Portugal and Morocco Weroad

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.

About the destination: The capital and largest city of the Algarve, Faro is the starting point for many northern Europeans' sun holidays. Yet Faro has not been overrun by tourists, it's a large city, and its wonderful beach, floating on an islet outside the town, helps the weary forget their troubles. Despite being just the arrival point for many holidaymakers, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it's an enticing city-break destination in its own right. Faro's Old Town is a little gem. It's small, quiet and wonderfully atmospheric. The Cidade Vella is packed with tourists and locals visiting the craft markets or just wandering around looking at the old buildings, many of which show signs of the city’s Moorish ancestry. Leading into Faro’s Old Town stands the Arco da Vila, a gate originally constructed as an arched gateway with a bell tower atop and a statue of the city’s patron saint, St Thomas Aquina. In the centre there is a beautiful square, Largo da Sé that used to be the Roman Forum. It's lined with orange trees and it is flanked by Faro’s Cathedral, the Bishops Palace and a 16th Century convent that is now the Faro Museum of Archaeology. Se Catedral, Faro’s Cathedral, dominates the Old Town. The original Gothic church was built in the 13th century, but was severely damaged during an earthquake. Only the tower and a doorway remains from that era and the temple presents today elements of different styles like Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. From the tower you can enjoy panoramic views of Faro and the coastline. Faro has a beautiful marina which lies just to the north of the Old Town and is probably the busiest part of the city. The city of Faro is a busy cosmopolitan centre, offering plenty of things to do, whether it's a wander around the shops, relaxing at one of the many pavement cafés, or visiting some of the historic places of interest, this city has much to tempt you off the beach.

About the destination: Seville has a unique hue, this vibrant city is brimming with enchanting traditional architecture in shades of lemons, plums and oranges. The River Guadalquivir flows roughly north-south through Seville. The majority of the city, including the old quarter of Barrio de Santa Cruz, is on the east bank, while the Barrio de Triana is on the west bank. At midnight, spontaneous singing, clapping and guitar playing fill pubs and streets. By day, the diversity of the city’s heritage becomes evident. The Romans, Moors, Catholic Spaniards, and now, throngs of tourists have all tried to claim Seville as their own. Indeed, Seville has never failed to ignite the imagination of newcomers. From the street, the cathedral seems unremarkable; you must go inside to grasp its scale. Massive pillars support the vaulted roof, and the wealth of treasure is fabulous beyond belief. Another major sight of the city is La Giralda, which was the minaret of the Almohad mosque. From the top, there’s a fantastic view of the city across the spiked spires and buttresses of the roof. La Torre del Oro, a symbol of the city, originally covered in golden tiles, watches over the town as it has always done since 1220. Seville at night is wonderful, everything takes on a mystical air capable of hypnotising and if you know how to experience it, you will fall under its spell.

About the destination: Fez is the epitome of magic, a pot of beautiful charms that's been brewing since medieval times. The city has nearly everything Morocco has to offer; the ringing hammers on sheets of brass, the squawks of chicken wandering all around, constant voices of endless chatter, the deep voices of prayers passed from one minaret to another, young women balancing trays of rolled dough on their heads, throngs of people in the narrowest of streets, the enticing aromas of brochettes on open grills, the sweet scent of cedar shavings and freshly cut mint leaves. The life size labyrinth that is the medina, old city, is the largest and most challenging to navigate in Morocco; sometimes it's even easier to simply lose yourself in the hustle and bustle of the various markets. Entering the medina through Bab Boujeloud, veer left immediately onto shop-lined, bamboo-shaded rue Talaa Kebira. Nearby to the left is the grain market, while further along is the entrance to Bou Inania madersap the finest Qur’anic university in Morocco. Constructed under the Merinid Dynasty in the 14th century its beautifully carved white plaster walls and mihrab remain in remarkably good conditions. The Zaouia de Moulay Idriss houses the tomb of Molay Idriss II, who made Fez the capital of Morocco in 808. The cedarwood portal is adorned with faded geometric patterns. Close by is the 14th century Al-Attarine Madrasa. Behind the superb bronze door lie intricately carved plaster walls topped by a cedarwood mantle and a splendid fountain. Other worthwhile places in Fez are the viewpoints to the north of the city or most parts of Fes el Jedid, with the Royal Palace, the Jewish Quarter and the Museum Dar al Batha. Once the capital of the country, today Fez is Morocco’s third largest city but is considered the country’s religious, cultural and intellectual centre. Situated between the Riff and the Middle Atlas Mountains, the city is made up of Fes El Bali, the old city, and Fes El Jedid, the New city. The King of Morocco’s wife, Princess Lalla Salma, was born in Fez which has made this medieval city even more popular.