Tourists' stories about Portugal by car. Portugal to the max: life hacks about traveling by car

Portugal Car Travel Report 2017. Roads, sights, cities, squares, temples and monasteries of Portugal.

Background and foreword

I flew to visit a friend. She married a Portuguese and went to live with him three years ago. They have their own house and farm, two small children. They met me in the evening at the Lisbon airport by car and took me to the suburbs.

The choice of visiting attractions was spontaneous and depended on the free time with the family on a particular day. The weather was sunny, the temperature in the sun: +40 degrees, in the shade: +30 degrees. During this time, not a single rain fell.

Girlfriend's house

• Travel dates: August 19-26, 2017.
• Point of departure: Leiria, Portugal.
• Destination: attractions within a 100 km radius.
• Distance: up to 100 km one way.
• Car: Opel Astra 2002, mechanics, diesel.
• Travel time by car: from 30 min. one way.
• Speed: average 60 km / h.
• Fuel consumption: from 4 to 7 liters per 100 km, depending on the speed.
• Composition: three adults + two children (1 and 3 years old).
• Purpose of the trip: sightseeing tours.

In five days, we visited eight attractions that will be remembered for a long time.

Roads and cars

The roads are good, the asphalt is smooth, the car seems to be flying. Roundabouts are organized at most intersections. Signs road traffic outwardly differ from ours slightly, and traffic lights work on solar powered... "Loungers" are rare, mainly at pedestrian crossings. There are no video cameras on the roads; invasion of privacy is not acceptable here.

All passengers in the car, even in the back seat, need to wear seat belts. The fines are large - from 250 to 1200 euros (17-84 thousand rubles) or driving license revocation.

Because the roads are good, cars last a long time. New cars are more expensive here than in all of Europe, due to the high cost of "customs clearance". According to her husband, a car mechanic, you can buy a decent used car on the move for 800-1000 euros. The car numbers on the right have a column of two additional pairs of numbers. The first digit indicates the year of issue, the second indicates the month.

We drove on toll roads. A card with a counter is installed in the car - it is attached to the windshield from inside the car. When passing on the Autobahn, we passed the green Viaverde sign without stopping, the money was automatically debited from the bank card. Annual maintenance of the meter costs 7 euros (almost 500 rubles). Also, travel can be paid in cash or by credit card directly on the spot.

The city is located 119 km from Lisbon - the capital of Portugal. It was founded in 1142. The total population of the city and its suburbs is about 150 thousand people.

I lived at a friend's house in the suburbs of Leiria, in the Coimbra area. The area is quiet, there are houses and villas with lawns and plots. Occasionally, you can see fields of corn and pumpkin for livestock fodder on the plots of the house.

Rarely does anyone keep their household, because it is not profitable - it is easier to buy farm products in the store.

Local streets, houses and church

Eucalyptus groves and pine forests

Here you can make money by planting a forest. A piece of land is bought out, planted with eucalyptus or pine, and then sold to woodworking companies. Eucalyptus grows for about 15 years and costs less, while pine needs about 60 years, but the price is higher.

The Portuguese say: "If you want to earn money for yourself, plant a eucalyptus, for your children - a pine tree, for your grandchildren - a cork tree."

On the way, we stopped at a huge eucalyptus: height - 48.5 m, trunk diameter - 3 m, age - about 100 years. It is under the natural protection.

A friend's house is fifteen minutes by car from the ocean. The people on the Atlantic Ocean beach are just sunbathing, the water is cold.

The local bathing lake is within walking distance from the house. The water there is warmer than in the ocean, the beach is sandy, the footpath is made in the form of a ladder along the perimeter of the lake.

At dawn. Church of Our Lady

We arrived in Nazar in the afternoon. We went to the Church of Our Lady - the temples and churches of Portugal are mostly Catholic, here the Mother of God - Mary is very much venerated.

A sacred relic of the church is a wooden sculpture of Our Lady in the image of the Black Madonna. She traveled with the monk around the world before staying in the caves of Nazaré. The sculpture of the Madonna is kept here and is the subject of mass worship of believers.

The church was built in the XIV century. Due to the annual increase in the number of pilgrims in the 17th century, it was decided to rebuild it. Main staircase has a conical shape. The upper part of the church is decorated with two domes, inside the arch and columns, decorated with gilding. Above is the organ, in the opposite side - the altar with the shrine of the Black Madonna.

It's amazing that the candles are LED. Throw a coin - the light comes on. The price is indicated on the plate: one candle - 10 cents, two - 20 cents, five - 50 cents.

Here are local pottery souvenirs (I did not specify prices):

Alkobasa. Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobasa

The medieval monastery of the 12th century, founded by the first Portuguese king, Afonso Henriques, served as a burial vault for the nobility. The monastery was the center of handicraft works in metal, weaving and painting in the XIV-XVI centuries.

The cathedral of the monastery is the first Portuguese structure built in the Gothic style. In the 18th century, under Manuel I, the monastery complex was expanded and renovated in the Baroque style. During the invasion of Napoleon, the monastery was plundered by the French, so all the relics were lost.

Other buildings in the complex include the refectorium, cloister and the Royal Pantheon. The architectural ensemble included in the list of protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

We arrived here in the evening at closing time, managed to run for five minutes and take pictures.

We went to the village of Obidush, it was cloudy and windy. We left our car in the free parking lot outside the castle walls. They offer to rent an electric car for two to move around the narrow streets.

Obidos was a medieval city, now it is a popular cultural and tourist center. Medieval fairs are regularly held here, the village is even called the "City of Weddings", because newlyweds come here from all over the world.

Walking along the small streets, you can find cafes and shops with souvenirs, there is practically no more entertainment. You can also walk along the walls at a height of 10 meters, there are no fences.

The appearance of the castle is unique, conquered and built by different peoples, each made a contribution. The first were the Romans, they built thermae on the site of the castle. Then the West Goths erected a fortress, and the Arabs surrounded it with battlements.

Peniches. Fort de Peniche

In half an hour we drove from Obidos to Peniche.

Fort Peniche was built in the 16th-17th centuries for coastal defense in conjunction with the forts of Consolasan Beach and Berlengash Island for crossfire. During the New State period, it was used as a political prison for the imprisonment of public figures. Today the City Museum is located there.

On the first floor there is an exposition of the city's fishery, on the second - the cells of prisoners and a courtyard for walking. The atmosphere is gloomy, especially when you look into empty prison cells and walk around the courtyard.

Batalha. Monastery da Santa Maria da Victoria

The name of the monastery is translated from Portuguese as "victory in battle". According to legend, King João I said that if he won the battle against the Castilian invaders, he would build a monastery to the glory of St. Mary. He defeated the enemy, which was four times larger than his army: 7000 fighters against 32000. The monastery was founded in 1385 and was built for 80 years under six rulers. It was completed in 1517 and became the royal burial vault. At Patriotic War was destroyed and burned, and at the direction of King Ferdinand II was restored from 1840 to 1907.

The Bataglia Monastery is made in two styles: Gothic and Manueline. On site you can see the Church, the Founder's Chapel, the Chapter Hall and the Royal Cloister. The entrance to the tomb is paid, where King Juan is buried. On the territory of the building is located National Museum Portugal, the object is under the protection of UNESCO.

Equestrian monument to the leader of the Portuguese Nuno Alvaris Pereira stands in front of the Batalha Abbey.

