02/02/2012 by Dave.

By: M Gravlee
History of Portugal

Portugal is found on the Western part of the Iberian Peninsula, that part that has the Atlantic Ocean. History has it that the territory of northern Portugal and Spain were poorly defined years ago, so they had the same cultural aspects but not for so long especially after the emergence of the Castrena culture. The culture was characterized by rounded fortified huts before the Romans colonized the place and divided Spain from Portugal.

History aside, when you visit Portugal you will be after fun filled events and entertainment sports that will complement the historical spots to give you a truly memorable and unique holiday. Climbing picturesque hills by day and bar hopping through vibrant cobbled lanes at night. Legendary cafés and art nouveau shops. World Heritage monuments and singular museum treasures. Fairytale palaces and sandy beaches nearby. Long dinners and an insatiable appetite for nightlife. First things first, before you venture in the outskirts of Portugal, in its capital city Lisbon, there are all kinds of things to do and place to visit.

Museums

The first museum is the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea Museu do Chiado, located in the center of Lisbon and where you get to sample French and Portuguese Art. The museum is always open all days of the week from 2 pm to 6 pm except on Mondays when it is opened at 10 am and closed at 6 pm.

The science museum is in the former Lisbon Polytechnic School where you get to learn about all sciences, thanks to the interactive themes that use Chemistry, Maths and Physics. The science museum is open from Tue to Fri from 10 am to 1 pm and in the afternoons from 2 to 5:30 pm excluding Sundays.

The Museu do Carme is the place to learn about archeology from different historical times. The museum is installed in the monastery ruins.

The other museum worth a visit in Portugal is the National Museum of Ancient Art, located strategically near the Tagus river in the Palace of onde Alvor. This museum exhibits great masterpieces of art from Portuguese sculptors, painters and all works of art of ancient Portuguese during colonization. The museum is always open between 10 am and 6 pm on Wednesdays through to Sundays while on Tuesdays it is open from 2 6 in the afternoon.

Entertainment and recreation

You can relax in the Tapada da Ajuda Park, a 250 acre park that was initially used for hunting but today accommodates different activities such as a children’s park, an Astronomy Observatory, and a recreation area.

The Estufa Fria tropical garden is the place to be if you are looking to learn a thing or two about plants. It has species of plants from all over the world. History has it the plants were brought to Lisbon and adapted to the climatic change.

You can also spend some time at the Botanical Gardens that date back to 1873 and boast of over 18,000 different species of plants including the banana and palm trees. The gardens are open during the summer season from 9 am to 8 pm while during the winter season the gardens are open from 9 am to 6 pm.

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25/08/2011 by Dave.

Article: Submitted by Publishernetwork 

Portugal is a great European destination to visit. Enjoying a fantastic climate, it offers visitors something a little different to the normal Mediterranean getaway as its coastline borders the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Mediterranean. In addition, it is one of the cheapest European nations to holiday in, offering great prices so that you can get more for you money. And with highly developed tourist areas, you can ensure that you get as many services and facilities as you wish, whether you want to stay in a resort or somewhere a little more off the beaten track. There are many ways of getting around in Portugal, and if you’re not staying in a resort for your entire stay it’s a good idea to utilise local services. For care hire, Portugal has many great options and by renting a vehicle you’ll be able to access a range of great Portuguese locations.

Roads are generally windy and quite narrow due to the country’s geography, though this does mean that you’ll be able to enjoy stunning views and landscapes on your travels.   A fantastic trip to do is driving from Lisbon to Porto which, whilst only taking about 3.5hours, can actually take far longer if you want to sight see on the way. Lisbon itself is a great city to explore and, situated on the hillsides overlooking Rio Tejo, is quite an extraordinary sight. In the city the large yellow trams are one of the best ways to get around and you’ll find that using these is far easier than constantly navigating streets and parking with cars. Gothic cathedrals, little museums and beautifully fresh pastries should all be enjoyed, whilst a night in the Bairro Alto district will offer bars and music including fado, reggae and jazz genres.  Outside of Lisbon are a great variety of little fishing villages to explore, and you’ll find that you can easily travel from one to the next by car, taking in beautiful beaches and the more remote quaint customs of the small hamlets. Porto itself has a great array of wonderful sights to see, including the Sao Francisco church, the Serralves museum, the prestigious ironwork of the Domluis Bridge, as well as the Douro River which is fantastic for taking a cruise down. 

One of the joys of utilising car hire in Portugal is that you’ll be able to access a large range of attractions without having to try and rely on limited bus or rail networks. Other than the popular cities of Lisbon and Porto, Sintra’s beautiful National Palace of Pena is a sight to be seen, with the UNESCO site drawing crowds of tourists. The Costa Vincentina National Park is also beautiful and a very romantic spot for couples. Heading to Cape St. Vincent will offer spectacular sunsets off the cliffs and over the sea, whilst if you want to see stunning coastlines then the Algarve is the place to head too. And by utilising inner city transport and car hire options for further afield, you can enjoy the freedom to travel around country however you wish for the ultimate Portuguese getaway.

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