Teresa Conceição shares her favorite Nature Parks

Portugal is a small country but it offers many contrasts. High mountains, where it even snows, deep valleys, where the sun sometimes forgets to shine, and beautiful plains with wheat and old cork trees. Not to mention, of course, our wonderful coastline which offers amazing beaches and sights to the Atlantic Ocean.

Teresa Conceição is a journalist from TV channel SIC, who co-hosts the series "Ir é o melhor remédio" ("To go is the best medicine" in a free translation). She shared with the national newspaper Expresso some of her favorite Nature Parks. This is an excerpt of her sharing.

Peneda-Gerês

Nature, first. Then traditions, villages and people. This park was created in 1971 and sits in the North of Portugal. It integrates mountains Amarela, Peneda, Soajo and Gerês. The rivers Minho, Lima, Homem and Cávado flow through it and offer some marvelous sights.

Photo by José Antonio Gil Martínez

Montesinho

This mountain sits in the Northeast of Portugal and it's home of the iberian wolf. Apart from this wonderful animal, it also has many of its preys and other species. Wild boars, foxes, eagles, bucks. And of course, unique flora such as oak trees, chestnuts and heaths. The biodiversity of the Montesinho Natural Park is extraordinary!

Photo by Manuel Anastácio

Alvão

This protected area, created in 1983, invites many photographers and biodiversity lovers. It offers natural relics, not only in what concerns fauna and flora, but also in geological terms. Its ex-libris is the waterfall Fisgas do Ermelo. The river Olo floods the park with natural beauty. And it's just enough to sit and hear the sound of its water flow...

Photo by Bhavagati

Douro Internacional

The river Douro is very well-known as the cradle of Port wine. However, this long river is born in Spain and before it reaches the winery area, it has a much more wild string to it. This park holds border with our neighbour country, Spain, and it's called "hot land" for its enormous thermal amplitudes.

Serras de Aire e Candeeiros

Much far south, impressive geological formations tell an imense story. This set of mountains was craved throughout millions of years, offering dinosaurs' footprints and many pedestrian rails, One just needs to get himself lost on these lands.

Photo by Towiki60

Tejo Internacional

This Natural Park is one of the most relevant in Europe. It marks the separation of two regions, Beira Baixa and Alentejo, with the river Tejo (Tagus) in between. Portas de Rodão is where the two margins almost touch each other, offering a wonderful sight. Apart from that, the river flows generously.

Photo by Nuno Tavares

Soon we will share the rest of Teresa Conceição favourite National Parks...

LISBON - MUSEUM OF ELECTRICITY

O Museu da Electricidade, overlooking the Tagus River, in Lisbon, is housed in an old power plant that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of its contents. Discover the history of electricity, sciences and industrial archaeology through especially kid-friendly interactive exhibits. Rotating photography and contemporary art installations are added to the museum's surprising offerings. 

COMPORTA

An hour away from Lisbon, where the Tagus peninsula merges with the mainland, Sluice emerges as a unique paradise where the hotels blend with the natural surroundings, the food is natural and the beaches are deserted and wild. This is a luxury made ​​in Portugal.

One territory, known only by the most cool world travelers, that maintains its pristine beaches and where happiness is to let yourself surrender to nature in its purest state. Here the eco-chic spirit is more than an adjective is a vital activity.

ELECTRICITY MUSEUM

The Tejo Power Station is one of Lisbon's architectural landmarks and boasts a façade of undeniable beauty. In its day it was a real pioneer in electricity generation. Today, almost a century since it was built, the power station has again taken on innovative aspects and a prominent position as an Electricity Museum.

The main part of the permanent exhibition is the power station itself, i.e. all the equipment making up the old generating unit, which is still all there today. The exhibition endeavours to give visitors a clear idea of the way Lisbon's old thermoelectric plant worked, identifying its different components and explaining how it operated.