Portugal

General

Portugal lies along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula in south Western Europe. It shares borders with Spain to the north and east and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south. Azores and Madeira are also part of Portugal. Despite its small size, Portugal displays a remarkable variety of geographic features, from seacoasts and plains to wonderful mountainous zones, making it a unique destination for variety seekers. Moreover, hotels in Portugal range from superb five star hotels in Algarve to classic hotels in Porto and modern hotels in Lisbon, the capital of the country. 

History

Portugal’s history and culture date from prehistoric times. The famous Prehistoric cave paintings at Escoral comprise a remarkable historical proof of Portugal’s cultural legacy. Great influences can also be seen from the eras of Roman and Moorish invasion. Archaeological remains such as the Roman township of Conimbriga, the Temple of Diana in Évora and the southern Moorish towns of Olhão and Tavira infuse an ancient flavor to Portugal's modern life. With such a geographic location, Portugal has witnessed countless sailings and foreign arrivals. Throughout the centuries, Portugal has been conquered by various nations including the French, the Spanish, the Italians and the Flemish. It is its outstanding location that inspired great discovers to sail to Africa, the distant Orient and the heart of South America. Portuguese were the first Europeans that sailed to all these places, including the Azores and Madeira, which are now part of their territory in the Atlantic. In 1910, Portugal became a republic and since 1986, it is member of the EU. In 1997, the last Portuguese colony of Macao was handed back to China.

Art and Cuture

Portuguese history has a strong impact on art as well. The famous historic monuments and archeological remains constitute major art pieces that demonstrate the tendencies and stimuli of each period as well. Thus, famous peculiarities, especially the Manueline style that exalted the age of the discoveries, depict the artistic styles of that era as well. Some of the most important Portuguese museums with fine art collections are the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, the Belem Cultural Center Museum of Design, the Fundacao Medeiros e Almeida and the Museu do Chiado - National Museum of Contemporary Art in Lisbon. The most popular museum of Lisbon though is the National Azulejo Museum or Tile Museum that houses over 7,000 pieces of tiles, ceramics and images dated from the 15th century. Finally, a very interesting museum of contemporary art is the Serralves Foundation Museum of Contemporary Art in Porto.   

Gastronomy

The most famous Portuguese dish is the so called 'bacalhau’ fish. Although Portugal is abounding with fresh fish, Portuguese prefer the often imported dried and salted codfish, namely the 'bacalhau’. They even eat it at Christmas time with olive oil, potatoes and cabbages. It is fairly then considered the Portugal’s national meal and can be found in all restaurants and home made recipes. For first time visitors, the fantastic taste of home made 'bacalhau’ is a gastronomic trip to unique and oriental flavors. Apart from fish the staple Portuguese diet includes meat, vegetables and fruits. For meat lovers the Alentejo region is known for its pork and Trás-os Montes for cured meats. Moreover, one can find a variety of sweets, a legacy of Moorish occupation. Portuguese usually accompany their proper meals with a tart or cake. Wine is the ever-present table beverage. Especially, the world famous Port wine that comprises the country's national beverage. A winery brew that all visitors should taste. Finally, Portuguese restaurants, apart from traditional recipies, serve a number of international dishes mainly from South America, Italy and Spain.

Places to visit 

A very appealing destination of Portugal is Lisbon. The capital of Portugal is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of history. Every corner of the city presents unique beauties and exquisite festivities. Visit Alfama, one of the oldest and most beautiful quarters of the city that has largely survived the earthquake of 1755 and retains much of its original layout. Other interesting parts of Lisbon are the quarter of Castelo de São Jorge, the Torre de Belem, the Mosteiro dos Jeronomos and the Age of Navigators Monument. Biaxa and of course the river Taugus are also places you should not miss. Lisbon is also a city of superb nightlife and exciting shopping. Make a hotel reservation in Lisbon and stroll around the narrow Medieval streets, hearing the spectacular song of fado at night.    

Porto is another Portuguese city you should visit. It is the cultural and administrative center of the North region of Portugal and it is also known as the capital of the North. Moreover, Porto has one of the most beautiful old towns of southern Europe. In particular, Ribeira, the historic centre of Porto, has been declared as UNESCO's World Heritage Site, a fact that testifies its uniqueness and beauty. Porto is also the home town of Port wine, as it is the city from where the wine was originally shipped. Today, the wineries of Gaia follow a long winery tradition and produce very high quality wines. A visit there will persuade you. Another interesting site of the city is the Baroque decorated church of São Francisco, a amazing architecture that is really worthy seeing. Finally, while there are many nice hotels in Porto, it is recommended to find a room near Ribeira.

Continuing our navigation in Portugal it is suggested that you visit Algarve, as it is an Idyllic destination for your summer holidays. This fabulous holiday resort has one of the best beaches in Europe and attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Hotels in Algarve offer splendid view and summer atmosphere, making your stay comfortable and relaxed. Some other places you should visit entail among others the exotic walled town of Lagos, the historic town of Sintra, the perfectly preserved medieval city of Evora, which is also UNESCO’s World Heritage site and the famous Braga, the cultural capital of the country. Particularly, if you choose to reserve a hotel in Evora or a hotel in Braga, you  can also enjoy their beautiful nature, as they are among the greenest parts of Portugal.