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 →
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 →
The village of Melgaço is almost as far north as you can get in Portugal and is only separated from Spain by the River Minho. Surrounded by hills, forests and vineyards and the mountains of Peneda-Gerês National Park, its setting couldn’t be more beautiful. I only had one day toRead More →
I’d been curious about Elvas ever since I picked up a brochure at Lisbon’s annual tourism show. After UNESCO granted it World Heritage status in 2012, I decided to see it for myself. My excuse to visit arrived in the form of an International Hot Air Balloon Festival hosted thereRead 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 →
