Portugal

cultureand its

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THE SOULThe OceansCultural EncountersTilesFadoFun and Festivities

TIME AND PATHWAYSRootsRamparts and HeritageHoly PlacesMuseums

ETERNAL FUTURE

USEFUL INFORMATIONDid you know?MapContacts

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Cover: View from the Tower of Belém to the Tagus River

(15th century). The control tower for the sea traffic of the

Port of Lisboa (20th century) is visible in the background,

Lisboa.

Backpage: A detail of a Manueline column of the

Unfinished Chapels of the Batalha Monastery, Lisboa region.

Following the Christian reconquestand the defining of Portugal’snational borders in the mid 13thcentury – borders that have remainedpractically unchanged to the presentday - the Portuguese turned to thesea and set out on expeditions thatwould lead to the discovery of oceansand ports that were hithertounknown. The fact of having a longcoastline and a passion for the seawere undoubtedly strongmotivations. Another determiningfactor was the resoluteness of PrinceHenry, Grand Master of the Order ofChrist – the Portuguese continuationof the Knights Templar. He created a

centre of learning for knights,seafarers and cartographers, whofrom 1415 were pioneers in a longseries of explorations. In far-off lands,from the coasts of Africa to the coastsof India, from the seas of China tothose of Japan, and to Brazil in theWest, the Portuguese were the firstEuropean maritime explorers and leftbehind them their language, religion,art and science, at the same time asintroducing commerce and culturalexchanges with the most diversecivilisations.

Since the time of the so-calledManueline style – late PortugueseGothic architecture featuring

sculptured motifs with a maritimetheme – until the present time,Portuguese art and inspiration havebeen noticeably influenced by the sea.

However, as if this was a form ofvirtual reality or a dream that wasalways possible, this sentiment goesbeyond art, as demonstrated by thelast World Expo’ of the previousmillennium, EXPO 98. Taking as itstheme The Oceans, a Heritage for TheFuture, the Portuguese once againshowed their firm commitment to aroute of discovery and tosafeguarding the earth’s largest,deepest and most indispensableelement.

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> In Oporto, go down to the Ribeira, a UNESCO World Heritagearea, and visit Prince Henry’s house (Casa do Infante D. Henrique).

> Visit the Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo) in Tomar inLisboa Region, home of the Knights Templar.

> In Lisboa Region, admire the Monastery at Batalha (Mosteiroda Batalha) that houses Prince Henry’s tomb and theUnfinished Chapels (Capelas Imperfeitas).

> Find out everything about the maritime history of Portugalin the Naval Museum (Museu da Marinha) in Lisboa.

> Climb up to the lookout on the Monument to the Discoveries(Padrão dos Descobrimentos) (1960) and enjoy one of themost beautiful views of Lisboa.

> Travel back in time to the era of the Portuguese Discoveriesat the Tower of Belém (Torre de Belém) and the Monastery ofJerónimos (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) in Lisboa.

> Visit the Lisboa oceanarium in the Parque das Nações.

> In Setúbal, south of Lisboa, visit the Church of the Convent ofJesus (Igreja do Convento de Jesus) (14th and 15th centuries)and discover 15th century Portuguese paintings.

> In the Algarve, discover the Sagres Promontory, the site ofthe famous Sagres School of Navigation, founded by PrinceHenry the Navigator.

> Have fun at Peter’s Sport Café in Horta on the island of Faialin the Azores, a meeting place for sailors from all over theworld.

And many more…

10 WAYS TO ENJOY THE OCEANS

Main image: View over the Parque das Nações

and the Tagus river in Lisboa.

1. Regatta on the river Tagus in front of the Tower

of Belém, in Lisboa.

2. The Saint Catherine of Mount Sinai ship,

Maritime museum, Lisboa.

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cultural encounters

Main image: Nambam Screen (16th century) –

detail of a conversation between a Portuguese

and Japanese person, National Museum of

Ancient Art, Lisboa.

1. Adoration of the Magi by Vasco Fernandes

(16th century), detail of a Magi King portrayed

as an Indian from Brazil, Grão Vasco Museum,

Viseu, Centro de Portugal.

2. Ivory Afro-Portuguese Saltcellar (16th century),

National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisboa.

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> In the Municipal Museum at Viana do Castelo, (Porto e Norteregion) you can find remarkable items of Indo-Portuguesefurniture as well as one of the largest collections of Portugueseceramics.

> Visit the Bolhão market in Oporto or Lavradores market inFunchal (Madeira) and go back in time to the colourful bustleof markets at the time of the Discoveries.

> Also in Northern Portugal, see the Flemish tapestries in theLamego Museum.

> In Lisboa, discover the Anastácio Gonçalves House Museum(Casa-Museu Anastácio Gonçalves) and the Medeiros &Almeida Foundation (Fundação Medeiros e Almeida) with itscollections of valuable Chinese porcelain.

