IOANNINA, GREECE
The Migrated Bird
PORTUGAL
Our road trip had entered Portugal via France and Spain. After several days spent in western France and Spain, Portugal was the most significant part of our road trip itinerary to explore the attraction of Portugal from north to south and, from east to west and, of course, the interior of the country. We had approximately Nine days to strike most parts and regions of Portugal, and thus our first direction of admission was north from the Spanish city of León. It was dusk after León City, so we proceeded to the campsite Cepo Verde in Montesinho Natural Park, and in the early daylight, we had begun the journey to Braga town.
BACKground
The western European tiny country Portugal is a gem of the Atlantic Ocean and Europe. Portugal doesn't need an introduction to understand Portugal but, if you go there once, you won't be able to stop expressing it in blogs and social media and so, you see the immense collection of pictures and videos of Portugal on the internet.
The narrow strip-shaped country Portugal is an Iberian nation with a fascinating history, traditions, foods and festivals that have been stacked in layers over the centuries. In the past, many civilizations, creeds and regimes had lived in Portugal for many centuries, mainly Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians. They left their mark and, style of architecture behind in many towns, villages and small towns in the form of houses, religious buildings and, many monuments which, are the main attraction for many travellers today. Many destroyed relics still survive and are telling narratives about time and place. Medieval castles, cobblestone villages, picturesque towns and cities have a lot to offer their visitors.
We often hear a remarkable story about Portugal's sea route adventure to the eastern world and, a number of historians have rightly described Vasco da Gama's voyage to India, which transformed many things in world history. Azulejos (blue glazed tile with illustrations) art that appears in every religious building, house and street, and this art can be seen throughout Portugal as well as in some cities of Spain.
beachside
Portugal is also well-known for its coastline, with golden sandy beaches in the south and smooth sandy shores along the west coast appreciate everyone. Their seaside charm attracts everyone to reach and enjoy it, especially in summer, those magnificent and delightful beaches are full of visitors. The cove or long sandy beaches in the south have plenty of amenities such as clubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels where one can spend a whole day on sunbath beds by the sea, and the nightlife remains lively, pleasant and colourful in the many clubs.
landscape and natural beauty
Outside the cities and towns, Portugal has a tremendous and dramatic landscape, and in many ways, the landscape is quite diverse in many regions.
western side
The western part bordering the Atlantic is flat, but greeneries and vegetations are everywhere, and the sandy beaches with mighty waves are perfect for surfing and water sports, and the drive through the small charming fishing villages can be a delightful trip.
north and interior
But, the north, east and interior are mountainous, and the mountain ranges are blanketed with greenery. To the north and interior, there are some national parks that are ideal places for camping, hiking and outdoor activities, most notably the Rio Douro Valley, a listed world heritage site, a popular destination for the classic Portuguese wine region. Steep terraces, winding scenic roads and postcard-pretty villages are just beautiful things to enjoy in the Rio Douro Valley.
southern part
To the southwest has the dramatic coastal scenery with cliffs, beaches and abundant fauna. But in the south, the landscape is as typical as any beach destination, with everything drying up in the summer and few trees between the great distances. The south is also famous for its golden sandy beaches, cliffs and in particular, the cliffs of Ponta de Piedade are unusual geological formations and are breathtaking.
food
Food and festivals are also the souls of Portugal. Even today the ancient tradition of food and drink and, festivals is present from small towns to big cities. Delicious cuisine, plentiful seafood, roast meat, and fresh bakery items entice many of its visitors, and the food also varies from north to south and east to west.
festivals and Music
Festivals and carnivals are also immense attractions and, every year the Portuguese traditionally celebrate. There are many festivals, especially in summer, from April to August, in winter and, even in spring, Christmas bells ring everywhere in churches, and, the whole of Portugal immerse in New Year's celebrations. The Portuguese start the new year celebration with music, food, decoration, lighting, firework.
Portugal is renown for its traditional music form, in many city centres, anyone can find street's musicians, those, play a piece of exquisite music and sing in the native language. Fado is a form of music, which you can hear in many cities especially in restaurants, clubs and, opera houses.
