Essential portuguese

About the destination: Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills due to its location, the city spreads across steep hillsides that overlook the River Tagus. Romantic and cosmopolitan, the city presents its typical red roofs to the visitors that want to get to know its every inch. Lisbon surprises with its natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere. The Portuguese capital offers lots of museums, libraries, a massive port, churches and palaces and stunning views of the River Tagus. Lisbon was once considered a poor and chaotic city. Currently it has experienced a resurgence in the style of the 14th and 15th centuries, when it was part of that vast empire stretching from Brazil to India. The reason for this was the World Expo held in 1998, a new bridge over the Tagus was built and the city's underground network was remodelled. The resurgence of the city then continued to host several matches during Euro 2004, also held there the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2005. Many of its most beautiful buildings date from the 14th and 15th centuries, especially the ones located in the Belem district. There are also many buildings from the 18th century, which are located mostly in the Baixa area of central Lisbon and were reconstructed almost completely after a devastating earthquake that hit the town in 1755. The historic centre of the city, standing on The Seven Hills, presents steep streets and picturesque alleys. On the west side of the city, there is Monsanto Forest Park, Lisbon’s lung, with an area of 10 km and one of the largest in Europe. The capital’s majestic port has 3 docks commonly used for several cruises and it is, currently, the busiest port on the European Atlantic coast. Lisbon is a city with centuries of history and with an ambitious attitude, marrying the historic with the modern, the traditional with the cutting edge. Strolling through the old quarters one can hear the traditional Fado sung and played in small restaurants in town. In the hilltop district of Bairro Alto, dozens of restaurants and bars line the narrow streets, with jazz, reggae, electronica filling the air and revellers partying until dawn. Nightclubs scattered all over town make fine use of old spaces, whether on riverside docks or tucked away in 18th-century mansions. Lisbon presents itself to the world as a cosmopolitan and lively city, with alternatives for every taste, especially in the summer months when its many bars, terraces and restaurants are crammed with people.

About the destination: Sintra is a town and a municipality in the Grande Lisboa subregion (Lisbon Region) of Portugal. The municipality contains two cities: Queluz and Agualva-Cacém. Sintra is known for its many 19th-century Romantic architectural monuments, which has resulted in its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although its heritage in buildings and nature is the most visible face of the historic individuality of Sintra, a whole literary heritage has made the area a legendary reference in Portuguese culture. It has become a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the centre and suburbs of the capital Lisbon. In addition to the Sintra Mountains and Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, the parishes of the town of Sintra are dotted with royal retreats, estates, castles and other buildings, including the mediaeval Castelo dos Mouros, the Pena National Palace and the Sintra National Palace.

About the destination: The medieval university town of Evora rises proudly from an endless plain punctuated by hardy cork and olive trees. Desired by a series of empires, its maze-like streets shelter everything from a Roman temple to a Renaissance palace. But above all, Evora stands as Portugal’s premier medieval spectacle, with beautifully preserved, colourful tile facades on ancient whitewashed walls. All tucked away in a tangle of winding streets and topped off by balconies adorned with potted plants and caged canaries. You won’t need long to understand why Evora is known as “the museum city”. From Praça do Giraldo walk down through the charming tiled houses, to the massive 12th century Sé, the cathedral. Inside the entrance to the right are beautiful cloisters. From here you can climb the ramparts for an excellent view of the city. Next door is the Museu d’Evora, housed in an old bishop’s palace. Across the museum is Evora’s most famous monument, the 2nd century Roman Temple of Diana. Facing the temple is the church of São João Evangelista, the town’s best hidden gem. One of Portugal’s most beautifully preserved medieval towns, Evora is a captivating place to delve into the past. If you have time to visit only a few places in Portugal, make Evora one of them.

About the destination: Tavira is a city and municipality, located in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. The Gilão River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Tavira. Tavira is a beautifully elegant town and almost surreal in aspects. Visitors can be forgiven for forgetting where they are, or even what year it is, as they step into this unique Algarve fishing town. The stretch of river front along the Gilão River is a great place to sit at one of the cafes and enjoy the very picturesque setting. The Roman Bridge (Ponte Romana) spans the river with low arches and creates gentle reflections on the water and at low tide you can see the fishermen searching for clams in the shallows. The gardens (Jardim do Coreto) near the bridge offer a pleasant shady place to sit. Tavira itself is a picturesque, relaxed, peaceful town with everything to hand and is a perfect holiday spot for couples and families and there are also lots of great places to visit if you want to venture a little further afield.

About the destination: Lagos is a city at the mouth of the Bensafrim River and along the Atlantic Ocean, in the Barlavento region of the Algarve, and is one of the most visited cities in Algarve and Portugal. Lagos has always had a seafaring connection, originally visited by Phoenicians and Carthaginians. The famous Avenida dos Descobrimentos ends at the very modern Lagos Marina. There's a footbridge over the Bensafrim where you can enjoy a lovely view of the town. On the other hand, Lagos is full of beaches, as Meia Praia is one of the largest open bays in Europe, and there are plenty of nice bars and restaurants.

About the destination: Sagres is located within the Algarve at the most south-western point of Portugal and of Europe. It is in Barlavento, western Algarve. Reaching the Sagres region is like entering a mystical atmosphere, surrounded by a wild, unexplored dramatic landscape, where the sea and the mountains merge to form a unique natural heritage. The beauty of its beaches, many of which are almost deserted, and towering cliffs leaning over the sea, along with historical grandeur, constitute the main attractions. Visitors can also engage with nature by challenging the waves, admiring the sea bed, climbing cliffs and exploring new paths. Sagres is one of the few places in the Algarve where wild nature, along with a rich historical and cultural heritage, remains intact.

About the destination: Coimbra is a town of steep, tiered streets winding above the River Mondego. No city in Portugal, except Lisbon, can compare with this university town in cultural and historical importance. Founded in 1290, the university has long been Portugal’s foremost centre of learning. If you can, come during the Queima das Fitas in early May, a raucous weeklong celebration featuring live music every night. Climb the stairs under the Moorish Arco de Almedina into the upper district of the city and the Old University, with its museum, chapel and library. A few steps outside the historic centre there is the city’s cosmopolitan side, a modernized waterfront with riverside restaurants, chic terrace bars and trendy shops. This charming town, full of Portuguese culture, is set amid a splendid old town of historic churches and medieval alleyways, with the buzz of student life all around.

About the destination: Situated in a dramatic valley carved by the River Douro, Porto is renowned for the beauty of its buildings and the sweet taste of its wine. The city's hub is Avenida dos Aliados, a broad avenue encircled by Praça General H. Delgado and Praça da Liberdade. However, the most captivating part of the city is Ribeira, the river district and a Unesco World Heritage Site, where three of Europe’s most elegant bridges span the gorge. The bustling Praça da Liberdade and the adjoining Avenida dos Aliados form the town centre, where statues stand in the middle of busy mosaic walkways. Nearby stands Porto’s magnificent cathedral, a massive, fortified Romanesque structure whose heavy granite foundations, thick walls and small windows enclose a gloomy interior. The Ribeira stretches along the river, bordered by a wonderful quay filled with shops and restaurants. Porto’s most distinctive monument, the ornate Torre dos Clérigos, offers a panorama of the city from atop its 240 steps. No visit to Porto would be complete without a stop at some of the many bodegas, wine lodges, where port is stored and bottled. And a visit to the amazing Lello library with its spiral staircase, is a must see as well, even if you're not a Harry Potter fan.