> In the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre Museum (Museudo Centro Científico e Cultural de Macau) in Lisboa, learnabout the major cultural ties between Portugal and China.

> Enter the 18th century world of the Portuguese aristocracy andadmire the artistic inspiration and influences at the RicardoEspírito Santo Silva Foundation (Fundação Ricardo do EspíritoSanto Silva) in Lisboa.

> In the Church of São Roque (Igreja de São Roque) in Lisboa, bedazzled in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist (Capela de SãoJoão Baptista).

> Enjoy vibrant music from Africa’s Portuguese-speaking countriesand dance in the famous B’Leza, in a former Lisboa convent.

> In the Alentejo, enjoy the surprise of seeing oriental porcelainfrom the Companhia das Índias and exhibits of JapaneseNambam art in the Portalegre Municipal Museum.

> In the Museum of Sacred Art (Museu de Arte Sacra) in Funchal,learn about the importance of the island of Madeira in relationto the Orient Route.

and many more….

10 OTHER CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS

At the time of taking its first steps as anation, Portugal was already a placewhere different cultures – Christian,Muslim and Jewish - lived peacefullytogether. But it was the contact withdifferent civilisations throughout the15th and 16th centuries that madePortugal a living example of thecrossover of Portuguese and Europeaninspiration with the customs andartistic heritage of other continents.This exoticism can still be seen today,both when passing through thestreets of cities such as Lisboa and inmuseum collections. It is reflected inAfrican artefacts made of wood andivory, in Indo-Portuguese furniture, inChinese porcelain decorated

according to European taste, as well asin the famous Japanese Nambamscreens, depicting the arrival of thePortuguese and their customs inJapan.

In turn, the Portuguese came backto Europe with new ideas andsciences, flavours, knowledge, preciousstones and exotic timber.Theseexchanges of foreign products thatwere hitherto unknown stimulatedscientific knowledge and the creationand purchase of specific masterpieces,from paintings to jewellery.

This cross-fertilization ofinspiration and tastes has bequeathedan atmosphere of rare charm inPortugal that can nowadays be

sampled both in the nature of thepeople and their gastronomy.ThePortuguese distinguish themselvesfrom other nationalities by theirtolerance and openness towards othercultures and by their diligence inunderstanding and trying to speak thelanguages of visitors. In Portuguesecuisine, pepper, nutmeg andcinnamon are just some of the manyspices that enhance the flavours of thedishes, as well as other products thatused to be considered exotic in thepast, but which having beenintroduced and made familiar by thePortuguese, have become asindispensable as corn, tomatoes, riceand tea.

In Portugal, tiles (azulejos) reminiscentof the influence of the Moors duringthe Middle Ages were - and still are -used here to a far greater extent thanin most other European countries.Throughout Portugal, in streets, onfaçades and inside buildings, there aretiles that represent the different stylesand languages of times past andpresent and fill any visit to the countrywith colour.

Originating from the Arabic termal-zuleique meaning “small, smoothand polished stone”, the production oftiles in Portugal on a national scalebegan at the end of the 15th century.

However, it was not until the 18thcentury that tiles began to “invade”churches, palaces, houses, gardens,fountains and staircases. Based ongeometric patterns and telling the lifestory of saints or using secular themessuch as the fables of La Fontaine,sometimes using captions like anearly type of cartoon, tiles became themain feature of Portuguesedecoration.

Following a notable resurgence inpopularity in the second half of the20th century, tiles are now prominentagain in public art, and it is a must tovisit the Lisboa underground stations

where works by great Portugueseartists such as Vieira da Silva or JúlioPomar are on permanent display.

Situated in the convent of theMadre de Deus Church in Lisboa, theNational Tile Museum houses amagnificent collection of tiles, ofwhich the outstanding feature is apriceless blue and white muraldepicting a panoramic view of the cityof Lisboa before the earthquake in1755. Here, it is possible to see thehistorical, technical and artisticdevelopment of the tile in Portugal,from the 15th century until thepresent time.

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> Dream of tiles - stay in magnificent manor houses such as theSolar da Rede de Mesão Frio and pousadas such as the one atSanta Marinha in Guimarães (Porto e Norte region).

> Discover the different Portuguese styles and motifs in theMisericórdia Church and the cloisters of Oporto Cathedral.

> Find one of the best Portuguese collections of 18th centurytiles in the convent of Santo António dos Olivais in Coimbra,Centro de Portugal.

> In the National Palace of Sintra, in the Lisboa Region, discoverexamples of the first tiles ever made in Portugal.

> Visit the Fronteira Palace (Palácio Fronteira) in Lisboa andread the stories of the fantastic tiled panels.

> Take some tiles home: visit the famous Viúva Lamego andConstança factories or the shop at the National Tile Museum(Museu Nacional do Azulejo) in Lisboa.

> Discover the Hotel Convento de São Paulo in Redondo,Alentejo, and its imposing 17th century tiles.

