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Visit Portugal – Useful tips
You are sure in for a surprising vacation visiting Portugal, from city tours to the amazing beaches and its famous islands - visit vacation rentals.
Portugal is situated in South Western extremity of Europe, in Iberian Peninsula bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in west and south and by Spain in north and east. The Portuguese territory includes two groups of Atlantic islands, Azores and Madeira. The continental Portugal is dived in two by its main river Tagus (Tejo). This one and the other important rivers Douro, Minho and Guadiana spring from Spain. In the northern side of the country the relief is mountainous. In south to Algarve there are mostly planes. The Portugal climate is continental type, influenced by the Gulf Stream, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The winters are mild with a lot of precipitations and the summers are hot and dry. The Gulf Stream influence is felt most strongly in North West in Minho province, where the air is wet and it is raining very often. In the North there are conditions for ski in the Serra de Estrela and Braganca mountains. The central regions have a transition climate with hot and dry summers (the drought lasts sometimes an entire month) and soft winters. In South the climates is subtropical, Mediterranean, usually hot and dry with soft winters. During the summer the temperatures are around 24°C and the precipitations are rare. In the Algarve region, the sun is shining almost continuously. In Azore and Madeira, the climate is mild, in the winter the temperatures are between 9 and 12°C. Almost a third of the country surface is covered by pine forests in north and cork oak in the centre and South side of the country. Portuguese cuisine: Portuguese cuisine is able to surprise and delight your taste buds with fresh marine catch in the Atlantic, with rich distinctive taste of spices or wine of Porto. The Portuguese introduced exotic spices they brought in the New World in their cuisine, giving to their food an unmistakable flavor. Portugal has the highest fish consumption per capita in Europe and their national specialty is bacalhau (dried and salted cod), cooked in many ways. Although fish and seafood are at home, and pork is quite popular, especially roast suckling pig (leitão assado). Rotisserie meats are always present in preparations in Portuguese cuisine. Touristic towns: - Lisabona, Portugal's capital is the starting point in a your tour. - Porto is the second city in size and importance in Portugal. - Sintra - has become a major tourist attraction with many hikers a day, coming from the surroundings of Lisbon. Sights include the fabulous Pena Palace (sec. 19), and Castelo dos Mouros, with a splendid view over Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, and the summer residence of Portuguese kings - Palacio Nacional de Sintra. - Braga - with an interesting and attractive historical center, where you can visit: Casa dos Criva (sec. Al-eighteenth century), Church of Santa Cruz (XVI-XVIII centuries), The Cathedral (XII-XVIII centuries), Hall ( sec. the eighteenth century), Archbishop's Palace (XIV-XVIII centuries), Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Staircase (XVIII century), Monastery Tibaes, Pontele de Lima and Viana do Castelo. - Fatima - one of the most famous places of pilgrimage for Christians. - Coimbra - the birthplace of six kings of Portugal, one can visit too: University of Coimbra, University Library. In the medieval town it worth visiting the Church of Santa Cruz (famous for sculptures signed by Nicola de Chanterrena) and Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova. - Another place that you must visit is the city of Evora - one of the most beautiful and charming cities in Portugal. It's a real open air museum with an impressive number of monuments, carefully groomed and beautiful buildings listed on the UNESCO cultural heritage list. Visit our affiliates collection to book online your vacation home in Portugal and escape with your beloved. Visit holiday in Portugal for a healthy holiday booking. |
