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_Portugal tour packet usually combined with the Spanish tour, because the location of the two adjoining. Even if pulled back into the past, they are sworn enemies. Nation equally explorer, who tried to find riches at the end of another world. Until last year the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1493 to make them share power by pulling an imaginary line from pole to pole. Spain took the western part of the border and Portugal to the east.

Before Portugal became one of the largest imperialist rulers of the world by mastering an area 23 times larger than their own country, he was none other than a small country helpless. Waddled up against the occupation of other nations.

Noted the Romans, Spanish, until the Moors who occupied Portugal for five centuries of history carved these republics. Heritage trail of the Romans and the Moors were still visible in some corner of Portugal.

Among them the Evora, the old city was included in UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is located about 130 km from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, it kept a lot of historical monuments. One of them Roman Temple of Evora or often called Temple of Diana, who comes from the 1st century BC and is now the icon of Evora.

While the legacy of the Moors, among others, can be seen from the Palace of the Counts of Basto, which is a Moorish castle and residence of the family dynasty Afonsine. Mentioned architectural style of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance.

Evora is ranked number two in the Portuguese most livable cities survey of living conditions published yearly by Expresso. It was ranked first in a study concerning competitiveness of the 18 Portuguese district capitals, according to a 2006 study made by Minho University economic researchers.

Due to its well-preserved old town centre, still partially enclosed by medieval walls, and a large number of monuments dating from various historical periods, including a Roman Temple, Evora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Many monuments erected by major artists of each period now testify to Évora’s lively cultural and rich artistic and historical heritage. The variety of architectural styles (Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque), the palaces and the picturesque labyrinth of squares and narrow streets of the city centre are all part of the rich heritage of this museum-city.

Evora Sightseeings

* Água de Prata Aqueduct (Aqueduct of Silver Water): With its huge arches stretching for 9 km, this aqueduct was built in 1531–1537 by King João III to supply the city with water.

* Cathedral of Evora: Mainly built between 1280 and 1340, it is one of the most important gothic monuments of Portugal. The cathedral has a notable main portal with statues of the Apostles (around 1335) and a beautiful nave and cloister.

* S. Brás Chapel: Built around 1480, it is a good example of Mudéjar-Gothic with cylindrical buttresses. Only open for prayer.

* Saint Francis Church (Igreja de São Francisco): Built between the end of the 15th and the early 16th centuries in mixed Gothic-Manueline styles. The wide nave is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. Contains many chapels decorated in Baroque style, including the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos), totally covered with human bones.

* Palace of Vasco da Gama: Vasco da Gama resided here in 1519 and 1524, the dates corresponding to his nomination as the Count of Vidigueira and Viceroy of India.

* Palace of the Counts of Basto: Primitive Moorish castle and residence of the kings of the Afonsine dynasty. Its outer architecture displays features of Gothic, Manueline, Mudéjar and Renaissance styles.

* Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval: The palace with its 17th-century façade is constituted in part by an old castle burnt in 1384; it is dominated by the architectural elements of the Manueline-Moorish period and by a tower called Tower of the Five Shields. This palace of the governor of Evora served from time to time as royal residence. The first-floor rooms houses a collection manuscripts, family portraits and religious art from the 16th century.

* Lóios Convent and Church: Built in the 15th century, contains a number of tombs; the church and the cloister are Gothic in style, with a Manueline chapterhouse with a magnificent portal. The church interior is covered in azulejos (ceramic tiles) from the 18th century. In 1965 it has been converted into a top-end pousada

* Ladies’ Gallery of Manuel I’s Palace (Galeria das Damas do Palácio de D. Manuel): Remnants of a palace built by King Manuel I in Gothic-Renaissance style.

* Roman Temple of Evora: Improperly called Diana Temple, this 1st century-temple was probably dedicated to the Cult of Emperor Augustus (but some texts date it to the second or even the third century). It is one of a kind in Portugal. The temple was incorporated into a mediaeval building and thus survived destruction. It has become the city’s most famous landmark. The temple in Corinthian style has six columns in front (Roman hexastyle) with in total fourteen granite columns remaining. The base of the temple, the capitals and the architraves are made of marble from nearby Estremoz. The intact columns are 7.68 m (25.20 ft) high. It can be compared to the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, France.

* University of Evora: Formerly a Jesuit college built by Cardinal-King Henrique in 1559, it includes the 16th century Mannerist church and the academic buildings surrounding the large 17th-18th century cloister.

* Renaissance fountain at Largo das Portas de Moura: Built in 1556 in Renaissance style. This original fountain has the shape of a globe surrounded by water, a reference to the Age of Discovery.

* Giraldo Square (Praça do Geraldo): Centre of the city; in this square King Duarte built the Estaus Palace which even today maintains its Gothic look.

* Cromeleque dos Almendres, 15 km from Evora: Megalithic monument, a cromlech with archaeoastronomical interest.

* Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, about 10 km from Evora near Valverde: It is the larger dolmen in the region.

Total, there are approximately 4000 historic buildings can be found in Evora, from the palace, square, street corners in downtown narrow featuring rich history and culture of various periods. No wonder even got predicate Evora city museum.

