Coimbra is a vibrant city of almost 150,000 spread over 319.4 square kilometres. Coimbra is a capital of the Centro region and is found in the Baixo Mondego region. One of the central structures in the city is the Coimbra University that was established in 1537. Aside from this institution, there are many other major architectural edifices that have been preserved throughout the ages.
Coimbra is about a two-hour drive from Lisbon, the country’s capital. It is an ideal place for homeownership as it is a quiet suburb with amenities such as bars, restaurants, concerts and nightspots. The city is vibrant with youthful energy, being a university town, and academic learning, with its educational institution. The city is historic, with many structures dating back to the Arab, Jewish and Christian times as well as artistic as many treasures of the past have been preserved for the youth in the city (more…)
This fine magnificent city is a step back into the Middle Ages. This city and municipality is located in the Dao- Lefoes sub-region of the Centro Region in Portugal. The municipality and city has a total area of 507 square kilometers. The land area has many irregular surfaces with high points of 400 to 700 meters. The rough terrain has many bodies of water where three basins are found, namely the Vouga, the Dao and the Paiva. This makes the municipality a zone of many microclimates, known as areas of transition. The bodies of water interacting with the Serra do Caramulo that is found out to the western area of the city, makes the weather of the Concelho be in the extremes as very wet winters and very dry summers. (more…)
Costa Verde is the second largest city in Portugal and is located on the northwest coast of Portugal. It is considered as the coffers of Portugal, being the center of finance and commerce in the country. Even with this modernity, the locale has stunning natural environs, white beaches and beautiful wineries making the city truly a unique place to visit for foreigners and locals alike. There are many offerings for the varied interests and enjoyments of the visitors to the Emerald Locale, and one can surely find the most suitable one while enjoying the history, culture and cuisine of the area. (more…)
Found in the district of Setubal is the municipality of Sines. The Municipality is spread over a total of over two hundred square kilometres of seafront land. It is located on the center of the Alentejo coast and is within the St Vincent and Southwest Alentejo Coast Natural Park. The town is a Mediterranean climate greatly influenced by the ebb and flow of the ocean. The highest temperature at the hottest month is nearly 21 degrees centigrade and at its coldest, it reaches 11 degrees centigrade. Its topographical features is a coastal plain with the Cape of Sines and the Cercal Mountains making it perfect as a getaway under the sun. (more…)
Aljezur is located at a distance of thirty kilometers north of Lagos in a fertile valley filled with greenery and vegetation. The valley has long been known for its sweet potato crops as the rich land is fed by the river that cuts the area. The old town is located on one side while the new town is on the other side. The old town is built on a hillside, with the main street runs parallel to the river where there are many small cafes serving delights al fresco. A Moorish castle built in the 10th century is located high on the hill overlooking the old town with a full picturesque landscape. (more…)
Leiria and the surrounding regions has been the hub of civilization of the area. The earliest settlements found in the region have been from the Turduli, an indigenous people of the Iberia. When the Romans conquered the region, they established a town named Collipo until they were driven out be the Moorish invasion. There is not much record of the occupation of the Visigoths but at the time of the Moors, Leiria was already a village with a garrison. The garrison of Leiria was liberated by the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques in 1135. This was the period called in Portuguese history as the Reconquista. In 1137 the Moors regained the village until 1140. In 1142, the town was fully liberated from Moorish occupation and in order to foster economic activity, the feudal system of foral was instituted in Leiria. In 1254, Dom Afonso III instituted the precursor of Portuguese parliament in history as he invited to Leiria members of the aristocracy and intelligentsia. The town reached its peak as King Dom Dinis improved the castle built in the area to become the royal residence for himself and Isabel de Aragon, his Queen. The castle stands as the crowning glory of Leiria. (more…)
Setubal is rich with history that dates back to the Roman era. It has been claimed that the town was found by a relative of Noah. The town has had a long and fruitful relationship with the sea that started in the first century AD. The town has a large protected harbor, being the third largest in Portugal. The high point of the town was in the Age of Discovery, as King Alfonso V set sail from its harbor on his way to conquer Alcacer Ceguer in Morocco. (more…)
When you emerge from Lisbon and cross the suspension bridge that crosses the Rio Tejo, you reach the roadway to Setubal. After traveling 40 kilometers, you take the turn towards Sesimbra and reach the Arrabida National Park. At this point, you have reached the westernmost point of Europe. This is the Serra da Arrabida, where the Atlantic Coast can be viewed from rugged cliffs with unspoilt water and vegetation. Sesimbra is located forty kilometers south of Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon. This simple fishing port sits at the foot of the Arrabida hills fronting a blue bay. The hills serve to protect the locale from the fierce northerly winds. Ever since the 1960’s, Sesimbra has seen a steady increase of local tourists staying for the weekend. The town has an easy going feel to it and is a great place to kick back and relax. (more…)
The municipality of Monchique was born when Roman settlers arrived in the Caldas de Monchique. The main reason for the establishment of the early settlement was the belief in the curative powers from the springs in and around the municipality. Over the years, the population increased and by the 16th century Monchique caught the eye of the then King of Portugal, King Sebastian, which sought to elevate it to the status of township. (more…)
The Alentejo province is located to the south of Rio Tejo. It is a region of wide plains and its capital is the city of Evora. The city is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its wide and colourful past and the presence of many historical sites in the city. The city was once enclosed behind medieval walls that served as protector to the many houses built in the 16th and 17th centuries. The layout of these houses includes tile patios that have been whitewashed lining up the cobblestoned labyrinth streets with squares of bubbling fountains and many Moorish arches. The city is a huge showcase of the finest historical architecture in Portugal, with great and varied influences all throughout its long history. (more…)