Article Written By: GilbertRobbins
Portugal, with its sun-kissed beaches like Casais and Sagres filled with crowds, welcomes thousands of tourists every year. Portugal with its most dramatic and end of the world cliffs, wild dune covered beaches, protected coves and long, sandy islands along the coastline entices tourists to visit the place again and again.Portugal with medieval castles and picture-perfect villages scattered over meandering coastlines portrays an old-fashioned charm. The flower-covered hillsides enchant tourists more than anything. The country s proud history can be felt everywhere from the ancient university town of Coimbra to Lord Byron's favorite Portuguese haunt, Sintra.Portugal is a land of traditional villages and still remains one of the Europe s unspoilt gems. Portugal is full of vibrant cities apart from countryside strewn with historical treasures and a wide assortment of world heritage sites with both natural and cultural wonders that offer a vista into this once great seafaring nation. Lisbon, the country s capital and its rival, Porto, always entices visitors with its riverside views, cobblestone streets and rattling trams framed by looming cathedrals. The region with picturesque neighborhoods, broad plazas and old-fashioned trams is a magical place entrancing visitors. Lisbon and Porto both these cities share rocking urban life with lots of restaurants, colorful boutiques, bohemian cafes and stylish nightclubs along the waterside setting. Smaller towns offer the most beautiful landscapes with well-preserved medieval quarters that invite exploring in towns like Évora, Coimbra, Guimarães and Braga. Travelers can enjoy portugal s warm sunny climate out of the cities while exploring centuries-old vineyards, visiting stone villages in the mountains or soaking up rays on the magnificent southern shoreline. All along the coastline there lie dramatic sceneries from windswept cliffs with edge-of-the-world views to wild dune-covered beaches. Apart from static backdrop, the scenery sets the stage for outdoor adventure such as hiking, surfing, windsurfing, horse-riding, big game fishing, kayaking, diving, golfing and mountain biking are some of the few ways to spend afternoon.Visitors seeking to enjoy a different slice of Portuguese culture can join the revelry at a traditional festival, join the melancholy music of fado, and sample the great fruits of the sea or enjoy the port wine tasting. Visitors here can enjoy an overnight stay in some of the beautiful settings. If you re planning a trip to Portugal than it s worth making a beeline for a Portuguese festival, particularly Carnaval in March, and Holy Week (the week before Easter) in March or April. Dates vary annual. But, make sure to plan your trip in advance and book for accommodations as well as hire a car in Portugal.
This Article Has Been Published on Wed, 9 Mar 2011 and Read 218 Times