Portugal
Prolific Portugal is a soulful song, an azure ocean, a terraced vineyard.
The rocky coastline of Portugal’s Iberian Peninsula skirts the Atlantic Ocean and provides the
backdrop for this diverse land where 10 million people reside. The deep blue waters have floated
the famed ships of Portuguese explorers centuries ago and have then and now provided the
Portuguese people with their main staples: cod and sardines. An independent country since the
11th century, Portugal has its own traditions, cuisine and culture which has remained relatively
unchanged. With Spain flanking one side, the two countries may border each other but are very
different, from language to cuisine to culture.
The Douro River in the north nourishes the terraced vineyards of one of the oldest wine
appellations in the world, while the Tagus River waters the flat and fertile Ribatejo plain in
the northwest. The Algarve is a paradise of wide, sandy beaches and surfers, while the orange
roof tiles of Lisbon and Porto house people of cosmopolitan cities. A country dripping in
history and tradition fused with modern fun; the Portuguese are an emotive people, passionate
about festas and watching football, their Catholic faith and their love of their country. Maybe
this pride comes from the country’s foundation in 1143 or from the fact that Portugal was a
world power during its “Age of Discovery” in the 15th and 16th centuries. Ancient monasteries,
Roman temples, Moorish influences and medieval castles, Portugal’s history adds a golden hue to
any adventure here. Sip on crisp vinho verde beachside, boat the black-blue Douro, hike the
surreal peaks of Serra da Estrela, and swoon over haunting Fado music at a Lisbon tavern;
Portugal is full of distinctive experiences.
Book now