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Sun-kissed plains of wheat, ancient groves of oak, cork, and olive trees, tiny villages built on craggy hilltops- these are the images that stick into my mind the most when I think of Portugal’s beautiful Alentejo Region. The Alentejo is Portugal’s largest region. The area makes up almost 1/3 of the total country and is...
Alentejo is Portugal’s largest region and perhaps one of its most traditional, with a rich cultural heritage. One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Alentejo is to visit a few of the many tiny villages, some of which offer a chance to see and discover unique and beautiful traditional handicrafts. Many villages...
Portugal’s Alentejo region is famous for its rolling plains filled with cork, oak, and olive trees. It’s one of Portugal’s best wine regions, and with a culture so rooted in the land, it’s also one of the most traditional. Many people in the region have preserved their cultural heritage through artisanal handicrafts. One of these...
Marvão is absolutely stunning. Think whitewashed buildings, cobblestone walkways, and 360° views of Portugal’s Alentejo region. The village is perched on top of a rocky cliffside and has always been an important and strategic place. Marvão is considered to be Portugal’s highest fortified medieval village. It sits at an impressive 860 meters (2,822 ft) in...
I fell in love with the Alentejo region of Portugal the first time I visited, but I had only spent time in Évora, its capital city. When I had the opportunity to travel more slowly by car, Monsaraz was one of the first places I wanted to see. Tucked away on a hilltop, Monsaraz is...
Sistelo in northern Portugal is beautiful and offers many stunning hikes. One of the most rewarding hikes from Sistelo is the Trilho das Brandas de Sistelo. This diverse loop hiking trail highlights small villages and the iconic terraced landscapes found in the Vez River Valley. The route also passes through Brandas, which were used as...
Nestled in the foothills of the Peneda-Gerês National Park in Portugal, find the tiny hamlet of Sistelo. While small and outside the limits of Portugal’s only National Park, Sistelo is one of those places where its beauty sticks with you long after you leave. The Portuguese village has recently been nicknamed “Portuguese Little Tibet,” due...
Ah, Cangas. A lovely seaside village tucked away along the western shores of Galicia, Spain. Cangas do Morrazo is nestled between the cities of Vigo and Pontevedra, and is located on the Morrazo Peninsula. It’s privileged to sit on the Vigo Estuary, has a cute and compact old town, and at its core is a...
The Picos de Europa is one of Spain’s most incredible National Parks, and it was also the first. The park consists of limestone peaks, stunning river valleys, and a culture deeply connected to the land. Located in northern Spain, the Picos de Europa National Park spans the three autonomous regions of Spain: Cantabria, Asturias, and...
Vigo is Galicia’s largest city and makes an excellent base when exploring the Rias Baixas, or Lower Estuaries. Vigo has a small historic Old Town, but dig deep, and you’ll easily find things to do, from museums, island hopping, listening to live music, or enjoying the long stretches of coastline. Vigo is one of those...
