that adorn its streets, the old town (in which we highlight, above all, the Ribeira neighborhood), the colorful houses, the modern Miguel Bomdarda street… It is a city full of life and history in which gastronomy is also vital.
Also, if you like it royal; the aesthetics of fairy tales and/or historical mysteries, there is a truly enchanting village 25 kilometers from Lisbon that meets all these characteristics and is called Sintra.
With declared monuments A World Heritage Site, travelers who have passed through it say it is worth it devote a whole day to it. And it is that this place of characteristic architecture, seamlessly integrates palaces and gardens, castles and forests.
The Pena Palace It looks like something out of a Disney movie but it is a romantic castle that dates back to 1854 and that receives thousands of visitors every year for being a true national monument. Although it is possibly the Quinta da Regalia the one with one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. There we can find underground caves, secret tunnels, fairy tale wells, heavenly waterfalls and enigmatic wells.
A parenthesis in paradise
However, the neighboring country is much more than Porto, Lisbon (and the Algarve)… It also hides treasures such as the Berlengas and Madeira Islands. The first is a small archipelago made up of granite islands to the west of Cabo Carvoeiro in Peniche (from where you have to travel by boat) and It is considered a nature reserve. That is why Berlengas cannot receive many visitors at the same time and it is advisable to sleep in Peniche.
São João Baptista Fort is located in Berlenga Grande. Thanks to its military structure, it is the most popular construction in the archipelago and its most emblematic monument. However, lovers of lighthouses have a mandatory stop on the same island: the Duque de Bragança Lighthouse.
On the other hand, the Bairro dos Pescadores is the only town in the entire Berlengas archipelago. It is located on the southern slope of the so-called Ilha Velha, where the Misericordia Monastery once existed. Here we find a restaurant, a mini-market, Praia da Berlenga Grande (another point to take into account) and the island’s public toilets.
Mercearia d’Alegria Boutique B&B
Another option is Madeira, a paradise full of unique landscapes and an island full of winding roads, viewpoints from which to observe vertiginous cliffs, beautiful towns nestled between the mountains, natural pools, fortresses, peaks above the clouds, lush forests and charming cities.
Funchal, the capital of Madeira, It constitutes the largest tourist, commercial and cultural center of the entire archipelago. Situated in a natural basin overlooking the Atlantic Ocean it is surrounded by rugged mountains with labyrinthine cobblestone streets, low hillside houses and elegant architecture, cute boutiques and lively cafes.
You can’t miss either the Cathedral or Sé of basalt, with white walls; the Two Farmers Market, with a multitude of exotic flowers, tropical fruits and typical crafts; the Funchal cable carwhich goes up to Mountain from where you can contemplate fantastic views of the bay and the valleys of Funchal or the Botanical Garden.
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Cover photo | unsplash