Portugal is located on the edge of Europe. This country is rather small, but at the same time it has preserved its rich historical heritage and a large number of ancient fortresses, palaces and cathedrals on its land. In addition, Portugal is known for its mild climate and beautiful beaches, hospitable people and modern resorts.

The capital of Portugal and its attractions

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal. This city is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is located on the slopes of the full-flowing river Tejo, exactly where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The center of the city is Rossio Square, paved with mosaic. On the square is the building of the famous theater of Don María II and the majestic statue of King Pedro IV. Right on the embankment of the River Tejo stands the monument to José María II, which is located on the Praça do Comercio square. Of course, the city's attractions do not end there. The western region of Lisbon is Belém. It is there that the most impressive building of the central city of the country is the monastery "Geronimos", which is made in the style of "Manueline". This monastery is a real architectural masterpiece: in its décor the building houses the arms of Portugal, the sea elements and armillary spheres. In addition, in this monastery was once buried Fernando Pessoa - the famous Portuguese writer. Portugal has good museums in its capital: the National Museum of Azulezhu, where the old tiles are kept; The National Museum of Ancient Art in Antigua, which displays the works of many Portuguese artists, and the great Gulbenkian Museum, considered the best museum in the country, as it exhibits sculptures, paintings, ceramics and coins that are collected from all corners of the globe. These attractions are very popular with travelers and tourists. The regions of Bakhir and Alfam have preserved the charm of antiquity: streets, avenues and squares, sprinkled with pebbles, craftsmen's shops, castles and colorful buildings remind of the past days. Among the attractions of the city you can find the old quarter of Byro-Alto, São Bento street, Amoreiraş and Ratu square, the Museum of Du-Chiado and the palace of the National Assembly. The Botanical Garden from Lisbon University is also popular. It is remarkable that in this garden was opened the very first nursery of butterflies, located in Europe.

Symbol of Portugal - The Tower of Belém

The Tower of Belém (Tower of Bethlehem) is one of thethe main symbols of Portugal. This tower is located in the port area of ​​Restelu, an old suburb of Lisbon. The history of this small region is closely connected with the history of the country. It was from the port of Reshtel that all the ships of the discoverers left for the sea. The Belene Tower was built in late Gothic (Manueline) style at the beginning of the 16th century. The building is 35 meters high. From the tower opens a unique view of the Portuguese capital and the ocean. Eight-pointed crosses on the fortress remind that it was built by the Order of the Templars, famous for their power. The walls of limestone are decorated with images of shells, seaweed, ropes, exotic animals and fruits - all that met seafarers in far-abroad countries. Decorate the building and beautiful balconies made in the Venetian style, and observation towers. The carving on the stone made the tower look like a magnificent palace, and not a building for defense. All the sights of Portugal can not be compared in beauty with this majestic tower. To date, the Tower of Belém is the most visited tourist object of the country. The Tower of Belém is one of the few buildings that survived after the strongest earthquake that happened in the 18th century.

The second main city of Portugal

The second largest city is Porto. This city gave the name of Portugal itself, and it was formerly the capital of this country. Gourmets and aesthetes must visit Vila Nova di Gaia, a city located on the opposite shore of Porto. There is a huge number of wine stores with Portuguese wine. The historic center of Porto is declared a world heritage protected by UNESCO. Porto is a lively and ancient city. It is home to a large number of beautiful buildings. It is in this city that you can visit the castle where Don Alfonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, was born. In all houses and palaces visitors are always welcome. Ribeira - the area along the coast, is known to all who come to this city. There are many narrow winding streets with colorful facades and houses, which are imbued with the spirit of antiquity. Noteworthy attractions include the Clerigos Tower, the Church of Cedofeita, the Church of San Francisco. In the city there is a beautiful bridge of Dona Maria Pia, which was built in 1877 by Gustav Eiffel. In Port there are several small museums, theaters, concert halls and libraries. The best museum is the Soares Dos Reis Museum, which was named after a Portuguese sculpture made in the 19th century. This museum houses a collection of Portuguese art of the past and modern. The museum of ethnography and history describes the customs and life of this historic city from the early days, as well as the sights that are available in this country. In the province of this town there is Villamoura - the "village of love", which is famous for its disco "Kadok". In addition, in this small village there is a large yacht club, a casino, three water parks and a huge zoo. The main city of the center of Portugal is Coimbra. It is in this city is the oldest university in the country, which was founded in 1290. Thanks to this, Portugal has been known for a long time with its high level of education.

