A Mannerist monument marking the site of the Battle of Ourique, believed to have taken place on July 25, 1139. It is a pilgrimage sanctuary, predominantly of 16th-century style, reflected in the construction of small, single-nave churches. It features a rounded triumphal arch supported by pilasters, and the main altar is made of wood with a masonry niche. According to legend, this chapel belongs to a group of seven sister chapels, all within view of each other: Our Lady of Amparo, in Mértola; Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Serpa; Our Lady of Cola, in Ourique; Our Lady of the Castle, …

Between Benafim and Salir, right in the ravines of the Algarve, Rocha da Pena is a place with a bleak landscape in a large plateau, about 2 km wide and almost 500 metres high. Of speological interest due to th existence of several caves, the Site is also extremely rich in terms of its fauna (namely, for their rarity, the buzzard and the Bonelli's eagle) and its flora (wild rose, wild orchid and marsh tea). Algar dos Mouros, at the top of the rock, is known in historical terms because the moors took refuge there when Salir was reconquered. Aside …

Earthen dam located in Ribeira de Sor, an area with large cork oak forests. It was built to irrigate the fields of the Sorraia Valley. The reservoir, with a length of almost 20 km, extends from the vicinity of Ponte de Sor to close to the village of Montargil. Due to the large number of visitors to the site, a hotel (Hotel da Barragem) was built there, with a private ramp and rental service for boats, jet skis and sailboards. The public access ramp to the reservoir is located on the left bank, close to the wall. It has a …

A settlement from the Iron Age (1st millennium BC - 4th century AD), this archaeological site is of great interest and has been the subject of successive interventions. It consists of the ruins of fortified settlements located at the northern foot of the hill on which Lanhoso Castle stands, now reconstructed and well preserved. Among the finds discovered, the set of 3 gold torques (Archaic Golden Jewels – distinctive objects of military leaders) worked with filigree applications stands out, anticipating the local art of gold working by more than 3,000 years. The most significant find was the Celtic Helmet, a …

This village is located on the northern slope of the Colcurrinho hill (at an altitude between 400 and 500 metres), with the Alcovo river in the background. It was already inhabited in the pre-roman epoch, as proven by the ruins of a Portuguese-roman castro (a celtic village) nearby. The parish was created in 1543 by the bishop of Coimbra, Dom Jorge de Almeida. The rural granit houses are extremely picturesque. The architctural heritage includes the mother church (18th century), the fountain's crucifix, the sanctuary of Our Lady of Preces (Prayers) - Located on the Colcorrinho Hill, at an altitude of …

With its origins dating back to the neolithic (there is one cavern of that epoch at São Pedro dos Matos, with two rooms), the oldest parish in the ouncil of Aguiar da Beira has about on thousand inhabitants. It has strong gastronomical traditions (queijo da serra - Estrela mountain cheese -, sausages, cabbages soup and olive oil cake) and craftswork traditions too. Its inhabitants are mostly farmers and cattle raisers. A special note to the pillory (of the 15th century and classed as a public interest construction), the mother church, the castro (a celtic village) of Gralheira, the roman road …

An imposing monument, inaugurated in 1789, whose facade has two twin bell towers and statues of saints and allegorical figures, including four statues that symbolize many other virtues: Faith, Devotion, Gratitude and Freedom. The building, with a single nave in the form of a Latin cross and with six chapels, is part of the Convent of the Santíssimo Coração de Jesus. The interior is spacious and majestic, with walls clad in gray, pink and yellow marble. You can visit a room where you can find an extraordinary set with more than 500 baked clay figures. It was the first church …

This museum belongs to the Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto and was inaugurated on 18 May 1992. Although its short existence, it has managed a programme of important cultural events in the city of Porto, being today one of the most visited museums. It has a vast collection of vehicles, ranging from the American car, animal traction, to various models of electric cars, for people transportation and also for goods transports. The museum also has a vast collection of documents, photographs and various materials related to the operation and maintenance of these vehicles. In addition to these activities, the …

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, …

In 1377, King Fernando ordered the construction of the first church to house the sacred image and accommodate the large number of pilgrims visiting Our Lady of Nazaré. It was later expanded and improved during the reigns of King João I, King João II, and King Manuel. The building is dominated by two tall bell towers with spires in the Baroque style, preceded by a wide arcaded gallery, commissioned by King Manuel to house the pilgrims. The entire building bears witness to the major renovation of the late 17th century (1680-1691). The interior has a single nave, covered with 17th-century …