taste the world.
Right in the heart of Portugal are located three monasteries on a small distance, appointed World Heritage by the UNESCO. These fetch a lot of tourists to the towns of Tomar, Batalha and Alcobaça. Between them there is also Fátima, the most important pilgrimage site in Portugal. Continue reading “Tomar, Batalha & Alcobaça: UNESCO Monastery Route”
In the middle of the Portuguese mountains, Vonetta and Andrew Winter have fulfilled their life’s dream of owning a yoga retreat. Surrounded by unspoiled nature, they provide a refuge for those who need a break from their everyday life. Here it’s all about slowing down and re-rooting with the earth with lots of yoga, walks, massages, acupuncture, workshops and healthy food. Continue reading “Vale de Moses: Yoga Retreat in the Mountains of Portugal”
The university town of Coimbra is the largest city of Região Centro. With the University of Coimbra founded in 1290, it is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, which was declared World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2013. The Portuguese capital of culture 2003 was even from 1139 to 1256 the second capital of the country, shortly after Guimarães. Continue reading “Coimbra: Oldest University in Portugal”
With its three canals Canal de São Roque, Canal de Pirâmides and Canal dos Santos Mârtir and the many Moliceiro boats, Aveiro actually reminds of Venice. The city on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean has not only a beautiful, compact old town, but also a great vegan offer. After Coimbra, it is the second largest city in the Região Centro. Continue reading “Aveiro: Venice of Portugal”
In order to do justice to this city, we would probably have to write a whole book. Having been in the shadow of its “big sister” Lisbon for a long time, it is no longer unknown now, but one of the most popular tourist destinations in Western Europe. And deservedly so: UNESCO Old Town, double-deck bridge Ponte Luís I, river Douro and delicious vegan food make hearts beat faster. Whether as a city trip or a starting point to travel the north of Portugal – Porto is always worth it. Continue reading “Porto.”
About 15 kilometers southeast of Braga is the city of Guimarães: UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, European Capital of Culture 2012 and also the birthplace of Portugal. It is widely believed that the first king of Portugal (Afonso Henriques or Alfonso I) was born here, which is why Guimarães was the first capital of the country and is considered the “cradle of the nation”. Continue reading “Guimarães: Birthplace of Portugal”
After the border town of Valença, Braga is our first major city in Portugal. The European Youth Capital of 2012 is the second largest city of Região Norte after Porto. Particularly worth seeing is, besides the city center, the pilgrimage church Bom Jesus do Monte with its famous staircase Via Sacra. Continue reading “Braga: The Most Beautiful Stairway in Portugal?”
Yay, a new country! After the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Spain, Portugal joins our European tour as the fifth state. The border crossing consists of the special two-storey iron bridge Ponte Internacional. Continue reading “Tui & Valença: Let’s Go to Portugal!”
Rías Baixas – that’s the name of the four narrow coastal inlets in the south-west of Galicia from Cape Finisterre to the Portuguese border. They have emerged from flooded river valleys and consist of the Ría de Muros, the Ría de Arousa, the Ría de Pontevedra and the Ría de Vigo. Continue reading “Rías Baixas: Galiza – it’s different”
As the destination of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), Santiago de Compostela is renowned worldwide. This became the first European cultural trail in 1987, two years after the pilgrimage site was declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. In 2000, Santiago was also European Capital of Culture. Continue reading “Santiago de Compostela: Place of Pilgrimage”