THE COFFEE "A BRASILEIRA"

 

The Coffee, "A Brasileira" is one of the oldest and most famous cafés in Lisbon working as a meeting point to any literary bohemian community in the early twentieth century. It is still possible to feel some of that glamor, while drinking coffee on the terrace overlooking the watchful eyes of Fernando Pessoa. 

Interestingly, in 1905 the establishment offered a cup of coffee who bought some of his elixir, little known at the time.

NATIONAL PALACE OF MAFRA

 

Built in the 18th century by order of King João V (1689-1750) in fulfilment of a vow he made, to be blessed with an heir from his marriage to Maria Ana of Austria, or be cured of a serious illness, the Royal Convent and Palace of Mafra is the most important baroque monument in Portugal.

Mafra was King D. João VI’s favourite palace, who commissioned, at the end of the 18th century, mural paintings for several rooms and a new ensemble of six organs for the Basilica.

The monument also contains one of the most important European libraries, with a precious collection of 36.000 volumes, a synthesis of 18th century encyclopaedic knowledge.  

And it was from this palace that the last king of Portugal, Manuel II, left for exile on the 5th October 1910, following the proclamation of the Republic. The Royal Palace opens as a museum in 1911 under the name of Palácio Nacional de Mafra.

THE VIEWPOINT OF SANTA LUZIA

 

If the weather permits, go to the viewpoint of Santa Luzia discover the maze of streets that make up the Alfama district and some places like the dome of Santa Engracia, the Church of St. Stephen or the two towers of the church of San Miguel, which glimpsed on the horizon. In the background, always present, the Tagus River.

The viewpoint is a popular haunt for tourists, who feel doubly attracted by the beauty of the sight and the two tile panels, one of Commercio Square before the earthquake, and another showing Christians attacking St. George's Castle in 1147.

CASA DO ALENTEJO, LISBON

 

If you're fond of the Alentejo, you're lucky because you can enjoy a bit of Alentejo in the heart of Lisbon.
At number 58, on the street of Portas de Santo Antao, sits the Casa do Alentejo,  an mourish inspired mansion from the XVII century.

In 1919, this space was rehabilitated and transformed into the Majestic Casino Club, the first in Lisbon. Later, in 1932, the Alentejo Guild acquired it and made ​​it his headquarters. Nowadays, functions as a cultural center and a restaurant with traditional Alentejo food.

AVEIRO

Originally founded in the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Aveiro is now one of the most interesting cities on the Portuguese coast and the Portuguese version of Venice.

 

Located south of Oporto, on the Ria de Aveiro, part of the city is full of canals, bridges and boats crescent called Moliceiros, similar to the Italian city of gondolas. These boats, painted with bright colors and drawings depicting romantic or religious scenes and even humorous reasons, have become a symbol of Aveiro and a major tourist attraction.

GUIMARÃES

Famous for the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, Guimarães has one of the most acclaimed architectural heritage, ranging from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. An historic town, exceptionally well-preserved and an authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town. 

 

Watching the sunset at one of its numerous squares is itself a spectacle, a curtain of stone surrounded by the sounds of nature.

THE FUNICULAR OF GLORIA

 

The funiculars of Lavra, Bica and Gloria make part of the transport network of Lisbon, operating since the mid-nineteenth century. Famous for its hills, the funiculars provide the perfect escape to visitors less prepared. The three funiculars (including the Santa Justa's lift) were designed by architect Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard and classified since 2002 as a National Monument.

The Funicular of Gloria, despite not being the most used, provides the most beautiful views over Lisbon, once arrived at their final destination: the Viewpoint of São Pedro de Alcântara. A porch that looms over the city and allows you to view one of the most beautiful sunsets from the capital.

THE ROSEWIND

The Rose of the Winds which is near the Monument to the Discoveries , was offered by the Republic of South Africa and designed by architect Cristino da Silva. Designed in marble insets, this Rosewind of 50m in diameter has at its centre a 14m wide map of the world, decorated with ships and caravels tracing the principal routes taken by Portuguese mariners and their respective dates.

The background is made up of a design of 3m waves carried out in traditional portuguese pavement mosaic - calçada.

TREE HOUSES AT PEDRAS SALGADAS PARK

 

 

It's not a hotel, are eco-homes. They are seven, and they are in the north of Portugal, half hidden in a spa area with dense vegetation.

Incorporated into the Pedras Salgadas Park design and conceived by architect Luís Rebelo de Andrade, the tree houses arose from the challenge of creating an element that could fulfil the imaginary image of tree houses. The idea was to create an object moves away from orthogonality and pre-established concepts associated with construction.

The exterior blends with the surrounding trees and the interior, in contrast, is white and straight.

Lovers of contemporary architecture, this is for you.

TOWER OF BELÉM

 

Symbol of Portuguese Maritime Expansion and one of the city's main attractions,  the building of the bulwark Tower of Belém followed rational guidelines for the protection of the Tagus Estuary drawn up under João II as part of a greater plan for general reorganisation of the armed forces on land and sea. 

During the reign of Philip II of Spain also served as a prison and customs. With a Manueline architecture, the Tower of Belém comes to us today as a wonder for landlubbers.

BAY OF SAN LORENZO

 

The mostbeautiful vineyards in the world are in Portugal and Italy. Things areas they are and this is so. Vineyards like this Dorado called San Lorenzo Bay.

  

You cannot love the wine and stay in the cellar. An obvious truth that's hard to believe during the first years of a wine lover. These first years in which everything is beautiful and we collect corks and bottles and we visit wineries. Majestic Wineries, designed by artists such as Calatrava, Foster or Genhry. Wineries with paintings by Antoni Tàpies and Eduardo Chilida and rooms with more computers than one room at MIT. Wineries that are castles, where a man who is also winemaker speaks of the cup mix and you look and nods saying "aha".

PRAZERES CEMETERY

After the city of Lisbon was hit by an outbreak of cholera in 1833, causing thousands of deaths,  it was urgent to create a large cemetery for both rich and poorer victims. It has the weird name of  Cemetery of ‘Pleasures’, called after the nearby neighborhood (Prazeres) with the same name. Many of its tombs are big mausoleums, some with the size of small chapels.

This remarkable cemetery is really an interesting place to visit. Famous Portuguese personalities are buried here, mainly actors, singers, writers, painters and television presenters. The mortal remains of Amália Rodrigues, the famous fado artist, were transferred to the National Pantheon in Lisbon (under enormous pressure from her admirers and a change in the law requiring a minimum of four years before repatriation).