House of travel Spain, Portugal, Greece & Turkey 2017 | Page 25

Lisbon & Porto
The views from the ramparts of the Castle of St George are among the best on offer
in a city where spectacular views are practically a dime a dozen. You may prefer to
scale the 28-metre Monument to Christ to look back across the Tagus River at the
city, or the Discoveries Monument for a bird’s eye view of Belem. Lisbon’s World
Heritage listed sites pay tribute to its seafaring past: Belem Tower was a starting
point for many of the Voyages of Discovery from the 16th century onwards, and
Jeronimo’s Monastery contains countless motifs of explorations. Stroll through the
streets of Porto and feel the pulse of this exciting city. Take a cruise on a rabelo on
the Douro River and admire the vineyard-clad hills. The Douro Valley is a World
Heritage listed region famous for its port wine production.
Our favourite things to see and do
The Bairro Alto – The cobbled twisting lanes of this
working class quarter date back to the 16th century. This area
has been the city’s bohemian haunt of artists and writers.
Behind colourful façades are a variety of restaurants and
tourist-packed Fado Houses, and the nightlife is vibrant.
Alfama – Time has stood still here, washing hangs out to dry
from balconies, caged birds are brought outside for some air,
and in the evenings the strains of Fado waft out from cafés.
The maze of alleys and streets are carved into the hillside.
Pasties de Nata – These Portuguese vanilla cakes are the
most famous, delicious and best kept secrets in Portugal.
Fado – This music is melancholic and the essence of Portugal.
Fado means fate, and its songs tell of heartbreak and longing.
Castle of St George – Climb the hill or take the tram to visit
this castle right on top of the tallest of Lisbon’s seven hills for
spectacular views over the city and countryside. The oldest
parts date back to the 6th century and inside the walls are
promenades, gardens, houses and a church.
Riverside Dining at Doca de Alcantara – Right under
the River Tagus Bridge, these old barns once used for boating
equipment have been converted into magnificent restaurants
and bars. After dinner, take a romantic walk by the river.
Porto City Tour with Six Bridges Cruise – Journey
through this historic environment and visit a Port Wine Cellar
with wine tasting. Enjoy the famous ‘6 Bridges Cruise’ on the
Douro River to admire the landscape from the water and the
bridges that connect Porto and Gaia.
Douro Valley Wine Tour from Porto – Visit two
stunning wineries nestled into the valley, each with sweeping
views. Learn about the vast array of varietals grown and
fermented here, and enjoy a traditional 3-course lunch.
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