Traveling along and across the nation of Portugal

For this summer we decided to limit some 'our holiday budget, so the idea was to remain in Europe. In addition to tours of Andalusia, were thought to Portugal, not wanting to return to Greece immediately. Talking with the friends we discovered not only that they had thought to Portugal, but that could take the holidays in our own time! That done, we turned on by taking some brochures, tourist guides and various info on the Internet, so we started to get an idea that we could take the route to see as much as possible in 15 days including several days at sea in the Algarve. Also through a knowledge of our friends, once arranged the tour we booked the flight and all the hotels where we stayed (the cost for bed and breakfast in a double room at the hotel in 3 or 4 stars cost us from 57 to € 90 at most, would say not bad given the prices in Italy ...). The car, however we booked through the internet with Europcar (I was not particularly satisfied, but it was the first time we booked in advance (usually on site at local agencies) and I can not tell you whether it is better or worse than other known companies.
The tour was established following the visit to Lisbon on foot or by local one-day and a half, withdrew the car we were directed to the north via a number of countries we have come first in Coimbra and in Porto, we have gone even more to the north but not so much to see and Braga Guimares and then we took a southerly direction towards the Algarve via other countries than those seen on the outward journey (Tomar and Fatima). Lisbon past we sent in the internal part of Portugal driving up to 15km from the border with Spain (Castelo de Vide) and we went down to the dam and Beja Alqueva. Even once you are in the Algarve, although a fixed point of return (Armacao de Pera) we went to see some of the most famous as Albufeira and Tavira. Coming back we went to Lisbon to Setubal and the day after we had another half day to visit the new quarter of Lisbon. In all we have done 2525km!
Perhaps it would have been more logical to land at Porto and then restart from Lisbon or from Faro (in Algarve) but we thought later, however, so perhaps we were able to see more countries in that stretch of road ...

 

Arrival in Lisbon

Some indecision for booking the flight and so 'we are no more' managed to place all 4 on the flight of the Tap 13h, so ', preferring to travel together, we have booked for the flight of 21h20. Quiet flight, just landed in Lisbon and found baggage we direct the taxi stand and 8 euro in all we arrived at our hotel in a flash, gia 'because, in addition to evening and then the roads were not very busy, the Portuguese, and especially the taxi driver, drive like lunatics! The windows were lowered to the heat and how fast they are driving down I had all the hair that went up and one side only (!!!), Ideon cut their hair short just before leaving for Portugal ...
Arrived at the hotel we were greeted by a receptionist who has just learned that we were Italians and 'congratulated us for winning the World Cup just finished, well pleased that we had defeated France, which had eliminated them.

Visit to Lisbon

She began visiting the capital. We decide to go on foot since we are in the hills and then, and 'all down and so' we start exploring the city '. From Praca Marques de Pombal (close to our hotel), walk down tree lined Avenida da Liberdade to reach the neighborhood of the Rossio. The idea and 'to go and visit the Castle of S. Jorge, but the way we stop to visit the Igreja do Carmo next to one of the "elevador" Lisbon (there are 3 in total, we have preferred to go cmq feet), seen various places including Praca do Comercio and that 'one of the top and overlooking the river and begins to see the bridge April 25. For up to the castle we wanted to take the characteristic tram (12 and 28 are the only two left and pass in the street just behind the Praca do Commercio), we expected a little 'in vain to stop, probably there was some problem and so 'We made the climb on foot and the way we stopped to visit the cathedral (or himself). The castle and 'very beautiful and has a magnificent view over the city'. Coming down we took the tram that went in the opposite direction compared to where we are up, so 'we could see other hidden corners.
An ice cream and then fly away to Belém. Took a taxi because the bus was desired and had accumulated too many people, then we are in 4 to split the fare and taxis here are very low (on average spend 4 / 5 euros in all !!!). Visited the magnificent Tower of Belém, the Padrao dos Descobrimentos (very close to Ponte 25 April) and the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos. Then 'could not miss a visit to the Bakery of Belém to enjoy their Pasteis, environment and' little, 'old' and rich in azulejos pasteis and are baked at the moment, a true goodness'! drink juice and a good price for everything and 'really ridiculous when I look at the prices that run here in Milan!
Always return to hotel by taxi, be refreshed after we are ready to find a restaurant for dinner at the Bairro Alto, so 'as recommended in the guide. And in fact 'an area full of clubs, but nothing exceptional, eat well and not spend a lot, but compared to other places in Portugal and not' really nothing that. To give you an idea of prices for a dinner I can tell you that throughout the holiday we have ever spent piu 'di 50euro in 4 and for the most' ate fish!

