LOCATION

Capital: Lisbon
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Currency: euro (€)
Weather: Mediterranean; Ave.Temperatures: Winter: 50 F; Spring/Fall: 55 F; Summer: 77F
Population: 10,084,245
Electricity: 220 V
International Airports: Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO), Faro (FAO), Madeira island - Funchal (FNC), Azores islands - Ponta Delgada (PDL)
Roads: A good network of freeways and national roads covering all the country:
Roads on the Northern Region, specially at the Douro Valley, are narrow and very winding.Geography
Area: 36,000 sq.Miles, including the Azores and Madeira Islands
Main Cities: Lisbon (metro area 1,9 milion), Porto (metro area 1.7 million).
Economy
Natural resources: Fish, tungsten, iron, copper, tin, and uranium ores. Export: fisheries, cork, wine, olive oil, marbles, tiles
Industry: textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, manufacturing, food and beverages.

Wining& Dining
Excellent gastronomy and wines with a wide variety of regional special recipes and several wine regions.

Shopping
A wide choice of Shopping Malls – Open 10:00am   Close 11:00pm daily
A wide choice of brand boutiques – Open 10:00am   Close 7:00pm Close on Sundays

HISTORY

An independent kingdom since 1143, Portugal established its continental frontiers in 1297 and is one of the oldest nations in the World.
Situated on the west side of the Iberian Peninsula, its geographic location along the Atlantic coast soon determined its vocation to the sea.
In 1415, the Portuguese set sail on an epic voyage that would make them the first to discover the ocean routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan, and at the same time founded settlements on the east and west coasts of Africa.
Traces of this worldwide historic presence may be seen as trademarks of the Portuguese genius. The Portuguese language became the 5th most spoken in the world, and the Portuguese people were privileged for being exposed to so many different civilizations. The vast monumental, artistic and archaeological heritage does witness not only the 850 years of history of encounters with distant cultures, but also the presence in the territory of more ancient peoples (Celts, Suevians, Visigoths, Romans and Arabs).
The natural advantages of a sunny country with such diverse geographic features have turned Portugal into a chosen destination for many holidaymakers, an ideal place for practicing water sports and playing golf, offering modern tourism facilities, and quaint and personalized means of accommodation, such as ‘turismo de habitação’ (privately owned homes ranging from wonderful farmhouses to manor houses), charming hotels and Relais & Châteaux.

TOURING PORTUGAL

MAIN TOURIST REGIONS

Lisbon Region

Lisbon
What to see: São Jorge Castle, Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, Coach Museum, Gulbenkian Museum, Tile Museum, Ancient Art Museum, Ajuda Palace, São Roque Church, Burguesa Palace, Chiado Museum, Memorial to the Discoveries, Cathedral, Alfama Quarters, Vasco da Gama Aquarium, Queluz Palace.
Where to shop: Liberdade Avenue, Chiado Quarters, Vasco da Gama and Colombo Shopping Malls.
Recommended Hotels: Orient Express Lapa Palace, Tivoli Hotels, Janelas Verdes, Hotel Britania, Avenida da Liberdade Hotel (2007), Bairro Alto Hotel.

Estoril
What to see: Coastline, Casino.
Reccommended Hotel: Estoril Palace.

Cascais
What to see: Coastline, Art Galleries, Boutiques.
Where to shop: Downtown boutiques and Mall.
Recommended Hotels: Fortaleza do Guincho - Relais & Châteaux, Hotel Albatroz.

Sintra
What to see: Pena Palace, National Palace and old quarters.
Recommended Hotels: Carlton Ritz Penha Longa.

Obidos
What to see: The walled Moorish town.
Recommended Hotels: Casa das Senhoras Rainhas.

Batalha
What to see: The Batalha Gothic Monastery.

Fatima
What to see: The Virgin Mary Sanctuary.

Porto and Northern Portugal

Porto
What to see: Cathedral, São Francisco Church, Bolsa Palace, Birthplace of Henry the Navigator, Clerigos Tower, Eiffel Bridges, Modern Art Museum (Serralves), Music Hall (Casa da Música), Port Wine Cellars, Historical Center (World Heritage by UNESCO).
Where to shop: Santa Catarina Street. Shopping Malls: Via Catarina, Peninsula and Arrabida.
Recommended Hotels: Casa da Calçada - Relais & Châteaux (Amarante - 40 miles from Porto), Porto Palacio-Leading Hotels of the World, Pestana Porto, Tivoli Porto.

Douro River Valley
What to see: The magnificent landscape (a World Heritage by UNESCO), the Port Wine vineyards.
What to do: Wine tasting at private Wine Estates, river cruises…enjoy Nature sipping a Port…
Reccommended Hotels: Vintage House – Relais & Chateaux, Aquapura Hotel & SPA.

Guimarães
What to see: Medieval Castle, Duques de Bragança Palace, Old Quarters and Oliveira Square (World Heritage by UNESCO).

Viana do Castelo
What to see: Santa Luzia Mountain, Old Quarters, Landscape.
Recommended Hotels: Estalagem Melo Alvim - Relais & Châteaux.

Beiras Region

Coimbra
What to see: University.
Recommended Hotels: Quinta das Lágrimas - Relais & Châteaux, Bussaco Palace.

Belmonte
What to see: Jewish Old Quarters, Pedro Alvares Cabral Birth Castle.
Reccomended Hotel: Pousada Belmonte.

ALENTEJO 

Evora
What to see: Old Quarters, São Francisco Church, Bones Chapel, Cathedral, Esporão Wine Estate.
Recommended Hotels: Starwood Luxury Collection Convento do Espinheiro, Hotel da Cartuxa, Refúgio da Vila (25 miles from Évora).

Estremoz
What to see: Walled town, Castle, Landscape.
Recommended Hotel: Pousada Santa Isabel.

Vila Viçosa
What to see: Vila Viçosa Royal Palace, Landscape and Old Town

Algarve
What to see: Coastline, fisherman villages, beaches.
What to do: Golf, Shopping at the Vilamoura Marina, work on your tan…
Recommended Hotels: Vila Vita Park Resort, Thalasso Vilallara Resort, Hotel Vilamonte - Relais & Châteaux, Hotel Vilavalverde.

Madeira Island
What to see/to do: Funchal Old Quarters, Landscape, Coastline. Walking and Nature tours, Golf.
Recommended Hotels: Orient Express Reids Palace, Casa Velha do Palheiro - Relais & Châteaux, Tivoli Ocean Park.

Azores Islands
What to see/to do: Visit at least to São Miguel, Faial and Terceira Islands. Walking and Nature tours, Whale watch, Deep Sea Fishing.
Recommended Hotels: Hotel do Colégio.

WHY  PORTUGAL

IT IS SAFE;
IT IS TINY AND THEREFORE EXCELLENT FOR TOURS THROUGHOUT  THE COUNTRY;
SHORT DISTANCES BETWEEN THE MAIN TOURIST AREAS;
EXCELLENT CLIMATE;
IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES;
GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY;
OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS AND A WIDE VARIETY OF LANDSCAPE;
VERY FRIENDLY PEOPLE ;
LONGTIME HISTORY AND THEREFORE LOTS OF CASTLES, MONUMENTS;
HIGH SERVICE STANDARDS;
ENGLISH SPOKEN IN MOST OF HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS;
GREAT GASTRONOMY AND EXCELLENT WINES;
EXCELLENT TO COMBINE WITH SPAIN;
HONEYMOONERS PARADISE;
THE ALGARVE HAS BEEN ELECTED, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE BEST GOLF DESTINATION IN EUROPE;

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…BECAUSE WE WILL BE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR GUESTS.