Nuno Alvarius Pereira is held in high esteem by the locals. It is considered a symbol of sovereignty. The opening of the monument took place in 1968.

The square is full of souvenir shops and shops.

Sintra. Quinta da Reguilera

There are very narrow streets in Sintra, it is difficult for two cars to pass. We parked in a side street, then walked to the park entrance for about ten minutes. We arrived in the morning, there was no queue at the cashier.

The palace and park complex is made in the neo-Gothic style; on the territory there is a park with lakes, a chapel, fountains, tunnels and grottoes. The name of the estate was given on behalf of the mistress of the Baroness Regilera, who acquired it in 1840.

There are several owners on the territory of the palace, the first mentions date back to 1697. In March 1996, the Sintra City Council bought the estate, after which restoration began. In 1998 it was opened to the public, and in 2002 it was awarded the status of an architectural monument.

There is a multi-tiered park with intersecting paths that descend from the slope. Tunnels with many entrances and exits lead to a chapel, grottoes and a lake with a waterfall.

There is a Dedication Well on the territory of the park. It is a spiral gallery with arches extending into the depths of the earth, and consists of nine spans of fifteen steps.

According to the legends and description of Dante, the nine circles of hell, purgatory and paradise are symbolically represented.

We walked in the park with the children for about two hours. Everyone is tired. After driving a couple of kilometers by car, we entered the Montserrat Park.

Sintra. Montserrat Palace

Another palace in Sintra is Montserrat. Its area is 33 hectares. About 3000 plant species from all continents grow on the territory.

The estate is about five centuries old. The last of the owners Frances Cook is a British merchant and collector. He bought a deserted estate, changed the layout of the park and built a palace. In 1949, the estate was bought by the state, and in 1978 it was opened for public visits.

Today Fatima is one of the centers of Christian pilgrimage. Pilgrims come and come here from all over the world. One of the sections of the road must be crawled on your knees for the purpose of the highest degree of repentance.

In 1917, the image of the Virgin Mary appeared on the field to three shepherd children. She appeared six times near the city of Fatima. The children told the adults, but they didn't believe it.

She revealed to them the "Three Secrets of Fatima" - three prophecies. The first two were published in 1941, the third in 2000. Here is the place where the image of the Mother of God appeared:

Candles can be purchased separately. They are in free access trays, take as much as you want. The donation is voluntary, although the price is quoted from 0.5 cents to 5 euros (350 rubles), depending on the diameter and height of the candle. The tables have slots for coins.

They are burned in installed ovens outside. Some people throw them, others put them in a special mount in the same place. It is customary to make a wish or pray by throwing a candle into the fire.

At this point, our sightseeing tour ended. I liked everything, however, few visited places, so there will be a reason to come back again.

First of all, Portugal impresses with its medieval architecture of castles, fortresses, cathedrals and monasteries. The engineering possibilities of construction of those times without modern technologies do not fit into my head.

Special thanks to my friend and her husband for a great time!

Helpful hints:

• To travel around Europe take Maestro bank cards.
• At the gift shops, ask if the purchase tax can be refunded.
• Cash is accepted in the markets.
• To obtain a visa, book a hostel without prepayment. Cancel your reservation upon receipt.
• Connect international roaming and internet abroad (if necessary). Find out the cost of a call to / from the selected country.
• I connected "Calls to Europe - 20 minutes" from Megafon for 390 rubles. It was enough to call my friend on arrival and departure.

• Excursions for everyone: 30 euros (2100 rubles).
• Gasoline and roads: 100 euros (7000 rubles).
• Souvenirs: 20 euros (1400 rubles).
• Products to Russia: 25 euros (1750 rubles). I bought olive oil, two bottles of wine, sea salt, local pastries and chocolate.
• The results came out to 12 250 rubles, excluding the flight.

Portugal has a wonderful climate and wonderful nature, swimming in the ocean, walks through the medieval quarters of modern cities, delicious food and quality wine.

To get to know this country, several travel options are possible: a beach vacation in the Algarve, a trip to cities and fortresses as part of a group or independently by car, and a trip to the island of Madeira. In these notes, there will be a story about a journey through the cities of Portugal as part of a group.

There are pros and cons to a group trip compared to individual tour by car. The main advantages are: lower compared to individual costs, the ability to get from good guide, a huge amount of quality and interesting information, not obligatory knowledge of the language. And the main disadvantage is the inability to be in the place you like for as long as you want. The main requirement for those choosing a group tour is discipline and tolerance. For those who choose a car, it is best to use the stories of Igor Pitovsky at www.ayda.ru. You can also recommend the reports of Yulia Ilyina and Anna Kozenkova at www.ayda.ru.

Information

It seems to me that the months of May – June and September – October are best for traveling in Portugal. Then this beautiful country can be seen in all its splendor. It is also not too hot at this time. Flight time on the Moscow - Lisbon route is 3.5 hours.

When arriving in Portugal, you must set the clock back 3 hours.

Passport control takes quite a long time, at least an hour, or even an hour and a half. The Portuguese border guards are polite but very unhurried. After the flight, this is a little annoying, but perhaps this is the last thing that can cause unpleasant emotions.

The airport is located 10-15 minutes from Lisbon. A taxi can be taken for 5 - 6 euros. But a bus is waiting for us and delivers in 25 minutes to the city of Estoril, where we are accommodated in the Saboia - 3 * hotel.

The cities of Estoril and Cascais are located along the coast and are resorts where wealthy people go on the eve of a hot summer. You can get there from Lisbon in 30 minutes on a comfortable train, reaching the Cais de Sudre station.

In Estoril and Cascais sandy beaches... So, if you come to Lisbon in the summer, then after exploring the city in Estoril, you can come to swim and dine in Cascais overlooking the ocean.

Anyway, I went swimming on April 29th. Feels like the water temperature is the same as in the Baltics at the end of June.

The largest Casino in the country is located in Estoril, surrounded by a beautiful park. But the most remarkable is the walk along the seafront along the promenade towards the city of Cascais.

Cascais is one of the most popular resort towns around Lisbon with several good beaches, a large marina and a promenade.

Our first excursion took place to the city of Evora, which is located 120 km. from Lisbon. The roads are beautiful, the guide tells a lot of interesting things, time flies by. Evora is a small pretty town, the streets of which are pleasant to wander, getting into the past and now into the present. For sightseeing of the city, 2 - 2 and a half hours are enough. Most interesting objects for inspection: the remains of the Roman temple of Diana, the park with the Vasco de Gama monument, in which peacocks walk, the Cathedral built in the early Gothic style and, of course, the Chapel of the relics, the inner walls of which are lined with several thousand skulls.

I will also speak about Portuguese cuisine especially, but I will note that in Evora we ate a local dish - the meat of a black pig.

Having visited Estoril and Cascais, we moved along the Atlantic coast and after a while stopped at observation platform overlooking the ocean. But this was only a prelude. Then, along the serpentine road, we climbed up to the westernmost point of Europe - Cape Roca. Cabo da Roca is located 140 meters above sea level. Below, the waves beat against the rocky coast and America is located 5000 km away. Crowds of tourists roam the cliffs, who, like me, strive to capture themselves against the backdrop of magnificent views. There are at least a hundred rockers near the lighthouse, for whom Cape Roca favorite place hangouts.

The next city to see is Sintra, the seat of the Portuguese kings. The city is located 40 km from Lisbon. You can get there either by car or by train. To inspect Sintra, in an amicable way, you need a whole day. Unfortunately, we did not manage to see everything, partly because of the huge number of tourists and, of course, lack of time.