Lisbon and surroundings

This morning, the time available and 'just because we go at noon to pick up the car we rented from. Experiencing the subway (very clean and quiet) we went to Chiado and then 'we have come a staircase to reach the Miradouro de Santa Luzia in the church, from there' to the famous Mosteiro de S. Vicente (in yet another church payment (€ 4.50)), we had some concern 'on the road ahead and a kind old woman there and' its response, he imagined try and S. Vicente, also in Portuguese, we explained how to reach them. Fortunately, the language of gestures and 'universal. The Portuguese cmq are kind and always willing to help.
Under the sun more and more 'burning, along a road uphill, we reach the rental car at the time stipulated. We worried that we do not have enough baggage, so we asked for the category Golf or similar, we have a brand new Seat Cordoba and really huge!
Us away from Lisbon for the afternoon, heading north west to visit: Sintra, Cabo da Roca and CASCAIS.
The roads are very well set out and sliding (in the holiday traffic, we found only in Porto but they were six in the evening!) Then we come quickly to Sintra. Immediately visit the Palacio National (very beautiful, was once a vacation spot for real) and that 'the first we meet because located in the square "principal", the country itself and' decidedly small, and all uphill, be careful to way to go by car because it is' easier than the way you string and facades hard to pass with a big car (we have switched to hair for a street that seemed large at the beginning ...). When we left were almost two and we still had to eat, so 'we will stop in the first place that are choosing between a couple who just had them' on the square. Hunger is known and 'a bad thing, if you can not go Sintra at lunchtime or otherwise get before the food, we do not own is worth the pain, are slow and make you really pay too much for a simple sandwich !
Rinfocillati we continue our tour by climbing to the Castelo dos Mouros dating all'VIII century as the name suggests, and 'was built by the Moors. The castle dominates the valley below, and 'a beautiful fort and you can still go almost all the walls, really worth a visit!
After we had to go to the Palacio de Pena, but we were quite tired to get on and off the various steps of the castle under the sun of the three that we decided to skip and go directly to the next step. But you 'if you get time visit it because I have said that' really beautiful and if I happen 'to return to Portugal does not leave me' run away again.
We head towards the coast and more 'precisely to Cabo da Roca: the most' extreme west of the continent of Europe! Wonderful vantage point where you can finally see the ocean.
It would have been nice to see the sunset at Cabo da Roca but time is pressing and turning towards the hotel in Lisbon, we CASCAIS to, renowned seaside town for a stroll, even on the sand, and a good dinner of fish. Warning: The swordfish is called "espadarte", not to be confused with "peixe espada" not being evil and 'still far from the type of fish!
Back in Lisbon later in the evening along the coastal road (via the Estoril) and enjoying the city 'enlightened ...

