Travel Series: Portugal
From the colorful historical buildings to the golden limestone cliffs, Portugal is definitely one of the most underrated countries in Europe. Something about the rich history, the friendliness of the Portuguese, and the mouth-watering, fresh-caught seafood drew me in to this quaint little European country and has left me wanting to go back to experience its distinctive character and old-world charm again.
Lisbon is rich in colors and quirky buildings. It combines classic European historical buildings, like the stunning Jeronimo monastery, with its own niche landmarks, like the famous Pink Street. The multiple miradouros, or outlooks, around the hilly city make it perfect for seeing the distinctive characteristics of the city, such as the many red tiled roofs. On my day trip to Cascais, I walked along the jagged coast towards Boca do Inferno (“Hell’s Gate”), admiring the ferocious crashing of the waves and looking out towards an endless horizon. The colorful, quirky Palace of Pena in Sintra, Portugal was one of my favorite buildings. An odd combination of colors that were mustard yellow, dark red, and light blue, in conjunction with spheres, half circles, squares, and triangles, I would never think to have fallen in love with the eccentric styles and shapes of the palace.
With its endless rolling lush green hills and valleys, Porto has a different kind of beauty. Like many other European nations, Porto was classic wine country that produces many wines including their local Port wine, which can only be produced in the region of the Duoro Valley. The majestic valleys are cut by a wide, tame river, making the Duoro Valley such a serene, peaceful place that I did not want to leave. Although Porto’s tranquility contrasts with the bustling, quirky charm of Lisbon, it has its own history and beauty.
Our last stop on our trip was to the Algarve Coast. I was in awe of the towering, golden limestone cliffs that made up the coastline and the cute summer town of Carvoeiro. Unlike the rocky, jagged coastline in Lisbon, these cliffs are massive and sun-kissed. They are a different type of intimidating—of massiveness but also gentle beauty. The beaches are nestled between the cliffs, giving a sense of secludedness. History is embedded in the centuries-old cliffs and towns on the coast, bringing deeper significance to simple summer vacation towns.
From Lisbon’s historic European charm to the serene valleys of Porto to the majestic golden cliffs of the Algarve, Portugal’s many different features and the effortless way it combines European flair with quiet resort town made me fall in love with this country.