> Take a break at the pousada in Arraiolos also in the Alentejoand wonder at the 16th century tiles in the Convento dosLóios.

> In Madeira, ride up by cable-car to the gardens of MontePalácio in Funchal - amongst the exotic plants and fountainsyou will see tiled panels dating from all periods of history.

> Visit the Frederico de Freitas House-Museum (Casa-MuseuFrederico de Freitas) in Funchal, Madeira, and the fantasticsection devoted to tiles.

and many more...

MORE TILES THAT ARE WORTH SEEING

Main image: Marks of Lisboa, Cecília de Sousa,

1988, National Tile Museum, Lisboa.

1. Church of Saint Lourenço, and an example ofthe combination of golden engraving andtiling, Almancil, Algarve.

2. Church of Saint Ildefonso (XVIIIth century),Porto.

3. The Madre Deus Convent, where the NationalTile Museum is located, Lisboa.

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> In May, head for Coimbra, Centro de Portugal Region, for theuniversity celebrations known as the Queima das Fitas(burning of faculty ribbons) and hear a serenade of CoimbraFado.

> Whatever the time of year, call in for a drink at the À Capelabar, also in Coimbra.

> Visit the Casa do Fado e da Guitarra Portuguesa in the heartof Lisboa’s Alfama district and learn about the history of Fado.

> In the Amália Rodrigues House-Museum (Casa-MuseuAmália Rodrigues) in Lisboa, discover the private life of thisgreat Fado singer, her dresses, jewels and memorabilia.

> Lose yourself in night-time Lisboa, in the maze of streets inthe historic district of Alfama, amongst voices and the soundof guitars.

> Visit the Bairro da Mouraria, Lisboa’s former Moorish districtand the birthplace of Severa, the first legendary singer of Fado.

> In Lisboa, stroll among the fashionable boutiques and barsin the Bairro Alto and take the opportunity to experience theatmosphere of the many Fado houses.

> In Senhor Vinho in Lisboa’s Lapa district, and in Parreirinhade Alfama, find the power and depth of feeling of Fado.

> Still in Lisboa, learn how Fado evolved in terms of style andgenerations in the welcoming Clube de Fado.

> Go to a record shop and buy a cd by one of the new Fadoartists such as Mariza, Mísia or Camané.

And many more…

10 IDEAS FOR ENJOYING FADO

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Main image: Amália Rodrigues, portrait by Enric

Ribó. The Museum House of Amália Rodrigues

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Of uncertain origin – born of thetroubadour ballads, of a sense oflonging or awaiting the return of thecaravels from their voyages ofdiscovery or from the Lundum chantof the black slaves from Brazil – fadoderives from the Latin word fatum, ordestiny.

Initially popular in origin, mainlyassociated with places of ill reputeand illicit passions, at the end of the19th century Fado found its way intothe homes of the nobles andbourgeoisie where the piano becamean alternative to the guitar.

The voice of Amália Rodriguesmade Fado known internationally. Aperformer, who on her death wascompared by the foreign press with

great divas such as Ella Fitzgerald,Edith Piaf and Ollum Kalsum, Amáliaincorporated into Fado the greatPortuguese poets, from thecomposers of mediaeval ballads, toCamões and the most highlyacclaimed modern writers. She alsoestablished the tradition of wearingthe classic black dress under a shawlwhen singing. Amália’s natural stagepresence, her sense of putting on ashow and her vocal range paved theway for the exceptional new talents oftoday, who are now becomingincreasingly well known and soughtafter for performances worldwide.

Originally accompanied by aclassical guitar and a Portuguesetwelve - stringed guitar, and influenced

by troubadour, Arab and Englishtraditions – Fado is still sung to thesound of these instruments, sometimesaccompanied by the double bass,saxophone or even an orchestra.

It is a unique and unforgettableexperience to spend a candlelitevening listening to the sound of thisnational song, either in Coimbra,Portugal’s oldest university city, whereFado is sung by students in their blackgowns, or in Lisboa. Here, Fado isbolder and more full of anguish, andcan be heard in the traditionaldistricts of Alfama and Bairro Alto,sung by both acclaimed, famousperformers, and also by randomimpromptu singers but still with anintensity of voice and feeling.

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fun and festivitiesPortugal is the ultimate destinationfor night owls. A showcase for thenewest and most talented musicians(from techno, funk, pop, hip hop andelectroclash to the fusion betweenelectronics and jazz, opera ortraditional Portuguese music), this isa country with new sounds to offerthe world. Add to this the sort ofpeople who like to spend the nighton the dance floor, and it is clear whyPortugal is increasingly becoming asought after destination for all-nightfun. In Lisboa, are some of the leadingbars and night-spots in Europe,attracting top international DJs. Theyare grouped altogether in theriverside area by the Tagus known asthe Docas and also in the Bairro Alto -a mecca of alternative culture withinterior design shops and cult-status

bars and restaurants. In Oporto theystretch from the mediaeval Ribeiradistrict by the River Douro as far asFoz and other nearby towns such asMatosinhos and Gaia.

