Portugal

Portugal Introduction

Portugal, Iberian Atlantic sentinel, seduces with golden azulejo tiles, fado laments, and endless cork oak hills. Stretching 92,212 square kilometers for 10.3 million sun-kissed souls, it launches from Lisbon's seven hills to Algarve cliffs. Porto bridges Douro vineyards, Sintra palaces fairy-tale woods. Famous for port wine, pastéis de nata custard tarts, and Vasco da Gama voyages, Portugal pioneered Age of Discoveries. Surf meccas Nazaré waves tower 100 feet.

All about Portugal

Portugal contours Atlantic surf to Douro terraced ports, Alentejo plains wheat seas. Economy cork-leads, tourism surges Madeira levada hikes. Portuguese tongue sails Brazil Africa, fado guitars weep Alfama alleys. São João hammers garlic Porto midsummer. Euro 2002 adopter hosts Web Summit Lisbon. Rota Vicentina trails Algarve wildflowers, Azores volcanoes steam lakes.

History and Discoveries

Henry Navigator launched caravels Ceuta 1415. Belém Tower guards Tagus trade routes. Jerónimos Monastery manueline sails stone. Batalha Abbey Gothic crowns Aviz kings. Restoration 1640 ousted Iberians. Padrão dos Descobrimentos monuments Vasco magellan. Óbidos medieval walls enclose cherry liqueur.

Cuisine and Wine Regions

Francesinha Porto sandwich melts steak sausages. Bacalhau salt cod cooks 365 ways. Pastéis de nata Belém ovens crisp custard. Sardines grill summer streets. Port pipes age Vila Nova Gaia cellars. Vinho Verde green wines fizz Minho. Ginjinha sour cherry shots warm Óbidos.

Beaches and Surfing

Nazaré A-frame waves cannon 80-foot monsters. Sagres point breaks supertubes. Ericeira World Surfing Reserve barrels Ericeira. Porto Santo golden dunes 9km Sahara Portugal. Comporta rice fields fringe white sands. Lagos grottos boat pontoon caves.

Cities and Azulejos

Lisbon Alfama trams climb saudades views. Porto Ribeira rabelo boats Douro cruises. Coimbra fado students serenade libraries. Évora bone chapel chills Roman temple. Tavira tilts Algarve rooftops. Braga bom jesus baroque stairs ascend.

Islands and Nature

Madeira levadas tunnel laurel forests. Porto Santo dune buggy golden miles. Azores whale watch Pico vineyards. Selvagens seabird sanctuaries remote. Berlengas archipelago seals puffins. Flores crater lakes rainbow trails.

Portugal Summary

Portugal enchants as seafaring soul of sun, surf, and saudade songs. From Sintra enchantments to Algarve sunsets, it weaves discoveries legacy with wine-drenched hills. Affordable, authentic, and Atlantic-kissed, Portugal crafts eternal Iberian idyll.