Things to Do in Portugal

Allegedly established by a Roman centurion named Amarantus, Amarante is situated between the steep sides of Serra do Marão and the curves of the river Tâmega, the longest tributary of the river Douro. Modern Amarante is actually rooted in the 13th century, when the Benedictine monk St. Gonçalo settled in the area after completing a pilgrimage to Italy and Jerusalem. He is said to have commissioned the original bridge over the river Tâmega, located in the same spot as modern times.

In addition to its centurion, saint and bridge, Amarante is known for its sweets and cakes, and these are easy to find in many of the region's cake-shops and cafés. However, during the Feast of Sao Gonçalo, Amarante’s baked goods become famous for a different reason: they’re baked in the shape of phalluses, Sao Gonçalo is the patron saint of marriage and lovers. As suggestively shaped confections are not the norm for a Catholic Saint’s day, the tradition is likely rooted in a pagan fertility ritual.

Visitors to Amarante will want to take advantage of the region’s natural beauty and outdoor activities. Not to miss: hiking up to Serra do Marão in order to admire its breathtaking landscape. Near this mountain is Ansiães Valley. Here you will find trout farms on the right bank of the Ovelha River, as well as gorgeous sylvan scenery.

In Roman times, Aveiro was known as Aviarium, which in Latin means “gathering of birds” due to the large number of birds inhabiting the city’s lagoon area. Today, Aveiro is known for being one of the largest metropolitan areas in Portugal (when associated with nearby Ílhavo). It’s also known as the “Venice of Portugal,” as its city is crossed with canals on which boats called barcos moliceiros ferry passengers to and fro.

Aveira’s fortunes have always been tied to the Ria (estuary) and the sea. In contemporary times, the Ria is linked to Aveiro via three canals: the Canal das Pirâmides (marked at its entrance by two stone pyramids), which flows into the Canal de São Roque, and the Canal do Paraíso. Travelers may want to book a tour or plan one of their own that familiarizes them with canals, as they are major avenues of transit and can be overwhelming to first-time visitors.

In terms of attractions, Aveiro’s canals are certainly a must-see. The city’s old-world charm and colorful buildings are underscored by the brightly colored barcos moliceiros pushing across the channels, and the Ria is a fascinating landscape, crisscrossed by intersecting waterways and finger-like peninsulas.  Likewise, the city’s beaches are among the best in the country, and surfing is a popular pastime. As the city came into its own in the middle ages, visitors can expect to find centuries-old buildings, including the Aveiro Cathedral and the Igreja de la Misericordia, designed by 18th-century Italian Architect Nicolau Nasoni.

Alcoutim is a hillside town of cobbled streets, small squares and a paved promenade, situated along the banks of the Guadina river, about 40 km (24 mi). This river promenade features a few cafes and restaurants that overlook the water. Here, the river narrows. If you need a breather in your vacation, watching the boats idle past this narrow point while sipping a coffee at a café is a great way to take a break from sightseeing; the backdrop of low, green hills is as good a substitute for historical points of interest as any. At the front of the river is a 16th century church bearing the coat of arms of the Marquises of Vila Real and the Counts of Alcoutim. 

If your time is flexible enough to allow you a moment to watch the river go by, you may also want to explore the countryside. The hills are verdant and covered in wildflowers, providing a a pastoral landscape for Alcoutim’s neighboring towns (Pereiro, Martinlongo), as well the ruins of a 13th century castle and 12th century church in nearby Mértola, which is a mere 30 km (18 mi) drive away.

Another short drive to the south takes you to the town of Castro Marim. Of note here are the ruins of its Moorish castle, which offers a wide view of the surrounding salt pans and the Spanish countryside across the border. Castro Marim is also home to a nature preserve.

Alcobaça is a pleasant town with a jumble of medieval and modern architecture and a largely pedestrianized center, but its main attraction is undoubtedly Portugal’s first monastery, founded here by the country’s first king, Alfonso Henriques, in 1153. Today the magical Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria is UNESCO World Heritage-listed thanks to its peerless Gothic architecture – it was the first public building in Portugal to adopt the Gothic style.

Just to the left of the church doorway, the Hall of Kings is elaborately decorated with azulejo tiles depicting the history of the monastery up until the 18th century plus a cluster of royal statues in various states of repair. The massive Gothic church at the heart of the complex is an ocher-stone fantasia of flying buttresses, ornate roundels, lacy stone carving and statuary topped with two intricate bell towers.
The long wings that flank the church are much simpler in design, as is its barn-like interior, with unadorned pillars, a plain vaulted roof and bare walls. Simple it may be, but the nave is Portugal’s longest, at 330 feet (100 m). The pair of ornate tombs in the transept belong to King Pedro I and his murdered mistress Ines de Castro; other Portuguese monarchs buried here include kings Alfonso II and III, who are laid to rest in the Chapel of St Bernard, dedicated to the patron saint of the Cistercian order.

Access to the monastery from the church is through the vast three-tiered Cloister of Silence, which is planted with orange trees and contains an ancient fountain that once saw duty as washroom to the monks. It is one of three cloisters surrounded by the monks’ sparse refectory, dormitories and kitchens, which are decorated with traditional blue-and-white tiles.

Rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, the Baixa is the lower town, nestled between the hills of Alfama, Chiado and Bairro Alto. Its wide avenues and pedestrianized Rua Augusta are a great place to shop and have coffee, before you emerge into the huge square Praça do Comércio with its handy tram and bus connections and view of the water.

The area's highlight is the Elevador de Santa Justa. This imposing wrought-iron lift offers an easy ride up to the Bairro Alto, plus a rooftop cafe with views to die for. Built in 1902 by Gustave Eiffel follower Raul Mésnier du Ponsard, the lift has more than a passing resemblance to the Eiffel Tower. Avoid the touristy umbrella-topped cafes below and save your coffee break for this still touristy but far more elegant architectural gem. Time your visit to enjoy a drink at sunset.

Home of Portugal’s mournful fado singing, Lisbon’s 500-hundred-year-old Bairro Alto (this translates as ‘upper district’) sits at the working-class heart of the city, a district of steep, narrow lanes lined with cramped townhouses and jumping with a quirky mix of stores, barbers’ shops, bars, restaurants and late-night clubs.

By day Bairro Alto’s attractions include the Port Wine Institute – the best place to taste and buy port in Lisbon – and it is accessible from the circular route taken by Lisbon’s famous touristy Tram 28. Don’t dismiss a visit to the Jesuit church of São Roque on Largo Trindade Coelho; built at the height of Jesuit power in Portugal in the 16th century, its bland, whitewashed exterior conceals an interior of breath-taking Baroque indulgence. The riot of ceiling paintings, gilded ornamentation and John the Baptist’s chapel, which is studded with mosaics of ivory, gold and silver, has earned it a reputation as the world’s most expensive church. Adjoining is a small art museum but São Roque really steals the thunder here. The nearby miradouro (viewing point) in the shady Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara gives amazing panoramas across Lisbon’s rooftops towards the River Tagus.

By night a different character emerges in the bairro as the tattoo parlors, bars and cafés open although the weekend street party barely gets going before midnight. Music wafts from fado bars behind every graffiti-ed façade – if you want to experience authentic fado, ask a local to recommend a venue as places come and go with amazing rapidity – and edgy Lisboans bar hop from tavern to designer bar in remarkably laid-back high spirits.