And there are other types offestivities in Portugal. From North toSouth, in the Azores and Madeira, theliveliness of traditional festivals issuch that even the most timid feelinspired to take part. This is thanksboth to Portuguese folklore, which isrich in traditional national costume,music, dances of pagan origin, andthe unique nature of live displaysthat can only be seen in Portugalsuch as Portuguese bullfighting - inwhich the bull is not killed butmerely immobilised by forcados - anddemonstrations of equestrian skillswith Lusitano horses.

The jewel in the crown of allcelebrations is the culture of apeople who give themselvesunashamedly to the pleasures of thetable. The varied cuisine with fish,shellfish, succulent fruit and thearoma of herbs and spices, isrounded off with sublime andcelestial desserts of originallydeveloped in convents, andenlivened by excellent wines, notforgetting the mythical Port andMadeira. Gluttony is therefore notregarded as a sin but as a mysticalexperience.

One of the main characteristicsof the Portuguese soul is to indulgein human pleasures - having fun issacred and knows no boundaries. Itbegins at sunrise and lasts until thestart of the next new, sunny day.

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> Spend Easter in the ancient city of Braga in NorthernPortugal (Porto e Norte region).

> Celebrate the festival of St. John - Oporto’s most reveredsaint – in which the whole city takes to the streets on thenight of 23 June.

> Get ready for fantasy with Fantasporto, Oporto’sInternational Festival of Fantasy Cinema during Februaryand March.

> Dance till dawn in Europe’s liveliest discotheques such as Luxor Kapital in Lisboa, Estado Novo in Matosinhos or UrbanSound or Act in Oporto.

> Portugal’s rock festivals are not to be missed: South-West(Zambujeira do Mar in the Alentejo) and at Vilar de Mouros(Porto e Norte region) the Super Bock Super Rock in Lisboaand the Optimus Hype@Meco in Meco, south of the capital.

> In June and July, attend a performance of music or dance inthe Royal Palace during the Sintra Festival, near Lisboa.

> Party time in Lisboa – on June 12 on the eve of St. Anthony’sDay, join in the open-air celebrations in the historical areasof the city, not forgetting the City of Lisboa Festivals that goon all summer.

> Be amazed at the beauty of the festivals at Campo Maior, inthe Alentejo, and the colourful parade during the Festa dosTabuleiros in Tomar, Lisboa region.

> Experience the colourful New Year celebrations andfireworks in Funchal, Madeira.

> Why not bring back home with you a cd of Portuguese musicby Rodrigo Leão, The Gift or Belle Chase Hotel.

and many more…

10 WAYS TO SPICE UP YOUR STAY

Main image: The music festival of Paredes de Coura,

Porto e Norte.

1. The Festival of Trays, Tomar, Lisboa region.

2. Festivities in Campo Maior, the Alentejo.

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Past millennia have left deepimpressions on what is now Portugal.It can be interesting to track theoldest of these, the enormousdinosaur footprints at Lourinhã,which date from the Upper Jurassicperiod. From prehistoric times, manhas also left traces of his presence -menhirs, dolmens, cromelechs andthe rock paintings at Foz Côa(classified as a World Heritage Site byUNESCO). Dating from the Iron Age,the ancient fortified villages ofSanfins and Briteiros in NorthernPortugal are well worth visiting.

Following the extremely longand courageous resistance put up bythe Iberian Peninsula against theRoman Empire, the Lusitanian people

(of Celtic origin) were defeated in the2nd century BC by the Romans whointroduced their language andculture to Portugal. Prior to theMoorish invasions in the 8th century,the Portuguese territory had beenoverrun by other ethnic groups – theSuevi and the Visigoths – who leftbehind the first traces of palaeo-Christianity.

The arrival of the Arabs alsoinfluenced the culture of the entirecountry, from agriculture toconstruction. It is particularly visiblein castles, often of Moorish origin,which were restored by theChristians after the Reconquest. Forthose wishing to journey through allthose centuries and layers of history,

the town of Mértola in the Alentejo isan unmissable stopping-off point.

Early in the 12th century duringthe Crusades, Henry of Burgundypledged to support the defence ofthe sepulchre at Santiago, receivingas a reward from King Alfonso VI ofLeon and Castile, the hand of hisdaughter Teresa and the earldom ofPortucale - a region whichcorresponds to the present coastalarea of Northern Portugal (Porto eNorte region). Their son, AfonsoHenriques, was to proclaim himselfthe first King of Portugal in 1143. Hisdescendants continued his policy ofenlarging the territory and in the mid13th century, established Portugal’spresent day borders.

Don’t miss:> In Porto e Norte region, the rock

drawings in the Vale do CôaArchaeological Park.

> At Conímbriga, Centro de Portugal,the mosaics, houses and gardens in the largest archaeological centre for Roman remains in Portugal.