The city of Sintra consists of a lower and an upper part. In the lower part there are gardens where you can find plants of the rarest species, the State Palace, narrow streets with 2 - 3-storey houses and souvenir shops, as well as small cozy cafes. And in the upper part of the city are the Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors. From there, a magnificent panorama of Sintra and its environs opens up. The upper part can be reached by taxi or on foot for about an hour, making an excellent walk.

For vacationers in Sintra, a special park de Marandes has been created where, while enjoying a walk, you can have a snack under the arches of trees in special parking lots. If you are in Portugal for more than two days, be sure to visit Sintra.

Lisbon

The capital of Portugal is Lisbon. It takes three full days to examine it.

History

Lisbon was also known to the Phoenicians, who called it Alis-Ubbo, which means "magic harbor". In the Middle Ages, the city was a powerful fortress; the Arabs tried to seize it. In 1147, the city was conquered from the Arabs by Afonso Henriques I.

After 100 years, the city becomes the capital of Portugal. At the time of the great discoveries, Lisbon was considered the richest city in Europe; he amazed his contemporaries with luxury and splendor.

However, in 1775 an earthquake unprecedented in Europe occurred here. It destroyed most of the city and claimed about 40 thousand lives. It seemed that the beauty and glory of Lisbon had faded forever. But there was a man of amazing abilities and energy - the Marquis of Pombal, who managed to rebuild Lisbon and in many respects returned it to its former splendor.

Lisbon - very beautiful city! Old houses, narrow streets, black and white pavements. Black and white stones are manually laid according to a certain pattern, the whole city is paved with them, while the patterns are different everywhere. In the light of the sun, Lisbon changes, it is very difficult to perceive it as a whole, it simply amazes with its diversity and contradiction, dazzles with matte pastels of houses and bright red tiled roofs. The web of steep and narrow medieval streets can lead you to a dead end, or it can lead you to quiet idyllic corners where canaries sing and water gurgles, where you simply forget about the noisy bustle of a large port city.

Conventionally, there are several particularly attractive areas in Lisbon:
Castle of St. George and the quarters of Alfama;
pl. Commerce, pl. Rossio, etc.
district Belen
Park of Nations (aka EXPO-98).

The Castle of St. George, a fortress recaptured by King Afonso Henriques from the Moors, rises above the city with its mighty walls. The fortress is located on a hill in the east of the city and is especially clearly visible from the central part of the city from the Praça de Figueira square, where a monument to King Joan 1 is erected.

You can get to the fortress on foot through the old, Moorish Alfama district of Lisbon, all the while climbing up the steep picturesque streets that take us to a completely different era.

You can stop at the medieval Cathedral, which was built on the site of a former mosque as a symbol of the victory of Christianity over the Moors.

Antique trams run in the Alfama area - both locals and tourists ride them. The most popular route is 28, which climbs the streets of Alfama, between numerous churches and beautiful old houses, the whole facades of which are lined with colored tiles - azulejo. With observation deck the fortress of São Jorge offers one of the best views of Lisbon.

Piazza Commercio (Praça do Comercio) is the triumphal entrance to Lisbon. It was here that the very first harbor of Lisbon was. In the center of the square there is a monument to King José and a triumphal arch. The central pedestrian street Rua Augusta starts from here.

Passing the triumphal arch and walking along the central pedestrian street Augusta, we find ourselves on the Rossio square, where once heretics were burned and bullfights were organized (the palace of the Inquisition was on the site of today's National Drama Theater before the fire). Boutiques, shops and cafes are located on Augusta Street.

We move up and to the left in the direction of travel we turn to the openwork metal tower of the Santa Justa lift, from which a magnificent view of the city opens. The Santa Justa lift takes you up to the Bairro Alto area. After walking just a few meters, we find ourselves at one of the government buildings guarded by guardsmen with sabers. At 18 o'clock, the ceremony of changing the guard takes place here with the lowering of the flag, a trumpeter, etc. An interesting sight.

District Belen

The main objects of inspection are: Zhironimush Monastery, Belen Tower, Monument to the Discoverers. Ideally, you can add the Presidential Palace, the Maritime Museum and the Carriage Museum.

Zhironimush monastery is the most impressive architectural structure Lisbon was built in the early 16th century to commemorate the opening of the route to India by Vasco da Gama. It is executed in all the splendor of the Manueline style. The spacious, sun-drenched courtyard of the monastery adorns beautiful fountains and exquisite stone carvings - all the pillars, balconies and walls are covered with fragments from the Bible or statues of saints. One of the rooms houses a historical kaleidoscope illustrating the history of the monastery since its founding in 1500, in parallel with the history of Portugal and world history. In the marble pantheon of the monastery, you can see the sarcophagi of Vasco da Gama and Manuel I.

Jeronimos Monastery, included in the list of UNESCO monuments. In front of the monastery, there are gardens leading to the Monument to the Discoverers. This monument was built today and is a tribute of contemporaries to their great past. In front of the monument there is a square on which a map of the world is engraved directly on the stones, indicating the places and dates that were discovered by the Portuguese, mainly in the 15th - 16th centuries. Not far from the monastery, on the banks of the Tagus River, is the Belém Tower, built in 1515 to guard the harbor of Lisbon. Once upon a time, caravels left here on distant voyages. In honor of this event, sea regattas are organized on the Tagus River.

The tower is another masterpiece in the Manueline force. It is hard to imagine that this openwork white castle on the water served simultaneously as a sentry fortress, a customs house and a prison.

You can climb the tower - it offers wonderful views, especially over the 25th April bridge and the entire Belen district.

Along Belén Street, you can walk to the Presidential Palace, the residence of the President of the Republic, and enter the former Royal Manege, which houses the collection of the Carriage Museum.

Tram 15 runs from the Belém district to the center. At each stop there is a stand indicating where the transport should go. The most famous museum in Lisbon is the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. The collection covers exhibits dating back to Egyptian, Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. This is followed by a magnificent exhibition of Islamic art; Chinese and Japanese halls and, finally, European art.

The April 25 Bridge, 2300 meters long, an outstanding achievement of modern engineering, was built in 1966. It connects Lisbon to the opposite bank of the Tagus River. On the high bank of the river, on a massive pedestal, there is a statue of Christ - the King with outstretched arms. He seems to embrace and bless the inhabitants of the city. Exactly the same statue exists in the city of Rio de Janeiro. In 1988 to world exhibition Expo 98, another bridge was built - the Vasco da Gama bridge, which is considered the longest in Europe. Its length is 17 kilometers. The end of this bridge is not visible. The bridge surrealistically goes beyond the horizon, merging with the silvery-gray surface of the water. The Park of Nations (Expo 98) is the youngest neighborhood in Lisbon.

Shopping is possible in the center of Vasco da Gama. Shops here for all tastes, from inexpensive C&A to boutiques. But basically, people come here to walk among the spacious alleys, fountains, and most importantly visit the Oceanarium, which is home to 450 species of flora and fauna from different seas. The park also serves as a venue for cultural events. Various exhibitions and concerts are held in modern pavilions, and, finally, the park simply disposes for a pleasant pastime in restaurants and in the commercial area.

A funicular runs over the entire territory of the Expo. It offers a breathtaking view of the entire Expocentre, especially the Vasco da Gama bridge.