Our road trip was well organised and every day was busy as per our schedule. Before embarking on our journey, we had formed an excel sheet in which we listed all the destinations, parking spaces, distances and travel times, even the amount of time we had to spend at each destination. And so every day, we travelled for miles and hours without any hindrance, in our whole trip we observed a lot of places. We did not stay overnight in any city or town, but, at the end of the day, we always camped in quite natural and convenient places. Our entire road trip was week-long and economical, but it was full of adventure, uncertainty, fun and, this entire road trip gave us a glorious impression of Portugal and its immense beauty. We couldn't cover everywhere in the country, but we tried to cover many places in just seven days.
begin with north
Our road trip to Portugal started from the UK, before entering Portugal, we visited the western part of France and Spain were after seeing many beautiful cities, we first entered the northern part of Portugal. In the north near the Spanish border, we Overnight stayed at Cepo Verde Camp which, is located in Montesinho Natural Park.
Early in the morning, we began our journey to the city of Braga, which was located 215 km from the campsite on countryside roads. The road to the city of Braga was picturesque, and most of the roads are routing through mountainous regions and small villages. We spent four hours on the entire route, but believe me, it was a tireless and refreshing journey in nature.
1. braga town
Portugal's third-largest city and absolute divine beauty are spread everywhere in narrow streets and scattered plazas. Braga is also associated with a long history and, is one of the oldest cities in Portugal, as well as was once the religious capital of the country. Here in Braga, there are many cathedrals where history is rooted in those, and the art and architecture have adorned the inner cathedral, especially the woodwork.
The colourful streets are filled with boutiques, shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. Many of the structures are decorated with tiles, these surfaces make the city pretty vivid, and the cobbled streets have spectacular façades that amaze their visitors. There are flower beds in many streets, and, small gardens spread over many parts of the city, and fountains are the dazzling element throughout the city. We spent about two hours in Braga and explored the old city centre, after the old city we headed to an old cathedral.
Bom Jesus do Monte Braga is a majestic cathedral located 5 km from the city centre, this cathedral is slightly different from the rest of the religious site which, is located on the top of the mountain. The main structure on the top of a hill looks ordinary, but visitors are attracted by its winding staircase which, looks spectacular from a distance.
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2.porto city
After Braga, we headed to the city of Porto, the second-largest city, one of the major attractions in the northwest of Portugal, and no one misses the sight of it.
The charming and entertaining city of Porto is situated on the banks of the Douro River. And, every year visit by many to enjoy its old city centre, port wine, cuisine and illustrious architecture. Porto is an indescribably stunning city from its pristine city centre to riverside path. The grandeur of its old cathedrals, the colourful tiled surfaces in the streets, narrow streets, street graffiti and the riverbank elegance fascinates everyone.
Walking on the Riverside Pathway in Porto is a unique experience. The sumptuous and picturesque skyline covers the entire city from both sides of the river bank and, many of Porto's most notable buildings stand on top of the hill. There are many cafes, restaurants and bars on the riverside of Porto that will give you a great view of the river with Portuguese food.
Porto is also very famous for its bridges, especially, the steel-made Luís I Bridge and, Ponte do Infante Bridge are striking masterpieces that you can see from afar and, this bridge is mainly the pride and great temptation of Porto.
3.rio douro valley (Peso da Régua)
The Rio Douro Valley is one of Portugal's Distinguished Natural regions, as well as a listed World Heritage Site in the country. The Douro River originates in Spain and ends in Porto, once it was used as a spectacular waterway to transport wine from the valley to the world. There are many small villages and towns around the Rio Douro Valley, but, it would be best to ride to Paseo da Regua town to explore the entire area. Route no. N108 along the river has a duration of 118km and 3 hours to reach Peso da Regua and a very picturesque route in the valley. The rail route to the Rio Douro Valley is the best option, If a car ride is not possible, the train route is exceptionally scenic along the river.
The dramatic landscape is the main attraction in the Rio Douro Valley where viticulture takes place throughout the terraced areas and, wine production is the main occupation. If you are in Portugal then this is a must-visit place.