From Lisbon to Coimbra

Get up early, check-out from Madrid to Lisbon and road to the highway direction Mafra.
Sara 'che e' Sunday but the highway 'desert! Bellissimo! We arrive at the Palace of Mafra shortly after 9 am, we find easy parking. The main square and 'occupied by sellers of garlic and onion (!!!!!), c'e' those who stand and those who present the goods directly from the trunk of his car! We go with the Office of Tourism and that 'located in a part of the palace and discover that we have to wait up to 10h in order to visit pero' entry and 'free! Indeed it seems that every Sunday morning (from 9h/10h up to about 14h, depends on the people) do not pay admission to museums. We look more 'joy the beginning of the guided tour (there' also the guide who speaks Portuguese and English / Spanish is good but the same) go to visit the church of the Palace is the royal family because he wanted a church in which could be accessed from inside the palace, while the rest of the people there usually came from the yard in front. The Palace of Mafra, the royal summer residence of Portugal, and 'really huge and beautiful, one-hour visit to see just some of the rooms, we have seen the rooms of the queen on the one hand, those of the king from another, the with local hunting trophies where even the chairs and lamps are made with the remains of animals, the more 'different living rooms, guest rooms etc, these are the rooms that I remember more' but there are many. If you want you can visit the gardens but also for us the time is short and then we'll return the car to the next stage: Obidos.
Obidos is a town completely surrounded by walls! The houses are all white with profiles colored yellow or green or blue and red roofs are: it is a charm! The walls can take all but at a certain point there is a passage which must be closed down and go back again to continue, there is the medieval village (it sees the walls but it comes only after payment) where the people are dressed as in: very impressive.
We continue the road along the coast and we stopped at the beach in NAZARE ', the country "real" but stands on the hill where you can enjoy a beautiful panorama.
Nazaré after we visit the monasteries of Alcobaça and BATHALA. These are the early hours of the afternoon and the heat is really hot and we will gladly repair within these splendid monasteries.
Coimbra to arrive in the evening. Right time for us to shower and then take the car, including steep climbs and descents, with the map found in a hotel in your hand, go in search of a nice place where you can eat. Total disappointment when we realize that it is all desert Sunday! Among the other is sent in July and now the university will have completed their testing session ... So we end turn and walk to the main street and we can find a restaurant imboscatissimo and economicissimo, aesthetically not let us hope but it was so much hunger and began to be late for the Portuguese to serve dinner and so we enter. Well, I must say that besides being Kindest (the waiter did everything to make us understand that we talked about fish, with a mini-encyclopedia in hand!) Has really eaten well. Returning to the car, the way we can truly hear Portuguese music played and sung live out of a room in the main square. The evening could not end better.

From Coimbra to Porto

Coimbra is famous for its University, founded in 1290, remains among the most prestigious of Europe. I really was disappointed a little ', perhaps I expected too much, I do not know. Certainly deserves to be seen in the library and the Chapel Joanina de Sao Miguel always within the University. For the rest pretty much is the Sé Velha (the "old" cathedral), there is also the Sé Nova, but on Monday morning we have found ... Once closed down completely from the hill where the university, we ripassa for the center to do some photos in daylight, there are plenty of shops and a church here and there, nice but nothing that.
Coimbra left, we head towards Porto (Oporto) by taking a side street before reaching the coast and so we give it to de Foz Figueras. Along this road, in the midst of nothing, to a certain point we saw a restaurant with parking already nearly full and that there was hope on the food (there were almost two and we had lunch yet). As soon as we entered which was the classic place to truck drivers, it was chock full of men, just a local family here and there, me and Rose we were squared from head to foot as if she saw a woman for years! The waiter advised us to take the steaks (not so good for that animal but they were good) because baked more quickly and we are trusted, well, in the end we have only eaten the dish (do not use the first and second as us) consisting of 2-to-head steaks accompanied by rice and French fries, plus a plate of fresh vegetables for all, most soft drinks, water, dessert and coffee, in short for all this we have spent only 6 euros a head! ! If I think that in Milan, for lunch, we eat just a first without water and coffee ...
De Foz Figueras is the classic seaside resort, the beach is pretty big, long and wide, and the village is nice, I liked much more than the beach of Nazare.
In the late afternoon we arrived in Porto. E 'incasinata much more than other cities and struggling a little' to find our hotel, in the hills of course (Hotel Tryp Porto Centro)! A difficulty we can find a car park nearby for the evening because we prefer to take a trip on foot, at best to return if we are tired you can always go back to the taxi ;-)
After cooled, we go out for dinner and so we start to see some 'this town famous for wine (Port appunto). We head to the Ribeira, the neighborhood located on the banks of the River Douro. Going down the road for our little boys (I should say "husbands" but still I have not used ...) do not receive a shower by a woman who was washing the balcony with buckets! Came to the ruins of a castle, where the left hand, a elevador bearing directly on the shore of the river, while in front are starting to see the beautiful bridge in iron Don Luis I (remember that the structure of the Eiffel Tower and it was designed by an assistant of Gustave Eiffel), we see a long staircase to zig zag between the houses are not exactly rich and decide to go that road just to reach the area of the premises on the Douro. As we descend we see that the people here is very poor, the kids play on the steps with little or nothing and the adults are watching us a little 'surprised. The next day, the head of Lonely, we discover that recommended not to do so because quite dangerous! There was definitely good ...
The Ribeira district is a carinissimo, there are many bars and restaurants all lined up along the shore of the river, with a promenade and benches in front, that you'll be spoiled for choice for where to eat. We enter a rather 'more calm (all have tables outside, but we prefer to stay inside) and I ordered the sea bass, while others take "arroz de marisco" which is not a seafood risotto, but it is a kind of soup of sea with rice served in earthenware pots, the portion enough for two to four people !!!!, keep in mind for next time. Really, all very good and always at low prices.
Shoot some souvenir photos with behind the bridge and the Douro and return after a stroll in the hotel by taxi, which are easily found in that area.