One evening in Lisbon we attended a folklore evening with fado. Fado is traditional Portuguese music. The word itself means "destiny" in translation. Lyric, slightly sad songs are performed to the accompaniment of a 12-string guitar. The main thing in fado is not the voice, but the emotional pressure, so familiar to the Russian heart.

From Lisbon we moved north towards the city of Quimbra.

For some reason, we did not stop at the city of Mafra, which is located 20 km from Sintra. The guide notes that the city lies in a crevice between the hills and its main dominant feature is a majestic 40,000 m2 monastery. But on the other hand, having driven further north, we visited the city of Obidos. Obidos - medieval town- fortress, built in the 12th century. It is a picturesque complex of whitewashed houses with red tiled roofs and narrow medieval streets surrounded by fortress walls. You can walk around the city along the walls. Souvenirs are sold in the streets. Of particular interest is the cherry liqueur, which can be purchased after the tasting. It takes an hour and a half to two hours to inspect Offended.

Further our way lay in Alkobasa, where you can see the monastery of the 12th century. We did not get inside, since it was May 1 and it turns out that not all state museums were open. I managed to inspect very interesting museum designs with wax figures and modern clothing collections. In principle, Alkobasa is an alternative object for inspection.

Batalha

Batalha is home to the Monastery of Santa Maria da Victoria, a masterpiece of the Portuguese gothic architecture built by King Joan 1 to commemorate the victory over the Spaniards in 1385. This monastery is a striking example of the Gothic architecture of Portugal with "Manueline" elements. We were also unable to see the courtyard on the occasion of the 1st of May. But the monastery is majestic on the outside as well. An hour and a half is enough to examine it.

At dawn

It is declared in guidebooks as a fishing village. Nazare is a strategic location. Surely, if you rest in the Algarve province located in the south, you will most likely not be able to see Portugal. And in Nazar you can swim and sunbathe on a sandy beach, and if you rent a car, you can go around many beautiful and most interesting places... You can live in Nazar in apartments, eat seafood in numerous beach cafes and restaurants.

We climbed to the upper part, on the rock, and examined the chapel in honor of the Holy Virgin, who, according to legend, saved a rider who almost fell off a cliff in pursuit of a deer. An interesting part is the altar part, where you can go (!) And examine the figurine of the Holy Virgin Mary, carved according to legend by Joseph.

On the square, colorful old fishermen in colorful clothes sell dried fruits. The top of the mountain overlooks the sandy beach and the ocean.

Fatima

The small town is located east of Batalha. It is a world famous center of Catholic pilgrimage, where, according to legend, three local children witnessed the appearance of the Holy Virgin Mary. In the center of the city are the Church of the Holy Virgin in Fatima, the chapel and the tree under which the Holy Virgin Mary appeared to children, as well as a huge square, much larger than the square of St. Peter in the Vatican. Church services and organ music are broadcast throughout the square. True believers on their knees overcome the path to the Temple along a special marble path. Tens of thousands of pilgrims come to Fatima with requests and gratitude. Numerous processions are held here. Even if you are not religious, this place is worth visiting, it will not seem boring. For those who enjoy pilgrimage tourism, visit www.Fatima.org.

Quimbra

Since we arrived in the evening, we spent the night in a decent hotel Almedina 3 *.

The city's main attractions are the University, the Santa Cruz Monastery and Portugal in Miniature. One day is enough to see Quimbra.

The University of Quimbra is one of the oldest in Europe. Its history begins in the 12th century. The university was moved to Lisbon, returned back, and in 1537 he finally settled in Cuimbra. There are several museums inside the building, and a beautiful panorama of the city and the river opens from the terrace. The library is especially impressive. Lectures are held in a building with a long history.

Quimbra's whole life is centered around the university, and students still define its appearance. Many of them wear traditional black suits and black raincoats with colored ribbons. It is very similar to the fact that J. Rawlings, when writing "Harry Potter" used the image of Quimbra and her students.

"Portugal in Miniature" is a small park in which all the main styles of Portuguese architecture are collected in a reduced form. You can climb into toy houses or take pictures next to them. It is believed that this is mainly entertainment for children, but adults will also enjoy the walk.

From Quimbra we went towards the city of Porto, but on the way we stopped at several other places.

In the beginning, the Portuguese "Calvary". The same can be found in Spain and Italy. A picturesque place in which you need to climb the stairs all the time. You can stop at the "stations" with images of the Calvary sufferings of Christ. When the stations end, the most difficult climb begins, but it lies next to the fountains, and the church crowns the path, where the faithful rest and pray a little. For us, everything was according to a lightweight program. Instead of climbing, we went down.

30 km from Quimbra is thermal spa Luzo with a source. And just above the magical park and the Busako estate. This seems to be a place marked with special grace. The palace is currently a 5 * hotel. This is where you need to go for at least 2-3 days, if you don’t regret the money.

These places are also famous for the fact that in local restaurants (nowhere else in the country) they cook leitau da barada (suckling pig) for lunch or dinner. It was served to us with Spumante. The taste is "spicy". You can swallow your tongue.

Porto

It is the second largest city in Portugal, the birthplace of the famous Henry the Navigator. It takes at least 2 days to examine it. The city was not destroyed by an earthquake, and houses not only of the 18th, but also of the 17th and 16th centuries have been preserved there. Surprisingly, people still live in most of them. The historic center with the embankment is a real medieval town. To understand the city, you must definitely walk through it on foot.

The Clerigos Tower offers panoramic views of the city. Climbing on it, you can see how to build a route correctly. Cathedral Behold, reminiscent of a fortress, the Bishop's Palace, the pompous building of the stock exchange, the private church of the Franciscans, striking in its inner wealth. You can walk along the charming promenade. From here you can see the boats laden with port wine and the picturesque facades of medieval houses with linen blowing in the wind.

During our excursion, a historical film was filmed on the embankment. Full immersion in the 18th century. No decorations needed. If you are in Porto and happen to walk along the embankment, then moving in the direction of the funicular, look into the institution that is most in the direction of travel (located closest to the funicular). In the cellar, you will be offered a wonderful sausage, which, judging by the advertising, has been produced for 500 years and you will drink it all down with port and wonderful Portuguese wine. And then, when the devil himself is no longer a brother, you can take a boat trip along the Douro River. The route will lie under 7 bridges connecting Porto and the Gaia area, where the famous port storage and wine tasting cellars are located.

Personally, it seems to me that Porto is somewhat similar to the capital of Amber ("The Chronicles of Amber" by R. Zelazny).

Portugal - Porto - Port. Consonant words with the same root. In our country, port is notorious. Many people remember "Agdam", "Three Sevens", a drink affectionately called "port bag", bought as an alternative to vodka mainly for women during the Soviet period. Connoisseurs will remember the Crimean port, which has a good taste, but is still not a noble Port wine proper, since grapes for its production must be grown in a strictly controlled area.

Vinio de porto (port) is used as an aperitif or for good conversation. Despite the fact that fortified wine is easy to drink port wine, the head does not hurt after it.

In fact, we started our acquaintance with port in Domodedovo, having purchased a bottle for 19 euros. Everything that I then tried on the route was worse for my taste. And only tasting in Gaia's cellars partially restored the "status quo". In a nutshell, either you have to buy a drink with long aging: 10, 20, 30, 50 years, or "vintage" when good year for the harvest and the port ages right in the bottle. Port wine can cost from 15 to 100 euros and more. From the city of Porto we went to Guimaraes and Braga.