> At Lourinhã Museum in Lisboa Region,the fantastic dinosaur eggs as well asamazing finds from the JurassicPeriod.

> The National Ethnography Museum(Museu Nacional de Etnografia) inLisboa.

> The origins of Portugal’s capital in theCity of Lisboa Museum (Museu daCidade de Lisboa) with the help of

innumerable archaeologicaldiscoveries.

> The Roman hippodrome in the Romanruins of Miróbriga, the Alentejo.

> The Escoural Caves and AlmendresCromelech near Évora, the Alentejo.

> On the banks of the River Guadiana, theRoman, palaeo-Christian and Islamicculture in the Archaeological Museumin Mértola, the Alentejo.

> The Silves Museum, in the Algarve.

> In the Algarve, the Archaeological and Lapidary Museums (MuseuArqueológico e Lapidar Infante D. Henrique), Faro.

and many more…

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Main image: Castle of Guimarães, Porto e Norte

region.

1. Lusitanian Warrior ( 200 B.C.), National

Archeological museum, Lisboa.

2. Dolmen, Torres reservoir, the Alentejo.

3. Bracelet, Bronze age, National Archaeological

museum, Lisboa.

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ramparts and heritage

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Main image: View of the city walls of Vila de

Óbidos, Lisboa Region.

1. Throne Room, Queluz National Palace,

Lisboa Region.

2. Gates of the city, Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel,

Azores.

3. Piódão, an historic village, in Centro de Portugal.

4. Former Archbishop’s Palace, Braga,

Porto e Norte.

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Setting off on one of the CastleRoute trails could be an excellentstarting point in order to becomebetter acquainted with the history ofPortugal, by imagining oneself as achatelaine or troubadour in one ofthe fantastic mediaeval fortresses.Built in strategic places, castles werethe kingdom’s first line of defenceand nowadays offer panoramic viewsstretching over many kilometres.

One of Portugal’s best examplesof a fortress can be seen in Almeida,a town in the Centro de PortugalRegion. When viewed from the air, itis in the shape of a 12-point star.

With their more refined interiorsand without military structures to

protect them, the palaces were usedas residences for monarchs, bishopsand nobles, and visiting them isanother excellent way of becomingacquainted with Portuguese customsand styles. The National Palace inSintra - its presence heralded byconical chimneys - houses one of thebest collections of Portuguese tilesand furniture.

In Portugal, many castles, palacesand stately homes have been turnedinto pousadas or used for Turismo deHabitação (manor house tourism),opening their doors to visitors andreceiving them with the welcomingand generous spirit that is typical ofPortugal.

The inestimable contributionmade by Portugal to world culturalheritage can also be a reason totravel around the country anddiscover its hidden treasures that areembodied in stone and in thelandscape; there are now fourteenWorld Heritage sites that have beenclassified by UNESCO. The historiccentre of Évora with its strikingRoman and Renaissance monumentsset in the town’s mediaeval streetsystem and the Douro Valley fromwhere Port wine originates – the firstwine region in the world to bedemarcated, in 1756 – are examplesof places that visitors will want toshare with those closest to them.

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sDon’t miss:> In Guimarães, in the Porto e Norte

region, the castle where the first king ofPortugal was born and the nearbyPalace of the Dukes of Bragança.

> A fine example of Portuguese baroque isthe Monastery of Tibães in the Porto eNorte Region.

> The gardens of the Bishop’s Palace (PaçoEpiscopal) in Castelo Branco, Centro dePortugal, and the kings of Portugal,sculpted in stone all the way up thebeautiful staircases.

> A route that includes historic Portuguesevillages - try Manor House Tourism.

> One of the most complete examples ofEuropean rococo: the National Palace ofQueluz, former summer residence of thePortuguese royal family, half waybetween Lisboa and Sintra.

> The fairy tale atmosphere of theromantic Pena Palace, on top of theSintra mountain ridge.

> The National Palace of Ajuda in Lisboa,one of the last royal residences, with itsmagnificent collections of furniture,paintings, sculpture and a wide variety ofother treasures.

> The magical town of Óbidos, 100 kmnorth from Lisboa.

> In Vila Viçosa, the Alentejo, the DucalPalace (Paço Ducal), residence of theroyal family until the early 20th century.

> The magnificent Palace of the CaptainsGeneral (Palácio dos Capitães Generais),former residence of Governors of theisland of Terceira in the Azores, situatedin the city of Angra do Heroísmo, andclassified by UNESCO.

and many more…

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holy places

Don’t miss:> In Braga (the Porto e Norte region), the

oldest cathedral in the country and theSanctuary of Bom Jesus.

> The church and tower of the Clérigosand the Church of São Francisco inOporto.

> In the Centro, the beautiful GuardaCathedral, the starting point forexploring the city and the region.

> In the historic centre of Coimbra, Centro

de Portugal, the tomb of the first Kingof Portugal in the Church of Santa Cruz.

