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Portuguese holidays and short breaks in Portugal |
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Portugal is probably Western Europe's last mostly undiscovered holiday destination.Shaped as it is by its history and geography, the visitor to Portugal cannot fail to be enchanted by its warm welcome and its abundance of scenery, architecture and traditions. Portugal is also blessed with wonderful holiday weather, superb food and wines and is also justly famous for its port and fabulous golf courses. Once you've decided on Portugal, your next step should always be to contact an atop (Association of Travel Organisers to Portugal) member. Membership of atop is your guarantee that the organisation you deal with is an expert in travel arrangements and holidays to Portugal and that they will provide you with all the professional advice you need for visiting Portugal, Madeira and the Azores. So, whatever type of holiday you are looking for, let this website first help you find your perfect Portuguese holiday, and then the best atop member for your needs. On behalf of all of our members I look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful country that is Portugal. Mary Anne Popoff P.S. If you've not already done so, take a few seconds to sign up for our free Friend of Portugal email newsletter to get the latest news and holiday offers from atop members. Portugal and its regionsPortugal has seven wonderful and distinct regions, each with its own unique personality, and all waiting to welcome you. Porto e Norte
Northern Portugal is crossed by the Douro, the once mighty
river that has been tamed by a series of damns. The Douro Valley
is a beautiful spectacle, which can be explored on foot, by boat
or via the Douro railway. The nearby Foz Côa Archaeological
Park is home to fascinating Palaeolithic rock engravings, which
date from 30,000 years ago. Like the Douro Valley, Foz Côa
is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Centro
Portugal's Centro is characterized by the snow-peaked
mountains of Serra da Estrela, beaches and fascinating towns,
such as Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco and Trancoso. It's also
home to wine routes and several historic sites, such as
Buçaco and Belmonte. Coimbra is one of Portugal's most
important and attractive cities, containing a fabulous mediaeval
university and an ancient Jewish quarter dating back to the 12th
century. Aveiro has both charming canals and colourful
seaweed-collecting boats known as Moliceiros. Beaches include the
family friendly Costa Nova, with its distinctive stripey wooden
beach houses, and Figueira da Foz, with its broad swathes of sand
bordered by dunes and pine groves. Lisboa
Elegant and historic, but with a huge selection of bars, clubs
and nightlife, Lisbon is undoubtedly one of Europe's liveliest,
hippest cities. Built on the seven hills of the River Tagus, the
Portuguese capital looks stunning from every angle. It's a
seductive, romantic city with mazes of cobbled streets and
charming tiled buildings, that's easy to explore on foot or by
traditional funiculars. Alentejo
Occupying nearly a third of the country, Portugal's largest
region is one of the most picturesque areas of Europe. Home to
just 10% of the Portuguese population, Alentejo was once known as
the bread basket of Portugal, an apt description for this region
of vast open countryside and farmland. The huge plains are dotted
with charming castle towns and quiet hilltop villages, olive
groves, vineyards, fields of sunflowers and shady forests of cork
oak, chestnut and eucalyptus. Farmland, stretching as far as the
eye can see, provides a home for Alentejo's unique
Portuguese-bred Lusitano horses, along with some of the country's
most striking scenery. Algarve
When most of us think of the Algarve, we tend to picture
endless vistas of sand. While the southernmost region of Portugal
is undoubtedly home to some of Europe's most spectacular, white,
sandy beaches, the area has a lot more to offer than just sand
and sea. The Algarve has been receiving tourists from the UK
since the mid 1960s. Nowadays, it is a firm choice for the
British market - its tourism infrastructure appeals to young
families, couples and individuals of all ages. The Algarve's
gentle autumns and pleasant springs make it a great place to
visit out of season, when most of the bars and restaurants remain
open and tourists are able to pick up great deals. Azores
Thrown up by underwater volcanoes, the Azores is an
archipelago of nine charming islands situated a thousand miles
west of Portugal, which have remained largely unspoiled by modern
life. The four main islands are São Miguel, Terceira, Pico
and Faial. São Miguel, the largest, offers the greatest
number of activities, although many tourists opt to explore three
or four islands. Whichever island they chose to visit,
holidaymakers will be treated to stunning scenery, where gentle
pastures and rugged cliffs co-exist with crater lakes and hot
springs. Madeira
Madeira was a favourite haunt of Winston Churchill. However
the British have enjoyed the island for centuries. For those
returning from India and further afield, Madeira was a compulsory
stop, a place to relax and acclimatize to the northern
hemisphere. With its mountains, waterfalls, rock pools and its
assortment of flowers and fruits, the island's scenery is
breathtaking. What's more, this stunning, year-round destination
is just over three-hours away by air.
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