What to do in Portugal

Speaking of Sao Jorge Castle, it’s located in Alfama atop the highest hill in Lisbon, revealing nearly a thousand years of the city’s history. Occupation of the castle hill dates back to at least the 8th century BC, with the first fortifications dating to the 1st century BC. It was used as a fortification for the Romans, Visigoths, and the Moors with its turbulent history reflected throughout. A tour reveals medieval royal quarters, underground chambers, heavily fortified battlements, and 18 towers. The solid defenses of the castle’s keep and the impenetrable walls are all open to the public. Tranquil gardens can be found in the courtyards and there is also a restaurant on-site ideal for taking a break while enjoying a glass of wine. In the basement you’ll find a small museum that displays artefacts, including jewelry, tools, weapons and ceramics, that were uncovered during excavations.

Fado is Portugal’s traditional folk music and a must-hear with its melancholic tunes that include guitars and mandolins. Poetic lyrics sung by a Fadista complement the instruments that often feature the dark elements of sadness, death, and love, with an occasional dash of humor. It’s even been listed on UNESCO’S Intangible Cultural Heritage list with roots that go back to the early 19th-century. There are two different types of fado, one enjoyed in Lisbon where it’s extremely popular, and the other in Coimbra. Some of the best performances are offered at Clube do Fado in the Alfama district of Lisbon although you can often enjoy it while dining on a delicious meal as it’s often performed in restaurants too. If you’d like to learn more about the origins of fado, Museo do Fado (Fado Museum) is the place to go with exhibits on traditional fado, archives, audiovisual displays, and a café that hosts concerts.

The colorful cobbled streets of Porto were made for wandering with many historical attractions to discover. Like Lisbon, the facades of the buildings glisten with brightly colored tiles, but Porto has the charms of a smaller town with its beauty found in the historic center. As you stroll through, you’ll be awed by its churches and other structures which are true works of art, like the UNESCO-listed Church of Sao Francisco, the most prominent Gothic monument in Porto. Built in the 14th-century, you’ll first notice its stately south wall with Gothic arches, windows and rosettes. Its particularly notable for its elaborately decorated Baroque interior that’s said to contain over 300 kilos of gold dust, which cover altars and other decorative surfaces. Other highlights include Palacio da Bolsa, Porto’s former stock exchange, and the Fort of Sao Francisco de Queijo, known as the Castle of Cheese, believed to have been built in the 15th-century.

You really can’t leave Portugal without having tasted port at Vila Nova de Gaia, the hub of the port wine industry which sits just across the river from Porto. The port houses are the lodges of the historic port wine producers which are strewn along the waterfront with tasting rooms, aging tanks, and caves. They date back to the early 13th-century when King Alfonso gave the town status before passing it off to the aristocracy, as Oporto’s bishops had tacked unreasonable shipping charges onto the wine. The House of Croft was established more than three centuries ago, owned and operated by descendants of two prominent Port wine families, the Yeatmans and Fladgates. Visitors can enjoy tasting and touring barrel-lined cellars here year-round, with tastings that include heavenly chocolate pairings. Dinner on one of the rooftop terraces brings sparkling views of Porto’s historic center opposite.

The small rural town of Evora has a history that dates back more than 2,000 years, something that can be glimpsed in its impeccably preserved Old Town with its over 4,000 historic structures. There are Roman temples, walls, towers, and gates with origins that go back to the 3rd century too. One of the important Gothic structures, the 13th-century Cathedral of Evora, is a must-visit. The pink granite cathedral with conical spires has a mix-mash of architecture with not only a huge Gothic nave, but Baroque chapels and a Manueline choir. From the roof terrace look down over the town and then enter the Gothic cloisters with orange trees in the garden. The 16th-century aqueduct is well-worth a look, following the same course as the original Roman aqueduct, incorporating some of its stonework. Just west of town is Almendres Cromlech, a Neolithic site with 95 standing stones that form two huge circles.