> In the historic city of Santarém, in theLisboa region, the Gothic churches ofSanta Clara and Nossa Senhora daGraça.

> In Lisboa, the treasures of the Cathedraland the Church of St. Vincent (Igreja deSão Vicente de Fora) - patron of the city.

> The turret of Évora Cathedral and thetreasures of the Museum of Sacred Art

(Museu de Arte Sacra).

> In the Algarve, the striking contrast ofgilded carving with 18th century tiles inthe Church of São Lourenço in Almancil.

> Funchal Cathedral and its remarkableartistic development and Flemishinfluence.

> In the Azores, the chapels (Impérios)built in honour of the Holy Spirit.

and many more…

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From small chapels to largecathedrals, holy places tell the historyof art and architecture in Portugal,and their beauty is a reflection of thespirituality of its people and history.

The Church played a determiningrole in the founding of the kingdomof Portugal and in shaping itsidentity, with monastic orders such asCluny and the Cistercians, with social,economic and cultural organisations,and by means of military ordersthrough the consolidation of bordersand royal and noble power. Scatteredacross Northern Portugal, examplesof Roman churches can be visited aswell as the curiously eccentricfortress churches such as OportoCathedral, the Old Cathedral inCoimbra and Lisboa Cathedral.

The monastery at Alcobaça inthe Lisboa region is one of the mostimpressive and beautiful testimoniesto Cistercian Gothic architecture inthe whole of Europe, forming part ofUNESCO’s World Heritage togetherwith the nearby monastery atBatalha, an even larger example ofPortuguese Gothic genius, started atthe end of the 14th century andincluding the so-called Manuelinestyle which can be seen in theUnfinished Chapels (CapelasImperfeitas).

However, whether in its originalor modified form, it is the baroquestyle above all that has stamped itsmark on churches throughoutPortugal, especially in terms ofinterior decoration, with its gilded

carving, tiles, statues and paintings.The basilica at Fátima in the

Lisboa region, inspired by the neo-classical style, contrasts with thesimplicity and deep spirituality of theChapel of Apparitions (Capela dasAparições). Here, the image of theVirgin Mary, revered by millions ofpilgrims from all parts of the world,can be marvelled at.

Catholic in terms of its heritageand faith, but open-minded andtolerant of other religions, Portugalhas citizens from other religiousbeliefs such as Islam and Judaism.All three religions have theirparticular guardian angels andmessengers, one revered examplebeing St. Michael, the Angel ofPortugal.

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Main image: Central aisle, Alcobaça Monastery,

Lisboa Region.

1. Festivity of S. Walter, the Porto e Norte Region.

2.“Charola” of the Convent of the Knights Templar

of Tomar, Lisboa Region.

3. Funchal Cathedral, Madeira.

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Don’t miss:> The work of Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso - a

leading pioneer of modernism – in themuseum of the same name in Amarante inthe Porto e Norte region.

> In Viseu, Centro de Portugal, the must-seeGrão Vasco Museum, and the treasures of theCathedral’s Museum of Sacred Art (Museu deArte Sacra da Sé).

> In Oporto, the important 19th century Soaresdos Reis National Museum and the RomanticMuseum.

> In the Alberto Sampaio Museum in

Guimarães, in the Porto e Norte region, thesilver and enamel Gothic altar piece.

> The Roman cryptoportico in the Machado deCastro National Museum in Coimbra .

> The rich collections in the National Museumof Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de ArteAntiga) in Lisboa with works by NunoGonçalves, Bosch, Dürer and many otherPortuguese and international geniuses.

> The extraordinary collection housed at theCalouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisboa.

> In the Arpad Szenes /Vieira da Silva Museumin Lisboa, the work of this painter who was

born in Portugal and whose work was ofmajor importance in the art world, as well asthat of her Hungarian-born husband.

> In the Belém district of Lisboa, the CoachMuseum (Museu dos Coches) and the DesignMuseum in the Belém Cultural Centre.

> In the Convent of the Conception (Conventoda Conceição) and Queen Leonor Museum(Museu Rainha D. Leonor) in Beja in theAlentejo, the collections of tiles, paintingsand baroque art.

and many more…

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An excellent starting point for acultural tour of Portugal, the country’smuseums and their exhibits are anideal way to learn about the historyof Portuguese and world art. Begin,for example, with the Monstrance(Custódia de Belém) symbolic workdating from 1506 and housed in theNational Museum of Ancient Art inLisboa. Between Belém and Alfama,discover the strong contrastsbetween the traditional and thecontemporary, as you see how Lisboawas at the time of the Discoveriesand the modern city of today.

