Lonely Planet Portugal

Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians all left their mark on the Iberian nation. Here, you can gaze upon 20,000- year-old stone carvings in the Vila Nova de Foz Ca, watch the sunset over mysterious megaliths outside vora or lose yourself in the elaborate corridors of Unesco World Heritage sites in Tomar, Belm, Alcobaa or Batalha. You can pack an itinerary visiting palaces set above mist-covered woodlands, craggy clifftop castles and stunningly preserved medieval town centres.

Freshly baked bread, olives, cheese, red wine or crisp vinho verde (sparkling wine), cataplana (seafood stew), smoked meats the Portuguese have p erfected the art of cooking simple, delicious meals. Sitting down to table means experiencing the richness of Portugals bountiful coastline and fertile countryside. Of course, you dont have to sit, you can take your piping -hot pastel de nata (custard tart) standing up at an 1837 patisserie in Belm, or wander through scenic vineyards sipping the velvety ports of the Douro valley. You can shop the produce-filled markets, or book a table in one of the countrys top dining rooms.

Outside the cities, Portugals beauty unfolds in all its startling variety. You can go hiking amid the granite peaks of Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gers or take in the pristine scenery and historic villages of the little- explored Beiras. More than 800km of coast offers a multitude of places to soak up the splendour. Gaze out over dramatic end- of-the-world cliffs, surf stellar breaks off dune-covered beaches or laze peacefully on sandy islands fronting calm blue seas. Youll find dolphin-watching in the lush Sado estuary, boating and kayaking along the meandering Rio Guadiana and memorable walks and bike rides all across the country.

Festivals pack Portugals calendar. Drink, dance and feast your way through such all-night revelries as Lisbons Festa de Santo Antnio or Portos Festa de So Joo. There are kick-up-your-heels country fairs in the hinterlands, and rock- and world-music fests all along the coast. Any time of year is right to hear the mournful music of fado in the Alfama, join the dance party in Bairro Alto or hit the bars in Porto, Coimbra and Lagos.

Why I Love Portugal

By Regis St Louis, Coordinating Author

Im enamoured by the scenery, the traditions of village life and Portugals outstanding, affordable seafood especially percebes (goose barnacles) or whatever is the fresh catch of the day, grilled to perfection. I love taking in the stunning views along the coast (from the hidden beaches in Parque Natural da Arrbida to the windswept cliffs dotting the southwest shores), going for mountain treks in the Serra da Estrela (where I often bump into a shepherd or two along the way), and wandering through the pretty towns of the Minho (especially on a market day). Portugal is full of surprises, and I never tire of exploring this small but endlessly fascinating country.