From Porto to Braga

Visit of Porto. Unfortunately the day is gray and a light drizzle falls. We are moving towards the center and turn it a little 'a stroll Guarducci shops and churches, as always, many, more that we attract. Instead go up to the top of the Torre dos Clérigos (225 steps to guide me x but less than some, not too easy cmq), which dominates much of the city, really a shame there is this terrible time ... then visit the hall of the train station that is rich in azulejos very beautiful and come in while running one of their soap ... Then we go to the Palace of Bolsa and nearby church of Sao Francisco with its museum, we decided to see both because of the time, but I would say that is not essential although very rich in treasures, finally we see the Self but is not anything special, however nice the front (apart from the rain ...).
The part that I liked most, as well as with local banks of the river the night before, is the Dom Luis I bridge first and the area is on the other side of the river and that is full of wineries! ! Each winery has its own time (usually close all x lunch) but then there is plenty of choice! Free show you how the wine is produced (the famous Porto, of course!) And then I shall try. I did not think they exist so many different types, all very good, to try!
With the lap x wineries we finished the tour of this beautiful city, then we head to Braga for the next step. We arrived at the destination for the sunset and we only see the gardens of St. Barbara, for dinner we will stop at "Cozinha da Sé" in Rua Brandao, is not cheap but we eat really well and then is not that we have seen many restaurants ...

Braga, Guimares, Fatima.

Today, the day draws to the beautiful. Quickly visit the center of Braga, which is famous for its churches and in particular for the Self, we really do not seemed nothing special but it is the ideal destination if you want to see the Bom Jesus, the famous church on the summit of a hill 6km by Braga. This church is the destination of many pilgrimages, is placed on top of a huge double staircase that some rooms still faithful to its knees, it can also come through the + old funicular in the country (1882), whatever the means it's worth it even only for the peace that gives that place.
Continuing our journey, rather than relying all'istinto maps, we reach the Santuario Nossa Senhora do Sameiro, there is virtually none, and if it were not for the multitude of trees that surrounds it would have a beautiful view as we are still + at the top than before!
Our next stop is Guimares! And 'the city that has fascinated all of + Portugal! Declared Heritage 'by UNESCO, is a medieval town that is worth running the length and breadth, in words I would not be able to explain how beautiful!
Unfortunately, in our journey we had planned to stop there to sleep, but tomorrow we plan Tomar, so we must quickly take the many km that separate us from booking in Fatima for the night (in Tomar, the only hotel had free dear and we preferred to go to Fatima, which is only half an hour by car). We traffic in Porto for the work and maybe because I am already six in the evening, cmq come at around 19h30, a quick shower and then dinner out x.
For children interested in exploring this famous place of faith, but we were already there, among other things a 5min walk from the place of appearance of the Madonna to the 3 shepherd children, Rose and I convince them to make a leap. In essence this is a big square on one side is a church, too modern for my taste, which was built around the chapel of the apparitions. There is a large tiled path beginning at one of the entrances to the square to reach the church by making the outline that many of the faithful travel to its knees, we can see each other, even in spite of us is not high season and you see people walking around . Soon, however, is celebrated a Mass in the church at the bottom of the apron, higher, and that was built after the official recognition by the Church, inside there are the tombs of Lucia and the other 2 shepherds.
Turn and turn and pass the time when we actually decide to go to dinner almost the 22h! In any other place we would probably not major problems x eat, but here we see that there are practically only religious souvenir shops and fatigue are still a room that was about to close but the owner moved to pity us enter the same and we can finally fill your tummy is going to sleep.