Guimaraes

It is located 50 km north of Porto and is considered the "cradle of Portugal". The first king, Afonso Henriques 1, was born in this city. The city has picturesque streets, medieval castle- fortress. On Oliver Square, there is a museum of private collections. I found the most interesting exhibit depicting the Holy Trinity. God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit were depicted not on canvas (which is quite usual), but in sculpture.

Braga

It seemed to us that the best thing in Braga is the "Santa Barbara" garden. Early May. We've only got the weed out. Flowers, even wild ones, are still few. And in Santa Barbara, the rose garden is in full bloom ...

We had to fly to Moscow from Lisbon. Porto, Braga and Guimaraes are the extreme northern points of our trip. Returning to Lisbon, we stopped in the city of Tomar.

Tomar

For Tomar, I would have been ready to sacrifice Guimaraes and Braga, but fortunately I did not have to do this. Tomar was the seat of the Knights Templar. The Templars expelled from France settled in Portugal. We were only a couple of hours, we need at least four, and even better, down in the old part of the city to spend the night, and in the morning climb to the fortress of the Knights of the Cross. The order was one of the richest in Europe and rivaled monarchs in wealth. You understand this when you get into the fortress. It is graceful, beautiful, huge, and inside it there are monuments of world importance: a window in the "Manueline" style and a central hall - a temple into which the knights entered through the gate right on horseback.

We traveled 1400 km by bus, on roads with lush forest vegetation, very scenic spots Portugal. We did not see landfills, construction sites, along the entire route we did not meet smoking chimneys and not a single industrial enterprise. But, of course, this was not all that the beautiful country of Portugal has to offer.

We have not been to the Portuguese bullfight, which is different from the Spanish one and which, according to the testimony of other travelers, is arranged near Lisbon in the village of Alcochete on the opposite bank of the Tagus River on Saturdays. We have not been on a safari. At 120 km from Lisbon, in the western part of the Alentejo, there is Badoca Park, where you can admire the life of wild animals: giraffes, crocodiles, tigers, like in Africa. And 15 km from Fatima are the caves of St. Antonio. The guide says that each cave is a palace, created by nature and hidden deep in the earth.

There are other great places, reviews of which can be found at www.ayda.ru. And there is a reason to return to Portugal again.

Information

The Portuguese are hospitable and friendly people. It is worth learning just a few phrases to show at least minimal politeness.

Bon dia (bon dia) - good morning(until 12.00)
Bon Tarde - good afternoon (after 12.00)
Obrigado (obrigado) - thank you, thank you (if a man speaks)
Obrigada (obrigada) - thank you (if a woman speaks)
Fasch favor a conto - please, bill.
Suko del orange naturale is a natural orange juice.

The Portuguese are great food specialists. Portuguese cuisine is a combination of meat and fish.

On the route we were fed mainly with dishes from the provinces where we were. Sometimes it was "an unforgettable culinary experience". Sometimes it was just tasty, and sometimes (much less often) it was just satisfying. But the principle was always observed: eat and (surprisingly) drink as much as you can. Red and white wine for lunch (dinner), however, like the food itself, has always been offered in unlimited quantities. A typical Portuguese lunch includes: cold appetizers (sausage, olives with soft bread), first course (usually puree soup), main course, dessert, coffee (sometimes also fruit)

And your own dishes, for example, seafood, are best tried in establishments with the indication "Marisqueira". ("Gambosh" - king prawns.)

Portuguese wine is light and full-bodied. All wines are of very high quality. Even inexpensive table wines do not taste sour. But if you are afraid to make a mistake, then buy wines from the province of Alentejo.

Everybody writes about baked goods and pastry shops. Indeed, this is some kind of fantastic yummy. Moreover, the freshest pastries could be tasted in any place along the entire route. As you saw the pastry shop, stop by and try the Portuguese pie. This is a puff pastry basket sprinkled with powdered sugar and ground cinnamon. In Portugal, very tasty and juicy oranges (1 kg costs 1 euro). Moroccan oranges don't hold a candle to them. Good cheeses and delicious bread.

Souvenirs: port wine, Portuguese wine, cork products, pottery with a Portuguese rooster.

Privalov Andrey Vladimirovich
17/05/2006 19:43

The opinion of tourists may not coincide with the opinion of the editorial board.

Route "Classics of Portugal" will allow YOU to see this wonderful country in all its splendor and diversity. As well as « travel icons » Portugal, such as: , Sintra, Cabo de Roca, Tomar, Batalha and Alkobasa, we have included other, less known, but very attractive places: border castles, historical villages, wonderful landscapes of the Douro River, Traz-azh-Montes region, natural park in the Serra da Estrela mountains.

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights

Arrival and departure: Lisbon. Portela airport

Overnight places: Sintra, Obidos, Coimbra, Vila Nova de Gaia (Porto), Meda area, Covilha, Lisbon (1 night everywhere)

Total length of the route: about 1300 km

Budget from 3000 € for two

Places to visit along the route:
Sintra * and Paço Real; Pena Palace; Sintra-Cascais Natural Park; Cape Stone(Cabo da Roca); Masa beach and Azenyas do Mar; Ericeira; Obidos; Alkobasa(Monastery*); Batalha(Monastery*); Tomar(Monastery of Christ *); Coimbra(University *); Aveiro; Porto *; Guimaraes *; wine-growing landscape along the Douro river *; castles and “historic” villages in Portugal; Nature Park Serra da Estrela and Mount Torre, the highest point of mainland Portugal; Almourol castle; Lisbon(Jeronimos Monastery * in the Belém region).
Note: cities and objects marked with an asterisk are included in the UNESCO list of "World Heritage of Humanity".
The budget includes the costs of purchasing visas , two tickets for the plane Moscow-Lisbon-Moscow (the maximum price of an economy class ticket is about 600 €), rent of a compact class car with manual transmission for 6 days (from 250 €), accommodation in a double room with breakfast (350 € - 700 €), food (400 € -560 €), petrol and toll road costs, entrance tickets (150 €). The indicated amounts are enough for a budget or comfortable trip. Traveling in “Lux” class will cost more.

Daily program

Arrival in Lisbon on Saturday afternoon. After completing all the border crossing formalities, go to the rental desk, where you will receive the car for your reservation.

When booking a car, pay attention to the amount of the deductible (the amount that is blocked on the card in case of an accident / damage to the car due to the fault of the client). If it significantly exceeds the cost of renting a car, then it makes sense to take out insurance against all risks. IMPORTANT: Standard third-party insurance does not apply to glass broken by young vandals and rubber. For example, replacing the window panes will cost 200 € (for a Peugeot 207 class car).

We load our things into the car and leave from Lisbon airport to a hotel in Sintra, where we will spend the first romantic night in Portugal.

HOTELS with parking in SINTRA

LUX (> 100€)
»»» Tivoli Palacio de Seteais *****
Address: Rua Barbosa do Bocage, 8P - 2710-517 Sintra
»»» Sintra Boutique Hotel ****
Address: Rua Visconde De Monserrate nº48, 2710-591 Sintra

COMFORT (50 -100€)
»»» Casa da Pendoa
Address: Rua Da Pendôa, 17, 2710-610 Sintra

ECONOMY (< 50€)
»»» Ibis Lisboa Sintra **
Address: Avenida Raul Solnado, 23 - 23A, 2710-162 Sintra (10 minutes by car to the historic center).