Located on the north bank of the River Tagus, the charm of Lisbon is in its strong links with the past, renovated palaces, magnificent churches and an impressive castle mirror the city’s rich cultural heritage. Lisbon’s eclectic mix of neighborhoods, culture and architecture distinguish this unique capital of other European capitals and make it a truly fascinating and comprehensive city to visit.

The city of Lisbon set on seven hills, as the legend tells, with its cobble stoned pavements and narrow streets full of Art Nouveau cafés promises a lot to discover: The center, the Baixa, located around Rossio, Praça do Comércio, located on the hill around St. George’s Castle, and Mouraria Alfama, Lisbon’s most traditional quarters with their typical streets, Bairro Alto and Madragoa, located on the Tagus River, Belem offer an unforgettable experience of the city’s past on the present.

Lisbon also hosts a large number of remarkable museums of ancient and modern art, some Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, National Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Coach Museum, and Carmo Archaeological Museum. However, Lisbon isn’t all culture and history, Bairro Alto is the center of nightlife with various restaurants and bars where melancholic traditional Portuguese music, Fado, can also be heard.

When tired of sightseeing, shopping in Lisbon will all your tiredness away! The largest mall in the Iberian Peninsula, Centro Commercial Colombo, offers countless options. For those who prefer shopping in local markets, there is a fascinating flea market at the Campo de Santa Clara.

The best way to discover Lisbon is to get lost in the narrow streets and up and down roads! Every narrow street will tell a different story and every story will reach your heart easily. Day and night, feel Lisbon! Lisbon Live!

Algarve or as it was baptized by the Arabs as Al Gharb meaning ‘to the west’, is the most southern province of the eleven that Portugal has been divided into. Its variety in terrain which starts at the small town of Odeceixe on the west coast, nicely tucked into the Espinhaco do Cao mountain range bordering the coast and the brave Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its shoreline runs down through Aljezur, symbolic in the Portuguese history thanks to its castle which is one of the seven that appear on the flag of Portugal. Still enjoying the different shades that the fertile valleys offer, you continue along the shoreline to Alfambra, a walled in city and well-known as a fishing village and tourist attraction. To the most western tip is the Cape of Saint Vicent and to the town of Sagres where Henry the Navegator first started his navigation school. At this point, you have come to the come into contact with the most attractive Algarve beaches. Long soft sandy stretches which enclose secret coves at the beginning where the outline of the coast is extremely flat around the towns of Lagos but after the city of Albufeira it turns into cliffs. Not leaving the hypnotizing view of the Atlantic, your car hire seems to know the route and continues on to Faro, the capital of this area after having taken this title away from the city of Silves in 1577. Here in Faro you have the main gateway into this southern region when arriving at this well-prepared international airport for your holiday stay. But there is still more beach towns like Tavira, a very historic medieval town and Castro Marim another city surrounded by a protective wall. From here, the journey northward following the Guadiana River, which is the natural border between Spain and Portugal.

Saved by its Ancestors

The Algarve region has seen all the cultures beginning with the Lusitanians, Celtics, Romans and Arabs who were forced out of Faro in 1249 by Sancho II. But thanks to the combination of all these people, especially the Arabs, the Algarve province ( http://www.lisbon-and-portugal.com/algarve/algarve-portugal.html ) now has a strong production of olive trees which produce rich olive oil, figs and almonds. It is said that the almond trees were a gift from a Moorish sultan who was in love with a Nordic princess. She dearly missed the snow covered ground in winter and what most resembled that were the almond trees in full bloom in the spring. From this, the Algarve makes a rich dessert from almonds, figs, eggs and sugar called ‘morgados’. And thanks to the dry weather, pears, tomatoes, melons and grapes are among the delicious fruits available year round.

Algarve Wine, A Sweet Caress for Your Lips

Grapes in Portugal are synonymous to wine, and Algarve has quite a variety. The exportation of wine from this region started under the Muslim domain and reached its climax in the 14th and 15th centuries. Lagos, Portimao and Tavira are the principal wine producers.

+ The Algar Dry from Lagos is a dry wine, served very cold for appetizers. The dry and sweet moscatel wines are aged in oak barrels for at least seven years and have about 18% alcohol content.

+ Alfonso III is another dry wine from Lagos and also served very cold.

+ Cruz de Portugal is a smooth red wine which should be served at room temperature for dessert.

+ From Tavira you have Licoroso de Tavira which is very sweet and dark in colour, served at room temperature.

+ Medronho is a type of liquer very well known all over the Algarve region and usually found in the typical ‘tascas’ or taverns and served in glasses from Oporto.

Cute places to see around Portugal

Between Tavira and Castro Marim, one can easily manage a nice beach day in Monte Gordo and a leisurley stroll through the Natural Reserve Park to appreciate the marvellous view of pink flamengos and long-legged storks soaring in and out of sight. For golf lovers, near Albufeira and hidden among pine trees and the shore you will find Villamoura with its campestral fields for playing a relaxing game of golf. Wherever you go in this region, be it on the coast or deep in the forest area, there are all kinds of hotels with great facilities for your stay in Algarve or the capital of Portugal, Lisbon.