{"id":18584,"date":"2018-04-16T11:48:19","date_gmt":"2018-04-16T15:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=18584"},"modified":"2020-11-04T10:57:57","modified_gmt":"2020-11-04T15:57:57","slug":"experience-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/experience-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience Portugal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Experience Portugal<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Portugal has been in the limelight for several years now, topping many lists for being a \u201cmust-see destination.\u201d It\u2019s true. There is so much to see, do, and experience.<\/p>\n

I recently heard myself telling the mother of a dear friend who hadn\u2019t been to Europe, \u201cIf you were only going to visit\u00a0one<\/em>\u00a0country<\/em>\u00a0for an authentic European experience \u2013 Portugal should be the one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why? Lisbon is the\u00a0oldest city in Western Europe<\/a><\/u>, founded by the Phoenicians as\u00a0Allis Ubbo\u00a0<\/em>(Safe Harbor) over three thousand years ago (1200 BC). Yet, it has modernized in ways that retain the charm and magic of the centuries.<\/p>\n

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You can learn about the rich history of Portugal (09\/18) in\u00a0California in Europe<\/a><\/u>.<\/u>\u00a0You may remember, that\u2019s where Escape Artist and Wheeler Expeditions offer special customized trips designed with you in mind.<\/p>\n

Or better yet, experience firsthand what is unique and distinctive about Portugal. You can join us for a week in early July and see Portugal for yourself. As Americans who have spent a great deal of time here over eight years, we\u2019ll show you the best and most interesting aspects.<\/p>\n

No big buses for us. We find it is most enjoyable as a relatively small group of a dozen or so travelers. We\u2019ll share the experience of discovering this gorgeous, friendly, and authentic European country while getting to know each other. And the cuisine is a reason many return. The food and wine is hearty and delicious.<\/p>\n

We begin with two days in Lisbon, the capital city.<\/p>\n

Today, Lisbon is one of Europe\u2019s most charming, timeless, and elegant cities. It is very clean and rated as the third-safest city in the world. The entire city is appealing and enjoyable. For this trip, we expect guests from various countries; however, coming from North America, you would arrive in Lisbon in the morning.<\/p>\n

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lunch and a glass of wine at an open-air caf\u00e9 at the Rua da Prata\u2026<\/p>\n

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\u2026and while you are there,\u00a0 reflect on how archaeologists have excavated a 2,000-year-old Roman street directly underneath us<\/u>, with shops and caf\u00e9s just like what we\u2019re enjoying right then.\u00a0 Lisbon is old \u2013 a thousand years old by the time of Rome.<\/p>\n

Visit \u00a0St. George\u2019s Castle<\/a><\/u>.<\/u>\u00a0The hill was used by indigenous Celtic tribes, then by Phoenicians Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and finally the Portuguese themselves. In Portuguese, it is called\u00a0Castelo de S\u00e3o Jorge<\/a><\/u> and overlooks the city.<\/p>\n

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visit the famous Se Cathedral<\/u>\u00a0<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n

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ride the cable cars\u2026<\/p>\n

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Spend your evening eating in a highly-rated restaurant which offers a wide variety of wonderful dishes. If you are a food and wine lover, Portugal is your place!<\/p>\n

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After dinner, there\u2019s the option of relaxing or checking out the nightlife in Baixa – Chiado, which is extremely popular.<\/p>\n

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The Belem area of Lisbon is considered the \u201ccapital of the Portuguese Discoveries.\u201d<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Torre<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0Tower of Bel\u00e9m<\/a><\/em>\u00a0is the landmark of Portugal, built in the early 1500s at the height of Portugal\u2019s great Age of Exploration. We\u2019ll enjoy breathtaking views along the Tagus River.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s across from the\u00a0World Heritage Site of the Monastery of Jer\u00f3nimos<\/a><\/u>, one of the most magnificent buildings in Europe and housing the tomb of Portugal\u2019s greatest explorer,\u00a0Vasco da Gama<\/a><\/u>.\u00a0It is a solemn moment to be in the presence of such epic history.<\/p>\n

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While your in Belem, we\u2019ll visit two extraordinary museums, the Museu dos Coches (Museum of the Coaches) from times when there were only horse-drawn carriages…<\/p>\n

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…and then there is the incredible Museu de Marinha, or \u201cNavy Museum,\u201d which houses original ships from Portugal\u2019s Age of Exploration. These are not replicas, you will be seeing the real deal.<\/p>\n

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After stopping to sample the delicious pastries at the famous\u00a0Past\u00e9is de Bel\u00e9m<\/em>, we will explore more of Lisbon.<\/p>\n

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This is the Praca do Comercio, or \u201cCommercial Plaza,\u201d near the water:<\/p>\n

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Dinner can be a delicious Portuguese cuisine nearby at a highly-rated restaurant. After dinner and a classic Portuguese musical fado show, those who are still energized can visit one of Lisbon\u2019s most popular clubs.
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It\u2019s also a beautiful city at night\u2026<\/p>\n

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Experience Historic Sintra<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now you\u2019ll experience Sintra, the famous historical city on a hill where we\u2019ll stay and tour the extraordinary\u00a0World Heritage Site of Sintra<\/a><\/u>.<\/u><\/p>\n

stay at the classic hotel Tivoli with panoramic views in the center of historic Sintra. Located next to the National Palace and many restaurants and shops, we\u2019ll have walking access to everything in the village.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Palace of Monserrate<\/a><\/u>\u00a0has a history that goes back to 1540, and it was completely renovated several times over the centuries to its current pristine condition. In\u00a01809,\u00a0Lord Byron<\/u>\u00a0<\/a>visited the place and described it as the\u00a0\u201c<\/em>first and foremost beautiful place in the Kingdom.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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visit the magical fairy-tale Pena Palace<\/a><\/u>, the summer residence of the Portuguese royalty during the 19th\u00a0century:<\/p>\n

