According to Ethnicityology, Lisbon lies at the confluence of the Tagus River into the Atlantic Ocean. The hilly terrain that stretches around Lisbon creates unique landscapes. There are many observation platforms in the city, from where a magnificent view of the bay opens. The city has its own unique feature – throughout its territory there are many old buildings, steep stairs, funiculars, small green parks with ponds and narrow streets lined with paving stones. The main part of the city is Rossio Square, the surface of which is beautifully paved with mosaics and decorated with bronze fountains. All this is complemented by a statue of King Pedro IV and a theater. An amazingly beautiful place in Lisbon, from where many excursions often begin, is the Tejo embankment, near which the palace square is located. On three sides, the square is surrounded by buildings of banks and ministries, and on one side there is a beautiful view of the river. The real pride of the townspeople is the monastery of Jeronimos, which is located in the beautiful and old district of Lisbon – Belen. This monastery was founded in honor of the famous navigator Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route to India. The monastery pantheon contains the tomb of Vasco da Gama and several other famous Portuguese personalities. In front of the monastery building there is a cozy small park in the center, which is dominated by a statue of the discoverer himself. Among all parts of the city, the commercial center of the capital, the Baixa district, stands out the most. Here you will not find ancient churches, castles and other values of architecture and history. The layout of the area is clear and modern. There are scattered banks, offices of large companies, huge shops and one of the most beautiful funiculars in the city. From here you have the best view of both the upper and the lower city. An important historical center of Portugal and one of the most interesting places is the city of Sintra. Due to the accumulation of a huge number of attractions on its territory, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has a long history, and during all this time numerous objects have been preserved here, reminiscent of different eras. On the territory of the city is the famous palace of Palacio de Pena, which is known for its giant park with an area of 270 hectares. A unique historical site is the Mafra palace complex, located 20 km from Sintra. Here, on ten hectares of land, there is a monastery, a palace and more than 800 other buildings, as well as a huge library, which contains about 30 thousand books, and all this is the most important part of the history of Portugal. One of the oldest Portuguese cities and the modern residence of the bishop – Braga, has been known since the 2nd century BC. Now it is the cultural and religious center of the country. The religious center of Braga became due to the Church of Christ on Calvary located here. The building of the church lies on a vast mountain terrace, at a height of 564 meters. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the country come here every year. The area near the church will be the best place for a pleasant stay, as there is a magnificent park in which there are many small fountains, beautiful small chapels. The main pride of the city is various architectural sights, which are innumerable here. The largest accumulation of architectural monuments is located in the old part of the city. Here, magnificent palaces stand in the narrow streets, small squares are best decorated with fountains. If you want to enjoy a magnificent sea holiday, then it is best to do this on the island of Flores, which lies in the very west of the Azores. In addition to sea recreation, interesting trips are possible here. The relief here is surprisingly diverse, numerous lakes, mineral springs replace caves and deep valleys. The island is also rich in other attractions, which include the westernmost settlement in Europe – the village of Far Grande, the hot springs of Aguas Cuentes and the Fazenda de Santa Cruz forest reserve.
National cuisine of Portugal
Portuguese cuisine is quite simple, but at the same time tasty and satisfying. The basis for many national dishes is fish, vegetables and meat. Fish comes first here. There are more than three hundred recipes for cod dishes alone. Seafood lovers should definitely try the Portuguese fish soup “cataplana”, which is made from different types of fish and other seafood. Popular fish dishes also include charcoal grilled sardines with potatoes, cod stewed with peas and delicious fried clams. The Portuguese eat soups almost every day, there are also a lot of their recipes here. Basically, soups are divided into two types: vegetable and fish. A thick soup made from potatoes and caldo verde cabbage is popular. Meat is used least often, but if a cook prepares a meat dish, it turns out to be very tasty. The meat is richly seasoned with a variety of spices, a lot of garlic and onions are necessarily used. Schnitzels and steaks are most often made from meat. The side dish is usually served with vegetables, potatoes or rice. In addition, rice is very often used as a dessert, it is consumed with milk and eggs.
Transport
Since Portugal is not a very large country, transportation between the main cities is carried out mainly by buses and sea transport. If you are planning to go to another city, then try to purchase tickets in advance, especially if the trip is planned to a resort town. The schedule of public intercity transport changes quite often in summer. In the capital, you can travel by metro, buses and trams. When buying a ticket for a city bus, you can use it twice. It is better to buy travel tickets in advance, as they will cost you less than when paying in transport. The Lisbon metro consists of four lines and connects the historic district of the city with sleeping areas. Please note that the metro does not reach the airport, the nearest station is “Areeiro” located 1.5 km from the airport.