After checking into the hotel, we go for a walk to breathe the air of the historical part of Sintra. If you manage to be in Sintra before 6 pm, then you can have time to enter Royal Palace (Paço Real / Palácio Nacional de Sintra). The palace is open until 19.00, but the ticket office closes at 18.30. If you are unlucky, you can be content with an external inspection and a walk through the streets of the town. The two chimneys above the palace kitchen and the stonework of the window frames (Manueline) give a general idea of ​​some of the features of Portuguese architecture. Take a moment to experience Portuguese pastries. Fortunately, Sintra, like other cities in Portugal, has its own unique recipe called “ keyjadash da Sintra "(Queijadas). A sweet delicacy made from egg yolk and fresh cheese with the addition of cinnamon. You can try authentic "caijada" in the confectionery pastelаría Piriquita or in the tea salon "Factory dash Keijadash da Sapa"(Fábrica das Queijadas da Sapa, Volta do Duche, 12), where sweet is accompanied by a wonderful view of the Royal Palace.
As you walk through the city, pay attention to "Hotel Lawrence"(Hotel Lawrence) - the first hotel in the Iberian Peninsula (opened in 1780). At one time, Lord Byron (the famous romantic poet) stayed here.

You can dine in the city or in the hotel restaurant.
One of the options is Cantinho de S. Pedro. Address: Praça D. Fernando II-18 P - 2710-483 Sintra
Site www.cantinhosaopedro.com
Prices: Lunch / Dinner of the day (multi-course set): 19 € / 30 €
Order from the menu: 30 € (average cost). Price range: 12 € / 45 €
Cuisine type: Traditional Portuguese.
*Note: The Cantinho de São Pedro restaurant is located in a lively square, surrounded by other food and beverage outlets and shops. The facade of the restaurant and bar are decorated in a rustic style. The dining area is spread over two floors and is decorated in full accordance with regional traditions.

ATTENTION! Catering establishments in Portugal operate according to the following schedule:
lunch - 12.30 to 14.30, less often until 15.00;
dinner - 19.30 to 21.30, less often until 22 ( big cities and international hotel chains).

It is worth going to bed early, since the program of the 2nd day is very intense, in order to fully complete it, you will have to get up at 8.00 in the morning.

SINTRA- one of the most famous towns in Portugal, located 30 km from Lisbon. Medieval historical Center perfectly preserved. The urban structures are so well blended into the surrounding landscape that Sintra has received the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the rare category of "cultural landscape".

In the past, there was a royal residence on the southern slope of the mountain range, and for several centuries the town played the role of the "summer capital of Portugal". The status determined the size and nature of the buildings, which are distinguished by grandeur and solemnity. City palace(O Palácio da Vila) has a strange association with launch pad: The chimneys sticking out above the kitchen roof look like rocket fairings. The castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) offers vast panoramas of the entire mountain range (serra) of Sintra. In good weather, the ocean is clearly visible from here, which is located a few kilometers south and west of the observation deck. Inimitable Pena Palace(Palácio da Pena) nestled on one of the peaks near Sintra is a true icon of the romantic style and the most famous example of Portuguese architecture in the world.
But that is not all. There are many other attractions in the Sintra area that cannot be ignored: Quinta(palace and park) Regaleira(A Quinta da Regaleira), Monserrate Palace(Palácio de Monserrate), Sintra Museum(Museu de Sintra). The latter features contemporary art from the Berardo collection (colecção Berardo). Having succumbed to the magic of the city, do not forget about the sweet: Cajada Sintra(queijada) and traveseiro(Travesseiro de Sintra) are simply divine.
Sintra is famous as the most romantic city in Portugal and a place full of mysticism, where famous poets and artists found inspiration. This is where the idea for the famous Child Harold, a poem written by Lord Byron, was born.

In principle, there is nothing difficult, you need a strong desire to see this beautiful country, which we back up with some technical details and knowledge and go ahead, towards the fresh Atlantic wind, sardines, wine and natural beauty.

As usual, this article is a simple algorithm or step-by-step instruction easy to organize travel to Portugal for yourself and friends without contacting intermediaries and without leaving the page of this site. I do not deny the need for travel agencies, they are often the ones who do a significant part of the organization work for us - for this we pay additional money. But believe me Portugal the country to which it is better to organize a trip on your own and be alone with the most beautiful places the extreme west of the southwest of Europe.

Obtaining a Schengen visa

We start with a Schengen visa and only then do the rest of the details. If you still don't have a visa, see the article on how to get one without additional costs. Schengen visa. Receiving instructions... And don't forget about insurance. You can fly to Portugal with a Schengen visa from any country. For example, we traveled with a Spanish visa, and the first entry was exactly at Portugal... There will be no questions. From June 11, 2017 citizens of Ukraine do NOT need a Schengen visa to visit EU countries with a biometric passport.

We make a route in Portugal

Portugal, despite its seeming diminutiveness, has something to offer even the most sophisticated tourist-traveler. I have traveled around Vintage hilly Lisbon with a centuries-old history, which, as if specially twisted right on the narrow streets, is well complemented by the magical landscapes of the coast and Algarve beaches.

Whatever you choose - Algarve, the center of the country with river valleyDouro(Duero, Douro) Porto and surroundings, you should definitely include Lisbon and devote at least two full days to it, and preferably three or four.

For example, independent travel for 10-14 days in Portugal could be like that. 2-3 days in Lisbon... Then we set aside one day for a tourist, but very much with a stop at the extreme western point of Europe - Cape Roca... Moving south Portugal- v Algarve province and a week beach holiday in Lagos with excursions to Cape Sao Vincente - the extreme southwestern point of Europe and the surrounding the beaches, then move for the remaining time to Albufeira and travel along the surrounding most beautiful beaches south of the country.

It is worth remembering that Portugal- this is the country you need to travel by car, although there are train + bus options. You should not linger in one place, as there are a lot of beautiful locations - then you will regret not having seen much. Portugal is NOT a classic beach holiday country - there are endlessly many beaches, but they are all so different and beautiful that it is simply impossible to sit still.

Detail our route through Portugal can be found in the Routes section:

Portugal weather: Lisbon and Algarve Coast

Winter in Lisbon rainy at temperatures in the region of +12 Celsius, south of the Algarve- comfortable +20 Celsius, of course you can't swim in January, but walking along the coast is very comfortable. Peak season coincides with the holiday period for Europeans and the most comfortable weather for swimming and sunbathing - mid-July-August. In July-August, the most high prices and the largest number of people - it is better to book accommodation for this time in advance, good options diverge three months before the start of the vacation. The water temperature in July-August is 18-22, depending on the beach. Warmest beach in the Algarve was found by us in the city Lagos, wrote in detail about the rest in this place in his report.

September is also suitable for swimming, recreation and travel, in winter, spring and mid-autumn it is very cool to travel around the country - low prices, comfortable weather in the south, it can rain in Lisbon and further north, but not more often than in our latitudes.

We buy an air flight to Portugal

We flew to Portugal from Kiev. The most convenient way to get there are such airlines - Lufthansa, Air France or KLM with a stopover, since 2018 WizzAir has been flying to Lisbon without a stopover. In my case, it was a flight Kiev-Paris-Lisbon (Air France) on the way there and Lisbon-Amsterdam-Kiev (KLM) on the way home. In both cases, I deliberately planned a long docking - 12 hours to be able to walk around and Amsterdam respectively. It is also convenient to get to Porto or Lisbon from cities in Poland, Germany or the Baltics with Ryanair or easyJet. In this case, the flight will cost no more than 100 euros in both directions.