From archaeological sites to themost recently converted industrialspaces, the museums of Portugalhouse prehistoric exhibits as well asthose of Roman, Visigothic andMozarabic origin or Jewish influence,together with Roman and Gothic artfrom the very start of the Portuguesenation. But it was the fusion ofcultures and economic power due to

commerce, from the 16th to the 18thcentury, that gave an exotic andextravagant quality to Portuguese artand a unique splendour to majoracquisitions and commissions. Thestatues, paintings, tapestries, orientalporcelain, furniture, items in gold,jewellery and tiles displayed inPortuguese museums are typicalexamples of those eras of luxury andexcess. They are national treasuresand their history should be known.

If your preference is for modernand contemporary art, major works bynational and international artists are tobe found in various parts of Portugal,such as the collection in the SintraMuseum of Modern Art, Lisboa region,the Chiado Museum in Lisboa or in theSerralves Museum in Oporto, designedby the acclaimed Portuguesearchitect, Álvaro Siza, and whichcontains an important collection ofcontemporary art dating from the late1960s until the present time.

Main image: Detail of a coach with goldengraving, National Coach museum, Lisboa.

1. Serralves Contemporary Art Museum,

the Porto e Norte region.

2. S. Vicent Panels, National Museum of Ancient

Art, Lisboa.

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eternal future

A common thread running through allforms of Portuguese nationalinspiration, be it canonic literaturefrom Camões to Pessoa, tocontemporary acts such as theenormous vitality evident in Music,Design and modern Dance, is thepermanent prevailing passion formovement. The Portuguese enjoy life,exhalting the senses and emotionsand the intensity of form.

In this way a visit to Portugalmeans being transported to a poeticand architectural fantasy, the main artsof a people who dare to dream ofdefeating time and space. Examples ofthis from the past are the Manueline

style, but above all, the exuberantbaroque, which left its mark from thenorth to the south of the country –from the monumental architecturalcomplex of the convent of Mafra tothe Church of St. Francis in Oporto, thestately home of the House of Mateusin Vila Real to the Joanina Library ofthe University of Coimbra, it is easy tounderstand why Portugal is one of thejewels in the Council of Europe’sBaroque Routes. And today, this is alsothe case with the great names ofmodern architecture, from thegeneration of Fernando Távora,including Álvaro Siza Vieira and EduardoSouto Moura, to the more recent

generations of Gonçalo Byrne,Carrilhoda Graça or the Mateus brothers.

In the nation’s ongoing romancewith the sea and the waves, in thepermanent state of longing andnostalgia associated with parting andreturning, Portugal and thePortuguese are still a paragon of union- union between past and future, eastand west, dream and reality.

In this western corner of Europe,under its bright sky and sunshine, arepeople who enjoy encounters of allkinds. You are therefore invited notonly to visit Portugal but to come backagain and again, with hopefully anever increasing desire to return.

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Main image: Portuguese Pavilion, ArchitectAlvaro Siza Vieira, Parque das Nações, Lisboa.

1. Sintra Museum of Modern Art, Lisboa Region.

2. Casa da Música, Oporto.

3. Oil painting on canvas (around 1916), Amadeo

de Souza-Cardoso Municipal Museum of

Amarante, Porto e Norte Region.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT ? …Portuguese is the sixth most widely-spokenlanguage in the world (after Chinese, Hindu,Spanish, English and Bengali) by around 200million people in eight countries scatteredthroughout all the continents.

- Saint Anthony, also widely known as“Anthony of Padua”, was born in Lisboa in1195 but only spent the last years of his lifein Italy. He was the first Portuguese citizento become internationally known, beingawarded a doctorate of the church andincluded in the Guinness Book of Recordsfor receiving the fastest canonization inhistory.

- In 1386, Portugal and England signed theTreaty of Windsor, the world’s oldest alliancebetween two countries.

- The custom of drinking tea was introducedto the English Court by the Portugueseprincess, Catherine of Bragança, whomarried King Charles II of England in 1662.She took with her as a dowry the city ofBombay - the starting point for the Britishcolonization of India – as well as someleaves of Chinese tea, worth a fortune atthat time.

- The district of Queens, in New York City,was named in 1664 in honour of Catherineof Bragança, Queen of England, during hermarriage to Charles II.

- From Brazil, the Portuguese took cassava,papaya and pineapple to Africa, and toAmerica they took coconut, banana andmango.

- Spinoza, Montaigne, Velásquez, John dosPassos and Jorge Luís Borges are some ofthe major internationally known people ofPortuguese descent.

- Portugal was the first country in the worldto abolish the death penalty, in 1867.

- Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral werethe first people ever to fly across the SouthAtlantic, between Portugal and Brazil in1922, five years before the first flight acrossthe North Atlantic by Charles Lindberg.

- Aristides Sousa Mendes, PortugueseConsul in Bordeaux, France, helped 30,000Jews to escape Nazi persecution, issuingPortuguese visas against the orders of hisgovernment.

- During World War II, the area of Estoril andSintra was a refuge for many European royalfamilies, such as those of Spain, Italy, France,Romania and Bulgaria.

- In 1998, the last World Expo’ of the 20thcentury was held in Lisboa with the theme,“The oceans, heritage for the future”,resulting in the construction of somenotable examples of contemporaryarchitecture.

