São Lourenço do Barrocal is a luxury hotel located near Monsaraz, and very close to Alqueva. The estate covers 780 hectares and has been in the same family for over 200 years, but its origins date back to the Neolithic period. It was also a place of work and housed more than 50 families. The hotel is the result of a project to restore the estate, designed by the award-winning architect Souto de Moura, which aimed at maintaining the rural and traditional concept, adapted to the new functions. São Lourenço do Barrocal comprises a cellar for the creation of exclusive …

The medieval castle of Longroiva is one of the most important examples of Templar military architecture in Beira Interior and one of the best examples of a Romanesque castle in the region. Built on a supposed pre-Roman hillfort, built between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC, its construction coincided with a significant surge in settlement in the region in the early 12th century, having belonged to the Order of the Temple and the Order of Christ. In the 18th century, with the settlement's progressive decline in importance, the castle's progressive ruin was documented. In the 19th century, the castle began …

Classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1977, Ranhados Castle sits on a hill overlooking the village of the same name, approximately 838 meters above sea level. Archaeological evidence attests to the existence of a protohistoric fortified settlement, later Romanized. Its construction dates back to the reign of King Dinis, when he granted the town a charter (1286) to encourage its settlement and defense. At the end of the 14th century, these lands were donated to two Távora brothers, and some authors argue that it was built during this period, given the simplicity of the design and the apparent …

The Castro de Ribas is a fortified village and proto-history with an area exceeding romanized 2 hectares, being one of the best preserved castros of the country. The complex defensive system consists of four rows of towering walls (with traces of other two), and the first of them reaches a width of 13 meters in the highest zone. In interior wall cloth are two ashlars with engraved ornamentation, decorative motifs consisting of circles and spirals. In the area protected by the fourth line of walls are rectangular and circular dwellings, as well as a mill dug in a rock. The …

The Aveiro Museum (also known as the Santa Joana Museum) is housed in the former Convent of Jesus, founded in 1464 by Dom Brites Leitoa. During the late 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, it underwent numerous interventions, from the construction of the cloister and of the tomb of Santa Joana, as well as the gilded carvings and historic tiles of the chancel and church body. By virtue of the Decree dated 1834 (extinction of the religious Orders) the convent is extinguished, and it starts to function as a college until 1910. In 1911 it is becames a Museum. It undergoes …

The village, with origins in an old hillfort occupied by the Romans, seen from afar is an authentic fortress, surrounded by a wall and two turrets at the entrance. However, Castelo Mendo is, nowadays, practically doomed to abandonment. Its population, which barely exceeds one hundred and a half inhabitants, is dedicated to livestock and agriculture. However, if today the village's location (800 meters above sea level) is an obstacle to growth, in the past this would have been the crucial factor in its development and guarantee of the defense of the lands on the left bank of the Coa River. …

Set of five funerary structures par excellence, erected during the megalithism of the current Portuguese territory Northwest. The tumulus No. 1 is clearly visible in the landscape, on the left side of the road that connects the Montalegre Meixedo, beside an agricultural warehouse. Presents a "tumuli" high, with approximately 2\/3 meters, where they are clearly visible at least two mainstays. There are visible remains of lytic Cuirass, showing a large central depression. The tumulus # 2 is barely visible in the landscape, finding about 500 meters east of the tumulus to paragraph 1. Presents approximately 18.5 meters in maximum diameter, …

The university, founded in 1290, is one of the oldest in Europe. After alternating between Lisbon and Coimbra, it was definitively transferred to the city on the Mondego River in 1537, during the reign of King João III, establishing itself in the Royal Palace. The building became the property of the University in 1597, during the Philippine rule, and underwent several renovations over time. In 1772, the Marquis of Pombal gave new statutes to the University, and the Faculties of Mathematics and Philosophy were created, in addition to several Institutes. Notable features of the set include: the Iron Gate (the …

Go down the Avenida da Liberdade and start on a discovery journey of the town historical centre. Here, you’ll find plenty of interesting points. At the Restauradores square the majestic Foz Palace, in its neo-classical style, and the frontispiece of the old cine-theatre Éden, with a modernist aspect stand out. Following through Rossio, you’ll find the National Theatre D. Maria II and the D. Pedro Statue. Now in the middle of downtown, venture trough the geometrical net of the streets that set up the urban unit built after the earthquake of 1755. Next, follow to Encosta da Sé and visit …

Its construction dates back to the 19th century, notable for its eclectic architecture and the imposing main façade, with a grand entrance and grand design. It is also particularly notable for the memory of the consul who once lived there. This was the home of diplomat Dr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who, while serving as Consul General in Bordeaux in 1940, saved thousands of lives from the Nazi Holocaust of World War II. The house features a rectangular floor plan, and is spread over three floors, the top floor featuring a mansard roof. The main façade is marked by the …