In Lisabon, capital of Portugal (it takes 84,8 square kilometres), and especially in Baixa quarter, there are many sightseeing places, worth to visit. West part of Lisabon is formed with great Monsanto park (it takes 10 square kilometres approx.), one of greatest parks in Europe. In city centre, you have to see or visit: Castelo de Sao Jorge Church,  Museu de Artes Decoratives, Largo das Portas do Sol Terraces (with wonderful view over the whole town), Mosteiro dos Jeronimos (a monastery, built in 1496), Torre de Belem Tower, Museu dos Coches (Transport Museum), Museu da Marinha (Maritime Museum), Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (Museum of Antique Arts), Praca do Comercio Square and Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian (best museum of the whole country, exhibiting pictures, statues, carpets and many other artistic works from all over the world). You need at least several hours, in order to see most important works.

In west direction, you can find the town of Sintra, (written in UNESCO World Heritage Survey), especially thanks to local wonderful architecture of 19th century. As a prove of this fact, it could serve such cultural monuments as Palacio da Pena (of 1839), ruins of Castelo dos Mouros (with wonderful view to Sintra-Cascias Park), summer residence of King´s Family Palacio Nacional de Sintra and also Montserrate Gardens.

Busy coastal town of Cascais is a contrary of quiet place of Sintra town. You can find here many hotels, casinos and night clubs. Local beaches are full of „baggage tourists“. Nevertheless, you can watch beautiful nature scenery Boca do Inferno (Hell Mouth), where the sea knocks stormingly against rocky shore. In a distance of 16 kms from here, there is situated Cabo da Roca, most western place and point of the whole Europe. On the contrary, Guincho offers wild and long beaches, 3 kms from Cascais distant.

Tavira is one of oldest and most beautiful towns of Algarve province, situated on very southern point of Portugal. The place is divided by Rio Gilao River, where you can admire several very nice bridges. The sighghtseeing could be effected by cycle or motorcycle, which could be rented here. The oldest part of town is made in Renaissance style and names Igreja da Misericordia.

The town of Lagos, placed in southwestern headland of the country, is an important tourist destination, especially thanks to its beaches. Apart of this, you can admire also cultural monuments – town´s museum and Chapel of Santo Antonio (chapel in Baroque style). Steamer-excursions (from Docapesca port) as well as horse-riding courses are being organized here.

Central Portugal created its positive name thanks to its wine of best quality. The plantations of cork-oaks are quite known here. Estremoz presents typical calm village of central Portugal – with its picturesque small houses below blue sky with surrounding fields for planting of various products. Circular view is possible to do from Torre de Menagem Tower. Local market offers, except meals, also very nice handy made ceramics – this could be seen in near local Rural Museu.

Most attractive place of interest of Batalha town is, no doubt, Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Vitoria Monastery – colossal Gothic work, built within 1388-1533. However, the monastery was damaged by several earthquakes and French soldiers in past. Nevertheless, general reconstruction of the whole building was terminated in 1965.

The town of Coimbra was capital of Portugal in past. The town is famous thanks to its University of 13th century. At present, the town is a centre of culture and art of the whole country. Except of old University, you can admire here Machado de Castro Museum (museum with collections of sculptures and pictures) and Mosteiro de Santa Cruz Monastery.

In north part of the country, there is located the town of Porto, with more than 1,6 millions of inhabitants. The town is divided with Rio Douro River. Famous Wine of Porto is imported here from an area, situated on the opposite part of the river – from Vila Nova de Gaia. As far as the culture dominanta is concerned, there is represented here Se Cathedral and Torre dos Clerigos Tower (you have to mount more than 200 stairs, in order to enjoy the circular view, but the view is worth to saee). Other place of interest is those of Soares dos Reis National Museum, presenting Portugal statues and paintings of 19th and 20th centuries. As self-evident matters serve various  tasting wine actions, so lovers of red wine find their favourite drinks. You can walk also to D. Luis Bridge of 1886m (385 metres long), connecting Porto-region with Vila Nova de Gaia.

As a religious centre, there is famous town of Braga, situated in north part of the country. It is the fifth greatest town, with more than 120000 inhabitants. The town is full of churches. To most known belong Igreja de Sao Paolo, Misericordia, Igreja do Populo and Igreja dos Congregados as well as Braga Cathedral.

Text: Jakub Štantejský

Photo: Google Earth