The famous island of Madeira

In the Atlantic Ocean in the south-west of Portugalspread the island of Madeira. Madeira is not only the name of the island, but also the name of an autonomous archipelago. This archipelago is known for its mild climate and exceptional natural beauty. The rocky ridges and steep cliffs of the island end straight up at the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, which is so deep that large whales can be seen right off the coast. Thanks to this island, Portugal annually hosts a large number of tourists who want to see these huge animals. The island of Madeira consists of volcanic soil, so plants and flowers are decorated in colors of flame there. There are many different colors on the island: these are bougainvilleas, jacarands, orchids, poinsettia, geraniums, wisteria, cannes. Throughout the island grow shrubby apple, mango, avocado and bananas. The forest that covers the entire island is very diverse, with about 145 species of trees growing there that can not be found on any continent. These trees are included in the list of world heritage, which is protected by UNESCO. Madeira Island is a "window" from Europe to the world of the tropics. The surroundings of this island are unique in that one can enjoy the spring climate and enjoy the wild nature all year round. On the island there is a wonderful atmosphere of peace and quiet.

Romantic city of Sintra

Sintra is a small town in Portugal thatis located not far from the capital of the country. The romantic character of the city was described by Lord Byron himself in the poem "Childe Harold Pilgrimage". The city was listed in the UNESCO heritage list. The symbol of the city is the National Palace, which since the XV century was the summer residence of kings. Conical white chimney towers, towering above the castle, are visible from a distance. This castle is one of the examples of the royal architecture of the country. The whole building of the palace is decorated with wooden carvings, as well as wall ceramic tiles, which was brought to the country by the Arabs. An example of the individual architecture of the city is the Da Pena Palace, which was built in the XIX century. This castle was made in different architectural styles. It is worth noting that this castle was admired by the King Dom Fernando II, the husband of Maria II, the Portuguese queen. From the castle area you can see the ruins of Castelo dos Mouros, a fort that was built in the 8th century. This fort was built by the Arabs, it was intended for the defense of territories from Christian troops. In Sintra, there are other attractions. Also the city is famous for its winemaking, marble, cooking and souvenir products. In addition to all of the above, Sintra has everything for a pleasant stay: the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean, golden sand and the majestic coast, where you can go in for water sports and just go fishing. Portugal would not be so popular without this adorable island.

Everything interesting about the city of Evora

The city of Evora is located in the south of Portugal. Thanks to the huge part of the city, where to this day the ancient walls and monuments, erected in different historical periods, were well preserved, Evora was included in the list of world heritage, which is protected by UNESCO. A huge number of monuments, previously created by great creators, characterize the cultural, historical and artistic past of Evora. This is more than attractions - this is the life of the city and the whole country. A variety of architectural styles ("Manueline", Baroque, Gothic, Rococo, Romanesque style), palaces and even narrow streets and squares are all part of the heritage. The Cathedral of Evora was built in the Romantic-Gothic style. Inside the cathedral is the altar of Our Lady, which was made of gilded wood. In addition, the cathedral has a Museum of Religious Art. To the right of the cathedral there is a square with a Romanesque temple. This is the temple of Diana, which is the symbol of the city of Evora. Close to the cathedral is the city museum. In this museum, a large collection of European and Portuguese art of the XV-XVII centuries, medieval jewelry and ceramics is collected. At this point of interest does not end there. So, represents the architectural interest and the palace of King Manuel, which was erected in 1490. This building was the residence of the royal house of Avis, when Portugal was under their rule.

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