Medieval bridge, Ponte da Barca

You might have heard of Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese navigator who proved once and for all that the Earth is round. In Portugal, he’s known by his real name, Fernão Magalhães, and although no one can say with absolute certainty, it’s likely that he’s from the quaint town of Ponte da Barca.Read More →

Old Council Chambers, Viana do Castelo, 16th century building

João Alvares Fagundes should probably be a Portuguese national hero. The Lima Valley Giant from Viana do Castelo played a significant role in securing the enduring popularity of bacalhau (cod fish) in Portugal. At the beginning of the 16th century, during the Age of Discoveries, he wound up in the CanadianRead More →

Legalise it, Street Art AXA, Porto

Indoor street art sounds like a contradiction in terms but that’s what’s on offer this month in Porto. 5 floors of the former AXA building in Avenida dos Aliados have been taken over by celebrated national and international street artists. Note: Although the exhibition is over, you can explore the best ofRead More →

Arcos de Valdevez bridge

The view from a glass-fronted riverside café one afternoon in Arcos de Valdevez was enough to convince me that this northern Portuguese village warranted further exploration. That’s partly why I accepted an invitation to follow the Lima Valley Giants Route. Being keen to learn more about the history, countryside and culture of this partRead More →

Mosteiro de Crasto near Ponte da Barca, Lima Valley, Minho, Portugal

Portugal’s Lima valley is so beautiful you hardly need an excuse to visit. The verdant landscape, abundant history and architecture, not to mention the local vinho verde (young wine) are reasons enough for spending as much time as possible in this part of northern Portugal. The main aim of my most recent trip, however,Read More →

Pool, Casas do Côro, Marialva

How do you revitalise a sleepy historical village that’s off the beaten track? Paulo and Carmen Romão from Casas do Côro have made a huge difference to Marialva by buying up several traditional granite cottages and renovating them to form a luxury rural retreat. They haven’t taken over the entireRead More →