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 Óbidos, 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 João 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 Marvão, Portugal you will find one of the country's tallest castles, the Castelo de Marvão. 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 Marvão 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.

Portugal Bond-Market Rout Overstates Greek Likeness: Euro Credit - Bloomberg

Bloomberg

Portugal Bond-Market Rout Overstates Greek Likeness: Euro Credit Bloomberg Enlarge image Portugal Bond-Market Rout Overstates Greek Likeness Portugal Bond-Market Rout Overstates Greek Likeness Mario Proenca/Bloomberg Portugal followed Greece and Ireland in seeking an international bailout last year as the euro-region crisis ... 'Most' Portuguese unions back cutsBBC News The Euro Zone and the Crisis of Sovereign DebtCenter for Research on Globalization Like this story, share it with millions of investors on M3Moneycontrol.com all 28 news articles »

ECB's Cash Prescription Fails to Perk Up Portugal - Wall Street Journal

Bloomberg

ECB's Cash Prescription Fails to Perk Up Portugal Wall Street Journal The same can't be said for Portugal, which in 2011 became the third of the 17-member bloc to accept an international bailout. Yields on its benchmarkbonds soared to euro-era highs this week on fears that the economy will contract more than expected, ... Portugal as Greece Prods ECB to Halt Contagion Buoying BullsBusinessWeek Portugal hopes light 2012 debt needs will save itReuters Portugal as Greece Pressures ECB to Halt Contagion Prompting Nascent BullsBloomberg Irish Times -NASDAQ all 274 news articles »

Debt, austerity and recession threaten slow death for bailed-out Portugal's ... - Washington Post

Fox News

Debt, austerity and recession threaten slow death for bailed-out Portugal's ... Washington Post LISBON, Portugal — In a six-room Lisbon office where until last year more than a dozen people worked, engineer Joao Paulo Lopes sits alone in silence amid dark computer screens, patiently waiting for a bankruptcy lawyer to shut the company's doors and ... Debt crisis threatens slow death for PortugalSydney Morning Herald BC-Hijacker Fugitive,0118WGME all 212 news articles »

Analysis: Why ECB liquidity is not reaching Portugal - Reuters

Financial Times

Analysis: Why ECB liquidity is not reaching Portugal Reuters But this cash has not helped Portugal, whose borrowing costs recently rose to levels that could eventually force it to seek a second international bailout or even a debt restructuring. "It doesn't work for Portugal because, for it to work, ... PSI: So What? So YesterdayBusiness Insider International Forecaster February 2012 (#1) - Gold, Silver, Economy + MoreGold Seek all 518 news articles »

European economy spells great deals for US travelers - Breaking Travel News

European economy spells great deals for US travelers Breaking Travel News Even in the current times of economical trouble, Portugal has found its silver lining. The US market increased in 2011 to Portugal's 5th largest, in terms of per capita spending. This comes after the number of US traveler to Portugal tripled in 6 years ...