4.coimbra
Coimbra is one of the historical ancient and, was the capital of Portugal during medieval times, located in the western part of the country, between Porto and Lisboa.
The city of Coimbra is flourished along the Mondego River and, the entire ancient city looks like a pride from the banks of the river in the splendid layers of the hill. The narrow cobbled streets have sublime surfaces, multicoloured houses, boutiques, eateries, cafes throughout creating blazing pictures.
Coimbra has world class monuments, which are very ornate and graceful. Paço das Escolas, National Museum Machado de Castro, Sé Velha, Igreja de Santa Cruz, University of Coimbra and Verde do Mondego Park are some of the must-see attractions.
5.Serra da Estrela Natural Park
On the same day, we continued from Coimbra city to Serra da Estrella Natural Park. The national park is just 125 km away and is a two and a half-hour drive from Coimbra.
The national park is an enchanting valley with a natural beauty that is spread everywhere, and driving a car through the mountains will be a pleasant and refreshing experience. The snowfall in winter makes it an ideal destination for snow adventure sports, and in summer many people go hiking. The national park is home to several water bodies and waterfalls as well as an outstanding view from the mountain peak, the rugged terrain making it the perfect place for wild camping.
6.Monsanto Village
Monsanto village belike, I have never seen in my whole life but is for people who admire nature and natural development in the modern world. Monsanto is Situated in the eastern part of Portugal near the Spanish border, 87 km from the Serra da Estrela Natural Park.
Decades earlier, Monsanto was voted the "most Portuguese" village in Portugal. The small village is settled along the slope of the hill, and everywhere the gigantic boulders are scattered on the hilltop and throughout the village. From a distance, you can see the red roofs but, once you enter the streets, you will not sight the variation between the walls and the boulders, and the same boulders merge with the walls and the roofs, and the narrow cobbled streets are squeezed between granite boulders. The appearance of the village is still the same as it did build centuries ago, and the pastoral gaze on the surface still seems elegant today.
6.Marvão Village
The whitewashed town of Marvao is located in the eastern part of Portugal, just 133 km from Monsanto in the vast plains of the Alentejo region, making it one of the beautiful mountain villages in Portugal. The drive on rural flat and upland roads will immerse you far inside Portugal's western arid landscape during summertime.
Marvao is a medieval town near the Spanish border, so the influence of Moorish architecture can be observed in this walled town in its dwellings, castles and spiritual buildings. Along the cobbled streets, the façades of the houses see fabulous with red roofs in whitewash, balconies with iron railings with hanging flowers captivate everyone. The entire city's surroundings are in calm white colours, and the cobbled footways still recall medieval times. We spent about 3 hours in Marvao then we headed towards camping to end our day-long drive.
7.Óbidos
Early in the morning from the camping site, we left for a hot destination, Obidos town. The city by location is in the western part of Portugal and is just 87 km from the capital, Lisboa. There are several coach services and trains that give services to Obidos. Therefore, public transport would be the best option if the car ride is not possible.
The historic walled town was traditionally a gift to the Queen of Portugal at her wedding, later, many praised the ancient town for its distinctive characters, plans, colours and textures, now Obidos is a must-visit place in Portugal.
The town is small hereof it can take 2-3 hours to explore each street. The charming city of Obidos attracts a lot of people due to its cobbled streets, castle, traditional painted houses. At the end of the street, a castle stands on the top of the hill, with a panoramic view. And a few Catholic churches are elegant to visit from inside and outside. Many shops in Obidos keep locally crafted arts and wines so, once you walk throughout the town then, you are sure to be allured to that souvenir or wine.
8.Sintra
From the town of Obidos, we headed to Sintra, a magnificent Sintra mountain that is a treasure trove of its natural beauty and gleaming picturesque palaces. Sintra is located to the west and, only a few kilometres from the capital Lisboa so is easily accessible by car, bus or train for a day trip.
