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Some of the earliest civilizations include Lusitanians and Celtic societies. Incorporation into the Roman Republic dominions took place in the 2nd century BC. The region was ruled and colonized by Germanic peoples. It is bounded to the North and East by Spain and to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal also includes the Azores and Madeira archipelagos.

What to See in Portugal
By Patrick Sharple

Portugal, an Iberian Peninsula country, is bordered on the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and on the north and east by Spain. The culture of Portugal is generally considered Latin by way of Ancient Rome. Generally, Portugal has decent weather, good beaches, museums and several World Heritage sites for visitors to see.

Photo: ejc.net

The southern coast Algarve region of Portugal is one of the more popular vacation spots, as there are several beaches located there. There is more than 200 kilometers worth of coastline in this region, and there are different landscapes from which to choose. The Vincentia coast in Algarve’s western region is made almost entirely of steep cliffs. The western Barlavento coast offers several caves and unusual rock formations for visitors to view. The eastern Sotavento coast is more of a traditional beach, with island beaches and an unfettered sandy coastline.

In Chaves, a Portuguese town to the far north, visitors will find the 14th-century Chaves Castle, which is, in actuality, the former castle’s keep tower, which is the only part of the structure that is still in good shape. The tower is surrounded by gardens and flower borders and within the tower, there are ancient armor and guns on display, along with displays regarding World War I and colonial wars within and outside of the region.

Chaves is also well-known for its hot springs area, which was formally a group of hot water springs but in more contemporary times because a thermal complex. Although there is no evidence of potential volcanic activity in the region, the waters are unusually hot, making the springs of Chaves a popular mecca for those seeking natural treatment for various ailments.

Photo: peterme.com

Northwest of Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon is Sintra, a World Heritage walled city, named as such thanks to the city’s Romantic architecture. Sights to be seen in Sintra include the Pena National Palace, one of the seven wonders of Portugal, located on a hill overlooking the town and the Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors), built between the 9th- and 10th-centuries, which features the Church of Saint Peter, a church with no roof. An interesting feature of the interior of the castle is a Moor-built cistern, designed to hold water, which would be essential in case of attack.

Braga, another popular destination in northern Portugal, is home to the Bishops of Portugal and features several churches. The most photographed church in Portugal, Santuario do Bom Jesus do Monte, is located in Braga. The town is also home to several museums, including the Stringed Instruments Museum, featuring a lineage of Portuguese instruments beginning in the Middle Ages; the Museum Medina, featuring 21 drawings and 83 oil paintings, including still life, portraits and landscapes, by Henrique Medina; the Image Museum, which houses the most important photography exhibit in Portugal and which features both contemporary and classic photographers and a large number of Braga historic photos; and the Pius XII Museum, dedicated to pottery and implements from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

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Posted on January 12th, 2009 under Accommodation, Europe, Hotel, Portugal. Tags: Iberian Peninsula, Lisboa, Pena National Palace, Portugal, Sintra, World Heritage walled city. RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback.