Portugal Places - Best Places in Portugal

Portugal Is a beautiful country with all kind of landscapes.

The reason i made this Hub about Portugal was to show what people want to see when they search info about a country that they would like to visit.

That's my experience and vision of things, i respect also the others, i also start the journey always from my City "PORTO", for Three Big Reasons

1. Is the City that gave the name to Portugal (Portucale)
2. Is a good concept of a European historical City in Portugal (not my words)
3. Is my City (so please respect and understand me)

That's the reason you will see phrases like "some ...km from Porto...", sincei do not want to contribute to the hate and difference that sadly exists between North and South of Portugal, i try to be fair when i write about other cities that are not mine.

The Goal is to show every cool place in Portugal if i can.

((( I Always Update this Hub with more Info)))

««««««««« last update 2011-Dec »»»»»»»»»

Porto (Origins) (Euro Cities lovers)

• About 42 Km2 size (second largest city in Portugal)
• 300.000 inhabitants + (2009) - City
  
• 2.800.000 inhabitants + (2009) - Metropolis
  
• Capital of District with same name (near 3 Million inhabitants)
  
• (26 Cities+) inside this District

At North Atlantic you will find one of the most beautiful, Famous and Oldest City in Europe, Porto (Oporto).

This city (ancient Roman Empire name Portus Cale) give it's name to (Portucal) Portugal Country.
Is Famous for Porto Wine (Port Wine) is a World Heritage, also, the margins from "Douro's River" where it grows the wine grapes for the excellent Douro's Wines and Porto Wines.

With one of the best Soccer Teams in World (F.C.Porto), the best gastronomy in the country, the cheapest prices.

The art and the old Buildings from all the empires ages with various classifications, it's population remains since 2000 Before Christ, if you like Paris and Madrid you will love Porto.
In culture speaking, Porto is for Portugal what Paris is for France.

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Bragança (Fresh air)

• North East
  
• From Porto (West Coast) traveling North East 200 Hard Km near Spanish border there is the lovely "Bragança",
  
• Capital of District with same name
• Placed in the Mountains
• From Porto to interior North East there are lots of mountains with variety of species and some hidden and rural places forgotten by the time, nice for adventure, some are virgin places,
• Very ancient city with a big and old castle, where are the last generation of the kings family from the ancient monarchy
  

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Vila Real (Mountains Kingdom)

• North East
• From Porto to interior North East about 100 Km
• Capital of District with same Name
• IS a beautiful city placed in a valley
• Very ancient City with a palace and other ancient buildings
  

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Viana do Castelo (Walking)

• North (West-Center)
• From Porto to North near Atlantic about 60 Km you will find Viana do Castelo
• Capital of it's District with same name
• Is like a small "Rio de Janeiro" with river (Lima's River) and Sea (Atlantic) and lovely beaches, water is cold.

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Braga (Memories)

• North
  
• From Porto to North about 60 Km a bit for the interior you will find Braga, the big religious city, one of the oldest towns with historical places and a new city growing in the middle of green mountains.
• Capital of District with same name
• Braga is for Portugal what Vatican is for Italy

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Aveiro and Viseu (Nort West) (Smell)

• North-Center
  
• From Porto travel South about 60 Km find Aveiro's city
  
• Is like a little "Venice", a growing city in the middle of green forests
• Capitals of District with same name
• (16 Cities+) inside this District

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Alentejo (Adventure)

• South East
• A vast region that occupies 4 Districts
• Santarem, Portalegre, Evora and Beja (all 4 Capitals of District)

You can find some big desert places with some vegetation and rural places where the sun in summer don't forgive sometimes with temperatures about 40+ Degrees, this big region haves some Capitals of districts like "Beja" and "Évora", you can imagine you are in Mexico when you visit these places, there are lots of old castles here and in the surround areas.

Alentejo also touches Setubal District (Capital of District with the same name) south Region, where they make some new excellent mixed innovating wines.

Santarem is famous for the bulls and "Touradas", Portalegre is a District near the Spanish border where they produce some cheese types.

Lisbon (Lisboa) (Capitals route)

• South-Center West
  
• About 100 Km2 size (largest city in Portugal)
• 580.000 inhabitants + (2009) - City
  
• 3.200.000 inhabitants + (2009) - Metropolis
  
• Capital of District with same name (more 3 Million inhabitants)
  
• (12 Cities+) inside this District

Is actually the Capital of Portugal located in a strategy location about 10 Km from Sea and with the large Tejo's River, a capital growing each day, prices are higher than north.
Lisbon was taken from the Moorish centuries ago and became part of the growing nation.

There are a mix of buildings, most part with red roofs, but also modern areas, and some nice places to visit like the down town,zoo, aquarium, expo park...etc

Algarve (Summer)

• South
• A vast region with 1 District inside
• Faro Capital of District with same name
  

Is in the south of Portugal, this Region is famous for the Hot temperatures and beaches, not a cheap at it seems, but water is not so cold, some places are warmer.
Capital of district here is Faro, there are many cities, About (16)

More places
There are other places to visit, the most part are religious, there are some castles everywhere in Portugal cities and monuments, is the oldest republic in Europe and was an wold Empire in past, this makes it a rich cultural place to visit.

People from the Beautiful Madeira, and from the Lovely islands of Açores, please don't be sad, i will update this Hub in future with info i need to research, thanks (obrigado)