Picturesque Portugal
In Portugal, the further inland you travel, the fewer tourists you'll find. There you can experience countryside rich in vineyards and olive groves and sample local, honest food. The capital, Lisbon, is one of Europe's most enjoyable cities with tree-lined avenues graced by Art Nouveau buildings and street cafes. Enjoy...
You will make friends for life and get to know the off the beaten track places:
an experience a package holiday will never provide.

Marvao (the region highlighted on the map) – A great walk with fantastic panoramic views, wonderful countryside and interesting historical sites. Between Castelo de Vide and Portalegre, and only a few kilometres from Spain, stands the peaceful town of Marvão, on the highest crest of the Serra de São Mamede. The hilltop village of Ammaia, as it was then known, owes its current name to the fact that it was used as a place of refuge by Ibn Marúan, a Moorish warrior, during the 9th century. The Arab domination of the area lasted for several centuries and ended when the military campaign of 1160/66 for the Reconquest of the territory resulted in yet another victory for the Christian forces led by D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. Geographically, Marvão is a point of natural strategic defence, marked by steep slopes to the north, south and west. Access on foot is only possible from the east, which was the direction in which the town gradually spread.

Lisbon - The city on Seven Hills, the birthplace of Fado, a maze of narrow streets that date back for centuries, and now, more than ever, Europe's westernmost capital city has quickly become one of the most cosmopolitan. Prized for its seamless mixture of tradition and modernity, Lisbon is like no other place on earth. From Alfama, to the Parque das Nações, to the historical district and the new and thriving business district, Lisbon is one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Lisbon, while a city of contrasts, is more importantly a city of balance. The modern and the traditional, the old and the new, the past and the future all come together here in brilliant unity. In a city whose history and traditions are as rich as its traditional cuisine, it's no surprise that Lisbon keeps travelers coming back for more.

Nazare - Relive the history of the sea with local fishermen on Nazaré beach.
Brightly coloured beach huts decorate the crescent-shaped expanse of sand that slips gently into the blue sea at Nazaré. This is one beach in Portugal where the old fishing customs are extremely colourful, and you will often come across women wearing seven skirts in keeping with tradition. On a Saturday afternoon in May or June, sit on the beach and watch the interesting spectacle of "Arte Xávega". The fishermen’s nets are brought in from the sea laden with fish, while the women shout out different comments, encouraging people to buy. Don’t worry if you can’t understand what they’re saying. They use a code that only they understand.
Closing off one end of the crescent-shaped beach is a sheer and most impressive promontory overlooking the sea. Take the funicular up to the top of this 318-metre high rock and enjoy one of the most breathtaking panoramic views on the Portuguese coast. This is Sítio, where the small chapel of Ermida da Memória tells of the legend of Virgin Mary’s miracle, when she prevented the horse of nobleman Dom Fuas Roupinho from plunging off the precipice. At the viewpoint of Suberbo, visitors can still see the mark said to have been left in the rocks by the horse’s shoe on that foggy morning in 1182.

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