Portugal Offers Something Wondrous For Every European Visitor

Portugal is a country full of wonders to be discovered. No matter what you fancy, you will find it in Portugal. The country offers ancient cities complete with castles that were once occupied by royalty and Roman ruins left over from the Roman occupation dating as far back as 138 BC. You will find nature at its very best with the many parks and preserved lands. Visit an island vineyard hand forged over 500 years from rock. The beaches are exotic and the history is grand.

The history of Portugal dates back to the Pre-Celts and offers stories of kings and explorers, battles won and castles saved, some of which can still be visited today. The people of Portugal struggled through hundreds of years to make it an independent kingdom, and subsequently a country. Historical sites are in abundance in this wondrous country. You can visit the medieval town of �bidos, the town of queens, named so because kings would give this town to their queens as a gift. Be sure to visit the churches built for the children of the queens at their time of birth. The queens' castle is still standing, as are the castle walls where you can view the aqueduct.

You won't want to miss the gothic monastery in Batalha, built by King Jo�o I in thanks to the Virgin Mary after Portugal's 1385 victory in the battle of Aljubarrota. The king and his queen are buried there in the family tomb, along with their son, Prince Henry the Navigator, who was responsible for the Age of Discovery. You can find a beautiful monument to Prince Henry the Navigator in Portugal's capital of Lisbon.

In Marv�o, Portugal you will find one of the country's tallest castles, the Castelo de Marv�o. This fortress has been considered invincible because it sits atop a rocky cliff, making it nearly impossible to access. But the trip through the rocks and thick forest are well worth it for any history buff. The Church of Santa Maria is in Marv�o and has been converted into a museum, which boasts of many archeological treasures of Portugal.

The mainland weather is a constant 55� to 64� F so it is always a good season to visit Portugal. Whether you want to spend your day boating the Tagus River or exploring the ancient cities of Portugal, you can rest assured that the temperature will be comfortable. In the wintertime you can ski in Sierra da Estrela, the mainland's highest point where the weather is significantly colder due to the 6558 ft. elevation. Or, if you like tall places, visit the Island of Pico, where 7713 ft. is the top of the volcano that is Pico Island.

It doesn't matter who you are or what kind of vacation you enjoy, Portugal has something for you. Be it beaches, parks, castles, or taverns that boast the best wine on the continent, Portugal is a place you will not want to miss on your next European getaway.

Ferry company abandons Funchal-Portimão route - The Portugal News

Ferry company abandons Funchal-Portimão route The Portugal News Company spokesman Javier Jalvo Garcia told Lusa last week: “Armas will carry out its last voyage on Saturday to Portimão and will return to the Canaries on Monday (30 January),” adding that this is a “permanent decision” after “much effort was made” to ...

Last year was one of hottest in history - The Portugal News

Last year was one of hottest in history The Portugal News According to a preliminary 2011 Weather Bulletin published by Portugal's Meteorological Institute (IM), the months that most contributed towards 2011 making its mark were April, October, May, June and September, which registered variations of +4.90ºC, ...

Lynford Trust sponsors Soup Kitchen rent - The Portugal News

The Portugal News

Lynford Trust sponsors Soup Kitchen rent The Portugal News Last year a small piece about the ICF's soup kitchen project published in The Portugal News attracted the Trust's attention. Following a visit to the Kitchen in Portimão the project was approved for sponsorship last autumn.

Death of the high street? - The Portugal News

Death of the high street? The Portugal News Dr. Paulo Pacheco, president of the Portimão Commercial Association (ACP), gave The Portugal News his view on the matter. For local businesses, he said, 2011 had ended the way it had started: “Very difficultly.” Overall sales have dropped by between 15 ...

Afpop opens Cascais satellite office - The Portugal News

Afpop opens Cascais satellite office The Portugal News The afpop association, which specialises in providing a comprehensive range of information services and support to foreign residents and visitors to Portugal, opened a new satellite office in Cascais on 20 January as part of its plans to expand its ...