frommer''s portugal (hungry minds inc,2004)

[...]... 13 1 The Best of Portugal Centuries ago, Portugal was a pioneer of worldwide exploration Until recently, however, it was never as successful in attracting visitors to its own shores Outside of greater Lisbon, the Algarve, and the island of Madeira, Portugal remained unknown and undiscovered by the mainstream visitor for many decades Today’s travelers are beginning to realize that Portugal was unjustly... prices much more reasonable than those outside Portugal The best stores are concentrated in Lisbon 2 Planning Your Trip to Portugal J ust getting started is the difficult part for many travelers This chapter addresses the where, when, and how of visiting Portugal all the logistics of putting your trip together and taking it on the road 1 Regions in Brief Portugal s coastline stretches some 800km (496... find solitude on the sands if you stop beside lonely expanses of any coastal road in northern Portugal • Fishing in Rich Coastal Waters: Portugal s position on the Atlantic, its (largely) unpolluted waters, and its flowing rivers encourage concentrations of fish You won’t be the first to plumb these waters— Portugal fed itself for hundreds of generations using nets and lines, and its maritime and fishing... beloved Isabel The village remained the personal property of the queens of Portugal until 1834 Today the town’s ramparts, cobblestone streets, and 14th-century facades make Óbidos the most romantic spot in Portugal See section 1 in chapter 7 13 • Buçaco: This forest figures more prominently in the national psyche than any other in Portugal, partly because of its association with the doomed royal family... p 256 11 The Best Wines For generations, much of what the English-speaking world knew about Portugal came from the reports that wine merchants brought back to Britain from the wineries of the Douro Valley Today Portugal is famous throughout the world for its port wines, and many parts of central and northern Portugal are covered with well-tended vines sprouting from intricately laid-out terraces that... outlets throughout Portugal • Jewelry: In Portugal, any piece of jewelry advertised as “gold” must contain at least 19.2 karats This purity allows thousands of jewelers to spin the shining stuff into delicate filigree work with astounding detail Whether you opt for a simple brooch or for a depiction in gold or filigreed silver of an 18thcentury caravel in full four-masted sail, Portugal produces jewelry... Seville 6 CHAPTER 1 THE BEST OF PORTUGAL chain of state-owned and operated hotels The rooms might not be as opulent as you’d hoped, and the government-appointed staffs will probably be more bureaucratic than you’d care to encounter Nonetheless, pousada-hopping rewards the visitor with insights into the Portugal of long ago • Playing Golf by the Sea: British merchants trading in Portugal s excellent wines... Atlantic Ocean and on the north and east by Spain Continental Portugal totals some 55,000 sq km (21,450 sq miles); its Atlantic islands, including Madeira and the Azores, add 1,935 sq km (755 sq miles) The Azores lie some 1,130km (701 miles) west of Lisbon (Lisboa), the capital of the country Portugal s population is about 10.3 million Portugal has four major rivers—the Minho in the north, which separates... 020/7494-1441) In Australia, information is available at the Embassy of Portugal, 6 Campion St., Deakin (Canberra) (& 02/6290 1733) New York Today the Azores are widely known within yachting circles as the final destination for annual sailboat races from Newport and Bermuda HELPFUL WEBSITES • www .portugal. org: Investments, Trade, and Tourism of Portugal, a government agency, maintains this site It is a general... any ATM in Portugal, including the UnicreUnibanco location listed above Machines are usually reliable, but it’s best to have a backup system for getting cash in case the ATMs in Portugal can’t decipher the numbers on your card If you want to get cash as a debit against your American Express account, consult Amex’s Portuguese representative, Top Tours (see “American Express” in “Fast Facts: Portugal, ” . .17 Planning Your Trip to Portugal 19 2 Contents List of Maps vii What’s New in Portugal 1 The Best of Portugal 4 1 1 Regions in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Destination Portugal: Red Alert Checklist . .413 Appendix: Portugal in Depth 405 Index 416 General Index . . . . . . . . . . . . .416 Accommodations Index . . . . . .427 Restaurant Index . . . . . . . . . . .430 List of Maps Portugal 5 Regions of Portugal. Santo 370 13 CONTENTS vi 1 Portugal Today . . . . . . . . . . . .405 2 A Look at the Past . . . . . . . . . .406 Dateline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .406 3 Manuelino: Portugal s Unique Architectural