Sintra is grand town hide-and-seek in the mountainous landscape, where forests immerse into the city and roads run through flooded vegetation. There is something to show on the entire mountain terrace and, their mountain routes lead to some of the other majestic monuments. There are many things to see in the wooded areas but, you must visit the Sintra National Palace and Park & National Palace of Pena. Both of these palaces have very unique and fusion different architectural styles, the Hilltop Palace of Pena is very colourful and highly decorated compared to the other palaces, which mesmerizes everyone. There are also many other attractions in the Sintra old town, and the surrounding area and, several vivid extravagant villas overlooking the mountains.
Buses are the only transportation from the foot of the hill to Pena's palace, because the narrow mountain slopes may not allow cars to drive.
9.Cascais
Idyllic Cascais town is located few kilometres from Lisbon and Sintra and is the perfect destination to enjoy its coastline, beaches and old town. Drive from Sintra to Cascais on the N247 route will give you an idea about its tremendous azure coastline, en-route to Cascais have few sandy beaches along the Atlantic ocean Praia do Guincho and Praia da Crism ina perfect for a couple of hours for relaxation before reach to Cascais.
The old town is pretty small but, cobbled streets have many things to see, especially the old Portuguese houses with tiled Azulejo. The sandy beaches near the medieval borough are enjoyable and tranquil compare to the western side. The fortress, palace, museums, lighthouse, Marina and, walk along the sea will make your perfect day trip to Cascais. We had spent almost 3 hours here, but our last destination was Lisboa before the end of the day so, we left earlier.
10.Lisboa
The journey from Cascais to Lisbon was a 45-minute and 35-km journey. So upon arrival, we first went to our campsite to check-in, the Lisboa Camping Site located outside the city area of Lisboa, and it was inexpensive and convenient for us as travellers.
Lisboa, the capital of Portugal, is located near the Tagus Strait, the steep slopes and curvy, narrow cobbled streets of the city merging with magnificent buildings and developments over the centuries, with many spectacular sights of steps, graffiti and street art. There are tremendous Roman, Moorish and Christian monuments and ruins in different parts of Lisboa those spread from the Rio Tagus to the old city centre and, along the Rio Tagus, hence there is something to see throughout Lisboa.
The waterfront walkway from Belém Tower to the National Pantheon is full of monuments, galleries, restaurants, cafes and magnificent bridges, and one can spend a whole day. The medieval city centre is richly fraught with colourful and ornate buildings hence you will be mesmerized by the magnificent plazas and open spaces herewith the many palaces and cathedrals. The old trams that run throughout Lisboa are also an attraction in many ways. There are many cafes, roadside restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs that make the nightlife of Lisboa grand, vibrant and bright, but always put your safety first.
In Lisboa, anyone can spend 2-3 nights without any doubt. The city has many things to offer its visitors, and anyone would be plunged, here in Portugues culture, tradition, foods, monuments, architecture, music, nightlife and history. Keep Lisboa on your bucket list, and once in life must-visit historical city.
algrave region
Before the scheduled time, we had visited most of the places in Lisbon, so we had plenty of time. Instead of spending much time in Lisbon, we drove into the Algrave region and arrived at the campsite "So Marcos da Serra" just before sunset. Early in the morning, we started our journey toward Lagos.
The Algarve region is a gem and wonder in Portugal, a region located in the southern part of the country that extends from the Pacific Ocean to Spain. The landscape of the Algarve region is unique, gorgeous and arid. The region comprised of colourful cliffs, golden sandy beaches, lighthouses, forts and picturesque fishing towns along the Pacific Ocean, altogether making it a perfect destination for a vacationer. The weather is pleasant throughout the year and, the sea water remains calm and blue. The most beautiful beaches are located in this region, many of these beaches are spread over long sandy patches, and some smaller beaches situated between cliffs, so the Algarve is the first place for many beaches, sunbathing and water sports lovers. Some charming small fishing and resort towns have magnificent nightlife, and the culture and heritage of these old colorful towns are reminiscent of the medieval golden times of Portugal. Among these regions, Lagos, Albufeira, Faro and Tavira are the must-visit towns are showcasing impressive Potugues architecture combining Arab architecture.