DEEPEN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OFHISTORY

1143 –Dom Afonso Henriques founded thekingdom of Portugal with the Treaty ofZamora, becoming its first king andforebearer of one of the main royal housesof Europe.

1147 – King Afonso Henriques takes Lisboafrom the Moors.

1249 – The last city in the Algarve isconquered by King Afonso III, and Portugalattains its present shape.

1415-27 – Prince Henry the Navigatorbegins the series of sea expeditions toAfrica, Madeira and the Azores.

1494 – Portugal and Spain sign the Treaty ofTordesilhas,agreeing to divide between themthe ‘new world’yet to be discovered.

1497-98 – Voyage by Vasco da Gama to India.The sea route to the Orient is discovered andtrading posts established,heralding theexpansion of Portugal’s commercial power.

1500 – Pedro Álvares Cabral discovers Brazil.Start of the colonisation of the “New World”.

1519 – Portuguese navigator,FerdinandMagellan,sets off on the first voyage around theworld.In 1521 he discovers the Philippines and iskilled in combat.A member of his crew,Sebastião d’Elcano,completes the voyage ofcircumnavigation in 1522.

1543 – Arrival of the Portuguese in Japan,thefirst westerners to experience Japanese culture.

1640 – Portugal restores its independence,after60 years of Spanish reign.

19th century – When Brazil becomesindependent (1822),Portugal expands hercolonies in Africa,Angola and Mozambique.

1910 – The monarchy is abolished and theRepublic founded,with the separating of thepowers of the church and the state.

1926 – A dictatorship is established.

1974 – Ending of the dictatorial regime with theCarnation Revolution,which consequently leadsto the demise of the Portuguese ColonialEmpire.

1976 – The first constitutional government takesup office.

1986 – Portugal joins the European Union.

2002 – Portugal is one of the first countries tojoin the single European currency – the euro.

• VIANA DO CASTELO

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TOURIST INFORMATION IN PORTUGAL

T 808 78 1212E info@visitportugal.com

AUSTRALIA

Suite 201, 234 George StreetSIDNEY NSW 2000

T 00 61 292 41 27 10F 00 61 292 41 22 69E info@visitportugal.com

CANADA

60 Bloor Street West, Suite 1005TORONTO, ONTARIO M4W 3B8

T 1800 PortugalF 00 1 416 912 13 53E info@visitportugal.com

IRELAND

54 Dawson StreetDUBLIN 2

T 1800 94 31 31F 00 353 1 670 91 41E info@visitportugal.com

SOUTH AFRICA

5th Floor, Mercantile Lisbon House,142 West St.SANDOWN 2196 - JOHANNESBURG P.O. BOX 786483SANDTON 2146 - JOHANNESBURG

T 00 27 11 302 04 04F 00 27 11 484 54 16E info@visitportugal.com

UNITED KINGDOM

11 Belgrave SquareLONDON SW1X 8PPT 08 45 35 51 212F 00 44 20 7201 6633 E info@visitportugal.com

USA/NEW YORK

590 Fifth Avenue, 4th FloorNEW YORK NY 10036 – 4702

T 1800 PortugalF 00 1 212 764 61 37E info@visitportugal.com

USA/SAN FRANCISCO

88 Kearny Street, Suite 1770San Francisco, CA 94108

T 1800 PortugalF 00 1 415 391 71 47E info@visitportugal.com

© Turismo de Portugal, I.P.

Portuguese Tourist Offices in English Speaking countries:

Eng 06/2008

contacts

Find out more about Portugal by checkingout this website:

www.visitportugal.com

Or for regional information:

LISBOA REGIONwww.visitlisboa.com

PORTO E NORTEwww.visitportoenorte.pt

CENTRO DE PORTUGALwww.turismo-centro.pt www.rotadaluz.ptwww.rtdaolafoes.com

ALENTEJOwww.rtevora.pt www.rt-planiciedourada.pt www.rtsm.pt

ALGARVEwww.rtalgarve.pt

AZORESwww.visitazores.org

MADEIRAwww.madeiratourism.org

Technical Data

PRODUCED BY

Turismo de Portugal, I.P.

SCRIPT

Miguel Fialho de Brito

PHOTOGRAPHY

António Sacchetti; Francisco Almeida Dias; JoséManuel; José Pessoa (DDF/IPM); João Carvalho Pina;João Paulo; João Silveira Ramos; Luis Pavão(DDF/IPM); Paulo Magalhães; Rui Cunha; Rui Moraisde Sousa; Rui Vasco; Walter Salgado.

PRE-PRINTING

pré&press

PRINTING

Tipografia Peres

Image: Princess’s quilt (detail from a quilt from Castelo

Branco), Francisco Tavares Proença Júnior museum,

Castelo Branco, Centro de Portugal.

www.visitportugal.com

Eng

06/2

008