Portugal beautiful places

Angra do Heroismo

Angra do Heroismo is one of the principal settlements of the Azores, a group of nine volcanic islands located in the Atlantic Ocean almost 900 miles west of mainland Portugal. The surroundings are idyllic, with rolling green hills and pastures, dramatic cliffs, and the azure blue ocean for as far as the eye can see. Angra do Heroismo is the oldest continuously settled town on the islands, and is filled with history and culture. The town is centered around the 18th-century Praça Velha, a large, handsome town square from which numerous streets and winding alleys branch off, leading to beautiful palaces, churches and forts.

Aveiro

Nicknamed the Venice of Portugal for its beautiful network of canals that wind their way through the city, Aveiro is at once unique and typically charming. Every street is lined with wonderful examples of Portuguese architecture, from idyllic white-washed Mediterranean houses to traditional azulejo façades made of glazed ceramic tiles painted in an astonishing variety of colours and patterns. The town is a perfect walker’s paradise, with small bridges, quaint courtyards and inviting beaches around every corner, waiting to be discovered. Central to the town is the Cathedral of Aveiro, a masterpiece of Portuguese Baroque architecture, and well worth a visit.

Coimbra

Home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, Coimbra has been one of Portugal’s key centers for arts and culture for over 500 years. Located on the picturesque banks of the Mondego River, the city cascades down the hillside towards the water, with each level revealing a new architectural treasure, from Renaissance and Baroque cathedrals to the Moorish-inspired palaces. The university is a key part of the fabric of the town: it is composed of richly decorated courtyards, college buildings dating back to the 16th century, and the Joanine library, an extraordinary blend of elegance and decadence, and a true bibliophile’s paradise.

Évora

Évora is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns network, and one glance at the town is enough to show why. The town is extraordinarily well-preserved, boasting remnants of the original medieval city walls, palaces dating from the 14th to the 17th centuries, and the beautiful remains of the Roman Temple of Évora, a 1st century temple dedicated to the Emperor Augustus. Interspersed with the monumental remnants of Évora’s history are winding lanes and bustling streets lined with traditional, red-roofed, white-washed houses and peaceful groves of trees.

Guimarães

The historical city of Guimarães was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status both for its extraordinarily well-preserved architecture and history, and for the key role it has played throughout Portuguese history and in the formation of the Portuguese nation. Guimarães is striking for its numerous examples of buildings typifying architectural developments from the Middle Ages to the modern day: crumbling medieval archways intermingle with traditional 16th-century half-timbered houses and small Gothic chapels. Overlooking the town is the monumental Guimarães castle, a unique marriage of Romanesque and Gothic styles, and one of Portugal’s most impressive castles.