We book accommodation in Portugal according to our capabilities

For the first trip, we book hotels or apartments for 3-5 days in Booking.com - Lisbon and from 4 to 6 days for Algarve coast ... I lived near the city of Lagoa - the place is in the middle Algarve coast. Lagoa ideal for radial excursions in the surrounding area. Many people like more partying Lagos or Albufeira.

About the hotel in which we lived in the town of Lagoa I wrote a separate review with photo- we liked it very much, the ideal ratio of price-quality-location-location-friendliness of the owner. Recommended for active travelers who like to return to comfortable conditions... Will definitely go back there again.

How to save on housing in Portugal

Economy option for family or company traveling to rent an apartment. On Booking about 2000 offers of apartments in Lisbon .

We book a rental car

Many people do without a car, a matter of taste, but in my opinion, having a car in Portugal makes it much easier to explore the local beauty. If the goal is to lie on the beach and go on a couple of excursions from Lisbon, then you can do without a car.

A car is your transfer from the airport to your holiday destination and a place for storing and transporting your luggage. Parking on Algarve coast almost everywhere free, in Lisbon will cost no more than 10 euros per day. You should not choose expensive underground parking, it is better to ask the hotel about the location of an inexpensive private parking - prepare a phrase in English and ask for the parking address. You can easily find further on the navigator in a smartphone or paper map.

A long and ineffective way to rent a car is to visit the airport website at Lisbon, see which rental offices are located there and choose one of them by the selection method. Short and effective - use the car booking service. It's as simple as renting an apartment or hotel and can be done on the website Rentalcars.com- just select the country and city in which you need a car. Then choose a typewriter and easily and naturally just as we did.

You can read more about how to rent a car abroad in the article: Car rental abroad

Prices, budget of travel to Portugal

For those who have more money than time, this point traditionally does not apply. All the rest I advise you to read.

The travel budget consists of the cost of the flight, the cost of accommodation, the cost of renting a car, and the cost of food. We count together and remember about statistical errors, so we add 10% -20% to the amount in case of unforeseen expenses or buying souvenirs.

Airfare to Lisbon- it's good if the flight costs no more than 150-200 Euro round trip. You can always look at the calendar low prices on aviasales.

Budget housing costs 30-50 euros per day for Double Room, more expensive housing with a pool - 70-100 Euro per day for two.

Car rent- 30 euros per day, car insurance - another 10 euros per day and depends on the type of insurance, fuel - European prices, we spent about 70 euros in 10 days, having traveled about 700 km. To book a car, we used the site rentalcars.com- reliable plus good price, but from goodness they do not seek good, you yourself know.

Total it turns out about 800-1000 euros, including the flight, per person per season, in winter and spring it is cheaper. Remember that Portugal is good at all times, including the winter months. Nutrition... Breakfast is usually included in the hotel price, and lunch can cost between € 7 and € 20 per person, including local wine, depending on the location.

The money saved is worth spending on a port or a light Portuguese rosé. Don't like wine, give it to your friends!

Agree, it is unlikely that an organized and not the most intense tour for 10 days will cost less. Freedom is often also quite economical.

Useful links when planning your travels

Aviasales - budget flights around the world

Hotels Combined (RoomGuru)- allows you to save up to 20% on hotel and apartment reservations as it searches all popular booking sites, including Agoda, Booking.com and others, offering the best-priced options

Booking.com- a familiar and convenient site for searching and booking accommodation around the world

Airbnb- the world leader in the search for apartments and apartments for travel, register using the link and get a cash bonus on your first booking

Rentalcars- a site for searching and renting cars around the world with the possibility of free cancellation

You will be transferred from the airport to the hotel and vice versa. The driver will meet you with a sign with your name and take you to your destination. There is no need to specify the route - everything is done online in advance. It is often cheaper than ordering a taxi on the spot and is very convenient. Knowledge of English language not necessary.

Best online service sales of insurance services from leading insurance companies

– Misto-travel is the only online sales operator online tours which has proven itself well

Traveling by car Atlantic coast Portugal following the westerly wind of change
Portugal has an endless variety of leisure options. You can laze on the southern beaches or spend hours in art galleries Lisbon... You can grow a liver with collectible wines, ports, muscatel and green wine in the Douro Valley, or enjoy endless fields and simple cuisine Alentejo... You can climb the mountain Serra da Estrela, on which delicious sheep's cheese is made, and then slide down from its snowy peak on skis or snowboard. But there is another great option: take a trip along west coast from Cascais to Nazare.
This route is for those who love to admire the ocean waves, high cliffs, wild beaches and lighthouses - solemn symbols of romance and determination.
Route: Cascais - Magoita - Ericeira - Santa Cruz - Peniche - Nazare - Mafra - 469 km
Duration: 3 days

The journey begins in Lisbon. Stay in this city for a couple of days:

Now you can get into your car and drive along the scenic highway in Cascais... The freeway got u local residents title "Margin"(from the Portuguese word margem - translated as "edge", "fields of the book" or, in this case, "coast")- due to the fact that it runs along the very edge of the water: first along the banks of the Tagus River, to the place of its confluence with Atlantic Ocean, and further, towards interesting discoveries.

Cascais

It is worth spending half an hour to explore the rock known as Boca do Inferno(can be conditionally translated as "Mouth of Hell")... It is very close to the Cascais Yacht Club, less than a kilometer from lighthouse Santa Marta... Waves burst into a hole in the sheer cliff with a roar. Striking the rocks, the salt water churns into a white foam, swirls in whirlpools and rushes back into the ocean. Looking at this riot of the elements, you do not understand why the rocks have not yet been torn apart by the oncoming waves, why the falling stones have not filled this hellish throat. There are many signs in the city that guide the way to this imposing creation of nature. Parking is free, and for those who are especially hungry, there are a couple of restaurants and cafes nearby.
If you follow the route, you can see the majestic lighthouse Farol da guia- one of the first, built in the 18th century with government money. Nowadays, the buildings adjacent to the lighthouse house the services of the Ministry of National Defense, so whether you can get through the fence and touch the warm stones of the brown-cream tower is a big question.
Further, the road leads straight to Guinshu beach and will begin to zip along the mountain serpentine, climbing higher and higher. On the left is the lighthouse on Cabo da roca, the westernmost point of the continent. This article is useful for planning a trip:

Further extends Praia das Maçãs - "Beach of Apples"... According to local legend, the name appeared due to the fact that a river flowing into the ocean, flowing among orchards, often brings apples that have fallen into the water to the ocean. It is difficult to vouch for the veracity of this legend, because the local apple groves are no longer what they used to be and are reluctant to share their harvest with the ocean, but I want to believe in this fairy tale, because the analogy with apples - strong, juicy, ruddy, healthy - is very suitable this beach. It is spacious, with a very wide sand line and easy entry into the water. High hills protect from the wind, waves roll to the shore gently and unhurriedly - in a word, an almost ideal picture for relaxation.

