It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for Portuguese manor houses and stately homes, especially ones you can stay in and pretend you own (or perhaps that’s just my little fantasy). Casa da Ínsua is one such place and I jumped at the chance to check it outRead More →
One of Portugal’s gastronomic highlights is Serra da Estrela cheese. Its by-product, requeijão (like ricotta) is rather yummy, too. Thanks to a cheese-making workshop, I now know how they’re made, although I won’t be trying this at home. According to Maria do Céu, who has been making Serra da Estrela cheese sinceRead More →
The ancient city of Conímbriga in central Portugal is one of the best Roman ruins I’ve ever visited. It’s so good I’ve been there twice and been impressed on both occasions. Even my 13-year-old stepdaughter declared, “It was better than I expected!” So what makes Conímbriga so remarkable? For me,Read More →
Coimbra’s national museum opened its doors to the public in 2012 after years of renovation. It’s a uniquely fascinating space with underground treasures and life-size chapels that was incorprated into Coimbra’s UNESCO World Heritage area in 2019. Here are five very good reasons why you should incorporate a visit toRead More →
Having spent years as a beach bum, I quickly switched my affections to river beaches when I arrived in central Portugal for a number of reasons. Each one is unique and although I have a few firm favourites locally, I’m always keen to check out different river beaches. As you’llRead More →
The rejuvenating properties of white cement are noticeable in the lakeside town of Santa Comba Dão (aka the ‘Princess of the Dão) in central Portugal. Like botox for buildings, the cement has been used extensively to smooth out the deep gaps that had formed between the granite blocks of traditional buildings. The roughRead More →
Julie Dawn Fox explains why Cascalheira river beach near Arganil, central Portugal is surprisingly good.Read More →
