The first word that comes to mind when describing the Serra da Estrela Natural Park is "diversity." Indeed, this massif located in the Central Region and encompassing the municipalities of Celorico da Beira, Covilhã, Gouveia, Guarda, Manteigas, and Seia, stands out for its diverse landscape throughout, in addition to being the largest protected area in Portugal, at 101,000 hectares. The central plateau, dominated by Torre (the highest point in the mountain range and in mainland Portugal, at 1,991 meters above sea level) and the glacial Zêzere, is a range completely different from other parts of the mountain range. In winter, …

Founded in 1059 according to popular tradition, although the oldest documentary reference dates back to 1099, the Monastery of Pombeiro enjoyed privileges and justice of its own as early as 1112, as evidenced by the Charter of Couto granted on that date by D. Teresa. This monastic institution has been documented since 853, which makes it one of the oldest in the territory, although there is no material evidence of its first establishment. Located at the intersection of two of the main roads of medieval times, one that connected Porto to Trás-os-Montes and a second that connected Beira to Alto …

Located next to the Douro river, it is the most authentic area of the city. Here, you can wander among popular vendors who join in the conversation, choose an esplanade to rest or a typical restaurant to taste the Porto cuisine and regain strength. This site contains numerous monuments, from the statue of São João, work of João Cutileiro, which came to occupy the niche of Fonte da Ribeira that was empty for more than 200 years, to the Muro dos Bacalhoeiros (continuation of Muralha Fernandina) which constitutes a great place to enjoy the views from the banks of the …

Known in the Middle Ages as the Campo do Olival (olive grove), its name is due to the bishop’s ropery, who was installed there in the XV century. In 1611, the former Campo was converted into an Alameda (lane) and, in 1865, by the hand of the German Emile David, the garden was born. In the following century, and after the cyclone’s devastation in 1941, it was replanted. With rare plants around a lake, several statues, benches and bandstand, this garden was characterized by a traditional XIX century city garden atmosphere. It was considered a Botanic garden, for the variety …

The chapel of Vilarinho dry, dedicated to s. Paio, is deployed in a wide at the entrance, in the Northwest of the village. Granite Temple has a rectangular cover, on the main façade, flanked by two horizontal slots and surmounted by an oculus. The belfry, in the elongation of the gable, decorated with volutes is terminated by two pinnacles to skirt around a cross, the corners are complemented by pinnacles with ball. Inside this Chapel the granite of the walls contrasts with the high altar in gilt, which occupies the upper part of the wall of the headboard, where religious …

In this arqueossítio, situated in one of the oldest of the old medieval village arteries, is the longest sequence of human occupation of the city of Porto. The Archeological excavations made it possible to observe, in a thickness of more than three feet deep, 20 archaeological layers, which included architectural ruins and objects since the IV-III centuries BC until the present times. Here were first identified with security, traces of the castro proto-history that was at the origin of the urban center, as well as the medieval and Roman occupations that you succeeded. The remains of dwellings and streets from …

The campsite Cork oak, located in the municipality which gives it the name, is four kilometres from the town of Mafra and Ericeira's six. Between the mountains and the sea, the Park has many shadows and boasts of the microclimate of the Tapada de Mafra. Highlights include the beautiful views and beaches of the village of Ericeira. Here you can visit the Park of Santa Marta and walking by their typical streets, where dominate the houses in shades of blue and white. The places to visit in the area are the National Palace of Mafra, the garden of the siege, …

Located to the southwest of Moimenta da Beira, the hill grows between the Paiva and Távora rivers and belongs to the Galician-Douro massif. It is 10 km long and reaches its peak at an altitude of 1011 metres. From the peak there are wonderful views of the Tedo, Paiva and Távora valleys, as well as the tops of the Marão, Estrela, Caramulo and Montemuro mountains. Once named Nave Hill, archaeological elements were found here, such as vestiges of roman roads, stones that indicate the presence of fortresses, mamoas and menhirs. The flora includes the pine trees, the Portuguese broom, the …

Among the houses that spread out along the banks of the Sado river, in Alcácer do Sal, Quintal da Liga offers a wonderful and unique view of the river. This green space, full of plants, trees, cool shade and other secrets, is the "Quintal" (Backyard) of the Núcleo da Liga dos Combatentes de Alcácer do Sal headquarters. The food, specially designed for the place by chef Swastik Guilherme, is made with love and brings freshness on hot, sunny days. To drink, you can start with a gin or a mojito with fruit and continue with a good regional wine or …

In the beginning of the 20th century, most precisely in 1907, Afredo da Silva buys a plot of ground from the Bensaúde family in the Lezíria, between the North Beach in Barreiro and the Moinhos Beach in Lavradio, and there he builds the C.U.F. factories. It started labouring in the next year with an olive husk transformation unit in order to produce soap, which employed 100 workers. In 1909 appears the first factory of sulphuric acid and super phosphate to produce fertilizers. As the century went on, the industry continued growing and this old village of fishermen and millers, with …