Magoit

A tiny beach located far from all large and even small cities. Despite its remoteness, it enjoys the warm and strong love of tourists and locals. The Portuguese love to hold surfing competitions here, especially bodyboarding (a type of surfing when an athlete does not stand with his feet on the board, but rolls, lying on it with his chest and stomach). For tourists, there is a wonderful boardwalk leading over the sand dunes between low pines. This comfortable trail allows you to walk under the spreading trees.
Be sure to pay tribute to the food in the local restaurant. Dunamar (Ramp Beach Magoito) stuck to high cliff: its terrace offers a beautiful view of the ocean, the dishes are worthy of the most flattering reviews, and the prices are quite democratic. Here you can also taste rare shellfish percebes, and any snacks from sea creeps, and grilled fish, and finish all the coffee with sweets.

One of the most picturesque and famous places on the west coast of Portugal, it has existed for nearly 800 years. Now it is the popularly beloved Portuguese resort. Lisbon residents and residents of other surrounding cities flock here on weekends and holidays to sunbathe on great beaches... Total in Ericeira 10 official beaches, best suited for swimming praia dos Pescadores (in the very center of the city) and praia da Sul (slightly south of the center), and Foz do Lizandro- probably the most convenient, although it is not located in Ericeira itself. It is about 3 km to it, which by car you will pass in 2-3 minutes, by bicycle - in 5-7, and on foot you will spend no more than half an hour. There are cafes, restaurants, a surf school, and a huge beach, but the most interesting thing is that a river flows into the ocean here, and lovers of calm water can spend time on its banks without going to ocean waves.
Those who like to admire the ocean are advised to walk along the beaches in Ericeira Algodio and São Sebastião, and then spend the evening in one of the restaurants for which Ericeira is so famous - thanks to the excellent quality of food, solid portions and quite affordable prices, which cannot be found in the capital. For example, in Ribas (Rua Mendes, 32)- seafood, Tik-Tapas (Rua 5 de Outubro n.7)- be sure to pay attention to the local lamb or El-Rei (Rua Capitão João Lopes, nº 14)- fish, meat, drinks, excellent service and a wonderful view of the sunset ocean.
Ericeira gained worldwide fame thanks to surfing. The city received the title of World Surfing Reserve ("World Surfing Reserve"), it is considered the main surf resort in Europe and the second in the world, second only to California. The main surf beaches of Ericeira for professionals are Ribeira-da-Ilhas and Coxos, and beginners and "continuing" souls do not like Foz do Lizandro... Therefore, if you want to gawk at the muscular guys and flexible girls cutting the waves on light boards, you should definitely look into Ericeira.
If you are planning to spend the night in Ericeira, keep in mind that the city is a resort city filled with people, so it is better to book a room in advance. The most the best hotel considered 4 * Vila gale ericeira, but also quite a few hostels, surf camps and 2 * hotels. For example, you can try your luck in the open just a year ago guest house Blue ocean- it has numbers for any wallet.

Santa Cruz

Moving further west, we find ourselves in the absolutely amazing town of Santa Cruz. There are several beautiful beaches for swimming: white sand, waves that are quite calm for the ocean, sun and a beautiful view of the boundless waters and picturesque cliffs. Choose any of the beaches: they smoothly merge into one another, so you can treat this as choosing a place for your towel on a vast expanse of white sand. Residents of all surrounding cities come to relax on this beach, and this is really the right choice.
The most amazing thing is that, except for the locals, almost no one knows about Santa Cruz. In addition to the beaches, here you can enjoy views of the picturesque cliffs, a tall white tower above the embankment, or turn to the local museum of local lore, operating in the premises of an old water mill. Also, very close to Santa Cruz there is an airfield for small 1-2-seater aircraft, and you can admire their takeoffs and landings.

Peniches

The city of Peniche is located on a promontory in the ocean, so it is always windy and fresh here. Climb the cliff with the lighthouse, circle the entire promontory to admire the beaches. By the way, there are also many surfers here, and the beach Supertubos has long been the venue for international competitions. It is huge, stretches for several kilometers, and with a good wind, the waves here really curl up into large pipes, inside which skillful surfers love to fly so much.
However, even if a person is not inclined to surf, he should pay attention to this city. Especially if you find yourself here in February, during the carnival period: in Peniche, the street procession is one of the most colorful in this part of Portugal.

Admire the old fortress and the working fishing port, or even take a ship to the nearby Berlengash Island- wild and picturesque, with a special natural world, in which Portuguese scientists constantly find a breeding ground for new discoveries. Cruise ships companies Julius and Nevada as well as ferry Viamar depart from the port of Peniche three times a day in summer (at 9.30, 11.30 and 17.30), the rest of the navigation (from September 15 to May 15)- only once a day, at 10.00, and returns back at 16.30 on the same day. Cruise costs from 18 euros in summer and 10-15 euros in low season. If you wish, you can stay and spend the night on the island in the fort, converted into a hotel - this will probably be a special and very unusual pastime, given the island's seclusion.

Perhaps Nazare is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal. If it had not been separated from the capital by 130 km, it would have long been the main tourist center country, and so far remains a place for the knowledgeable and the elite.
Inspection of the city must begin with the so-called Sitio- places on a high cliff, from where a stunning view of the city, the beach and the boundless ocean opens up. Here is the Nazaré lighthouse, and it was from here that surfers filmed the feat of the Hawaiian Garrett McNamara, who conquered a record wave of almost 30 meters in Nazar. Then go down the funicular, walk along the embankment, buy dried fish from fishermen, and from grandmothers with baskets - nuts, the main delicacy of Nazaré.
If you want to dine - go to one of the many cafes or restaurants on the huge promenade, or turn into a small square, which, among other restaurants, is famous for its seafood dishes. O Casalinho (Praça Sousa Oliveira, 6)... Both the interior and the kitchen in it are beyond praise.
Linger in Nazar for the night to watch one of nature's most scenic rides, the hot sun sizzle into the ocean, pouring liquid red gold over the water and sky. Seagulls cry out to mourn the past day, but even they, unreasonable, know: tomorrow the sun will rise over Portugal again, and again thousands of eyes will look at the turbulent waves of the entire western coast of Portugal, from Cascais to Nazare.
If you want to spend the night in Nazar, then you should pay attention to the design hotel Magic or eclectic Pensao-Restaurante Ribamar .

Returning to Lisbon, be sure to take some time to its suburbs, at least Mafra. The only and main attraction in the city is a huge Royal Palace, built at the beginning of the 18th century. The palace was erected, literally, by the whole world. Pink marble was transported 12 kilometers from Lameiras, Peru Pinheira, Montelavar; 92 bells, the largest selection in the world, were cast in Antwerp; the statues of the saints were made by Italian sculptors from Carrara marble, and 6 organs from Brazilian wood on the antiphons of the palace church were built by the French military during the occupation of Mafra from 1792 to 1807. Long time over musical instruments restoration work was carried out, and on June 2, 2012, they played together again, like two centuries ago. The opening concert was attended by the famous tenor Placido Domingo, as a sponsor.
The huge royal library, located right there in the palace, is said to be guarded from harmful insects by bats. And that's not all ... The palace has 1200 halls, 4,700 doors and windows, and about 160 staircases. In short, the Mafra Royal Palace is a huge outstanding wonder not to be missed. The palace is open from Wednesday to Friday from 10.00 to 16:45, in winter (from November 1) a break is 13.00 - 14.00.
By the way, on the way back from Portugal to Russia, we advise you to read the work of Nobel laureate Jose Saramago "Memories of a Monastery" to refresh the memories of a wonderful journey and a magnificent palace.