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visit the Castle of the Moors<\/a><\/u>,<\/u>\u00a0first built in the 8th\u00a0century and captured by Christian knights in 1147. After exploring its ramparts (notice Pena Palace in the background)…<\/p>\n

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\u2026descend to the famous Lawrence\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0Hotel<\/em>\u00a0for afternoon tea and pastries.\u00a0This is where Lord Byron stayed in 1809 to write his poem,\u00a0Childe Harold\u2019s Pilgrimage<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0in which he praised Sintra as a “glorious Eden\u2026 palaces and gardens rising in the midst of rocks, cataracts and precipices; convents on stupendous heights.”<\/p>\n

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After a hearty Portuguese lunch, you can explore during the afternoon, visiting the Quinta da Regaleira<\/a><\/u>\u00a0with beautiful expansive gardens and their famous spiral Initiation Well.<\/p>\n

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have a fantastic dinner at a favorite restaurant in Sintra.<\/p>\n

Experience the Portuguese Riviera (Estoril, Cascais, and Guincho Beach)<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a breakfast with a view at the Tivoli\u2019s buffet,\u00a0 head for the coast – the Portuguese Riviera.<\/p>\n

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This aerial photo shows you why many say that\u00a0Cascais<\/a><\/u>\u00a0is the jewel of the Portuguese Riviera.<\/p>\n

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Cascais is Portugal at its most captivating, with picture postcard scenes everywhere:<\/p>\n

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Cascais is teeming with cool and quaint little shops, cafes, and bars.<\/p>\n

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Then stroll along the boardwalk to see classic architecture and year-round beachgoers as we pass all the pocket beaches along the Cascais-Estoril Promenade.<\/p>\n

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Cascais is full of wonderful restaurants and shops.<\/p>\n

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overnight in Cascais.<\/p>\n

The Silver Coast of Portugal<\/strong><\/p>\n

take a spectacular scenic drive up the coast where we\u2019re likely to see surfers at Guincho Beach.<\/p>\n

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Then continue on to our first stop at Cabo da Roca<\/a><\/u>, the westernmost point of land in Europe.<\/p>\n

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It doesn\u2019t get more beautiful than this!<\/p>\n

Next, head up the coast for a visit to the walled medieval city of Obidos<\/a><\/u>. All of Obidos has been declared a national monument. It is known as the “Wedding Present Town” because it was a gift King Dinis gave to Queen Isabel on their wedding day in 1282.<\/p>\n

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The\u00a0Medieval Castle of Obidos<\/a><\/u> encircles the town, often called one of Europe\u2019s most romantic villages.<\/p>\n

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The Silver Coast is an area becoming increasingly popular with those who want a home near the ocean at a reasonable price.<\/p>\n

There are many sections that are very popular with surfers, including Peniche and Nazare, which have world-record-breaking surfing.<\/p>\n

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At the end of the day,\u00a0 drive to your hotel, Arribas in Colares \u2013 right on the sea at Praia Grande. Every single room at the Arribas has a spectacular ocean view. Have dinner overlooking the ocean.<\/p>\n

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Up the coastline, is an oceanfront hotel.<\/p>\n

You can watch the sunset from your balcony:<\/p>\n

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Relax and Enjoy the Beach at Praia Grande<\/strong><\/p>\n

Or, you can take a short hike to see real dinosaur footprints! After lunch by the ocean,\u00a0 return to Lisbon.<\/p>\n

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In Lisbon, enjoy a bit more of the city, before…<\/p>\n

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…your Farewell Dinner that night at a special restaurant near the Marques de Pombal.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019ve been to every European capital city and I can assure you that however you rate a city, this one scores highly.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re into natural scenic beauty, history, culture and arts, food and wine, or you enjoy people, Portugal will be a pleasure. It can also be a practical choice to live and work abroad or retire and live well.<\/p>\n

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Are you interested in making the move to Portugal? Please<\/b> contact us HERE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Here is<\/b> probably the most extensive ebook on <\/b>Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Eliminating Your Taxes, Protecting Your Assets And Regaining Privacy Over Your Life And Investments<\/i><\/b>. It is called<\/b> The<\/b> Ultimate Guide To Going Offshore<\/b><\/a>. <\/b><\/p>\n

We hope you enjoyed our article on Experience Portugal. For more information on 2nd residency and passports, you can contact us<\/b> HERE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

I’ve also added some really great articles for you to read:<\/b><\/p>\n

Portugal<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Relocating to Portugal: What You Need to Know<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Most Popular Expat Cities in Portugal<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Why Portugal Golden Visa Investment will be A Growing Trend in 2020<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Portugal: Strong Investment Base despite Unstable Atmosphere in Europe<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

The Investment Benefits Of The Golden Visa Portugal<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Experience Portugal Portugal has been in the limelight for several years now, topping many lists for being a \u201cmust-see destination.\u201d It\u2019s true. There is so much to see, do, and experience. I recently heard myself telling the mother of a dear friend who hadn\u2019t been to Europe, \u201cIf you were only going to visit\u00a0one\u00a0country\u00a0for an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":366,"featured_media":18585,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[117,233,380,451,27310],"yst_prominent_words":[27302,27305,2383,1721,3680,27304,27292,7585,7831,27306,27307,7587,27308,27309,3244,3744,11767,27303,7830,7822],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/image8-4.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18584"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/366"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18584"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43147,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18584\/revisions\/43147"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18584"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=18584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}