The U.S. Government is taking a summer road trip to make it easier for first-time passport holders to complete applications.
18.05.2024 - 13:39 / lonelyplanet.com
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Few countries pack as much into one small space as Portugal. Neolithic carvings, Roman ruins and Moorish castles sit side-by-side with breathtaking mountain ranges, blue-flag beaches, canal-lined cities and enchanting villages.
Summer festivals pop up in otherwise quiet countryside towns and adventure sports alight on the coast and in the mountains, while artisan producers and makers fill shops, markets and homes with farm-to-table meals and hand-crafted wares.
Music, art, history and culture are interwoven into the fabric of the nation, making Portugal more than just a great place to visit – it’s a destination that literally has something for everyone.
Here are some of our favorite ways to take a deep dive into everything Portugalia.
Planning a trip to Portugal? Copy this weekend trip to Lisbon
One of the first things that comes to mind when you think of Portugal is inevitably Fado. This unique music was born in the taverns of Lisbon, followed closely by a second genre of Fado that’s native to the north-central city of Coimbra.
Coimbra is home to the oldest Portuguese-language university in the world (whose dress code helped to inspire the Harry Potter school uniforms), where groups of students would gather in the streets to sing of love, longing and their beloved university.
Unlike Lisboa’s Fado, Coimbra’s Fado is meant to be sung outdoors, not in taverns, and the guitar is tuned lower to better fit the outdoor acoustics. The lyrics are poetic, well-rehearsed and typically more hopeful than the Lisboete style, and performers (who are all male) wear the requisite black university dress and cape to this day.
Catch a show at one of Coimbra’s most iconic Fado houses, like à Capella or Café Santa Cruz.
The Portuguese countryside oozes cultural heritage, and you can visit its unique offerings in villages from the north to the south.
Stop by Podence or Lazarim during Carnival to see the Caretos dressed in their iconic colorful costumes or wooden devil masks or head down to Alentejo, where artisan craftsmanship is alive and well. At the local markets – some of which, like the monthly Azeitão Market, are events unto themselves – you’ll see age-old basketweaving, ceramics, leather and tapestry techniques on display (don’t forget to take home some souvenirs).
In the Portuguese art world, quality trumps quantity. You may not find massive art institutions here, but you will find galleries showcasing unique works from the past and present – including homegrown Portuguese legends. Check out the Museu Coleção Berardo in Lisbon’s Centro Cultural de Belém for some of the country’s most daring exhibits; in Cascais, a celebration of Paula Rego – one of Portugal’s finest postwar painters; and in Porto, the
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