If you come to the capital of Portugal and have free time, there is no need to spend it here. It would be much better to take this opportunity and take a little trip. Where to go from Lisbon for 1 day on your own? There are a lot of options. Nearby - at a distance of no more than 1-2 hours drive - there are many small towns that hide real treasures. There are no problems with transport in Portugal. You can use the train service, rent a car, or take the bus. You will be able to see beautiful palaces, unique temples, and, of course, you will learn the legends associated with them. Let's hit the road!
Cascais
A small old town, the sights of which will enchant you. You can get here from Lisbon by rail. First of all, pay attention to the beauty of these places. You can lie down on the magnificent beaches, or if you prefer surfing, go to the wild Ginshu Beach. Tourists also come to see the "Devil's Mouth" - this is a small grotto, near which the ocean waves crash with a crash. An observation deck is equipped for guests.
The area of the "Old Town" overlooking the fishing harbor is picturesque. Here you can feel the true spirit of Portugal. It is recommended to visit the Guimaraes Castle, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century and bears the imprint of the Gothic style. Today it houses a museum - a collection of paintings and antiques. Nearby is a magnificent park with a pond and a small zoo. The Maritime Museum is also worthy of your attention - here it will be convenient to follow the development of the local fishing industry.
The exhibition presents various types of boats. Among the sights of the city is the lighthouse, which is 20 m high, and the museum is located inside. And also the castle of St. Mary, built in the 19th century. Walk along the promenade that connects Cascais and Estoril. Here you will find the casino that inspired Ian Fleming to write the James Bond book.
Sintra
There are so many attractions in this small town that you will definitely not be able to bypass them in one day. What is the most interesting thing here? Pena Palace, built in the 19th century in a romantic style combined with Manueline. It is gorgeous both outside and inside, where you will see the lush decoration. The National Palace was formerly owned by the royal family.
Now guests can see the official halls designed to receive eminent guests, the richly decorated chapel and the famous "Swan Room", where gilded proud birds are located on the ceiling. The Quinta da Regaleira complex includes a mystical mansion, a small chapel and a park. The ancient frescoes and sculptures are, of course, very beautiful, but the underground passages used by Masons and famous alchemists are even more impressive.
The "well of dedication" is really full of deep meaning. A staircase leads down, and the well itself seems to connect the sky and the bowels of the earth. Darkness reigns below, and “in the sky,” that is, at the upper edge of the well, light is given to man. You can also visit the Montserrat Palace, built in the 18th century, visit the Castle of the Moors and the Capuchin monastery, look into the chalet of the Countess of Edla and admire the dolls from the Puppet Museum.
Cape Roca
You can get to this cape both through Cascais and through Sintra. Cape Roca is the westernmost point of Europe. Only the Atlantic Ocean is ahead. You can stand on the observation deck located at the top of a high cliff, admire the ocean, and think about the Portuguese sailors who lived many centuries ago. They dared to embark on a long journey in order to discover new lands. And none of them knew if he could go back. This cape is one of the main attractions of Portugal - there are always a lot of tourists here. Agree, an unusual feeling - to know that you are standing on the very edge of the mainland?
Obidos
This small town, with a population of only about three thousand people, is located 100 km from Lisbon. Obidos gives the impression of a fairy tale come to life. Little has changed here since the 13th century, and residents do not at all seek to "modernize" their city. You can walk along narrow streets, buy souvenirs, taste cherry liqueur in a chocolate glass.
(the name probably comes from the word "fortress"), is located on the site of an ancient Celtic settlement. During the reign of Ancient Rome, this place turned into a port of great importance. In the 13th century, the city became a wedding gift from King Denish the First to his young wife. The main attraction is the castle, which was erected in the period - the end of the 12th - the beginning of the 13th century in the characteristic Manueline style. Until the 18th century, members of the royal family often came here.
Then the place fell into decay, and the castle began to be restored only in the 20th century. Tourists can inspect it, and even stay in a hotel, which occupies part of the premises. Another place to visit is the Church of St. Mary, which was built over several centuries - from the 13th to the 16th.
At dawn
Of course, at the mention of the name of this city, the legendary Nazareth pops up in our memory. And this is justified. The main attraction of this place is the temple in honor of the Mother of God, where the sacred image of the Mother of God of Nazareth is kept. The Virgin Mary sits holding the baby Jesus in her arms. The original was made by Saint Joseph. During the period of persecution of Christians by the Moors, King Rodrigo and the monk who helped him, along with the image, hid in the local cave.
In the 12th century, Don Fouach Roupino nearly fell into the abyss while hunting. Prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary helped him to be saved. In gratitude, he decided to build a chapel, the stones for which were supposed to be taken from the cave. This is how the image was acquired. He was placed in the chapel, and pilgrims began to flock here. There were so many of them that in the 14th century it was necessary to build a church and transfer the image there.
In addition to the famous temple, in Nazar you can admire huge waves, the highest in Europe - however, only in autumn. At this time, surfengists come here. You can watch their competitions from the site of the fort of Archangel Michael (once the military defended residents from pirates). Also visit the Joaquim Manso Museum, where you will learn a lot about the development of the city.
Alkobasa
In this small town with a population of no more than 10 thousand people, the main attraction is a beautiful monastery. Santa Maria de Alcobasa. It was founded in the 12th century and has long played the role of a royal burial vault. The importance of the monastery was especially great in the 14-16 centuries, when it became the center of the development of numerous crafts, and many cities were also subordinate to it at that time. And the local cathedral is the first building in the Gothic style, which was built in Portugal.
In the 19th century, the lands of the monastery were transferred to the state, and monastic life here ceased. Tourists visiting the cathedral and the tombs of the kings. Significant is the love story of Pedro the First and Ines de Castro, who are buried here. Portugal and Castile have from time to time sought to end internecine wars, including through marriages. Prince Pedro fell in love with the lady of the court of his wife, who was a native of Castile.
For a long time he met with Ines in secret, and after the death of his wife he settled her in the palace. The prince's father was in terrible anger. The son of Ines, a woman not of royalty, could not be allowed to inherit the throne. As a result of the conspiracy, Ines was killed. Having ascended the throne, Pedro the First ordered to extract the embalmed body of his beloved and crown it. Here it is - a story of eternal love.
Tomar
A pleasant old town with a beautiful cathedral. Tomar is inextricably linked to the history of the Knights Templar. This order was founded in the 12th century, and the knights were supposed to protect the pilgrims heading to the Holy Land. The Templars soon became the richest people in Europe, and many noble persons became their debtors. This predetermined the fate of the order - it was defeated by order of Philip the Fourth, King of France, who also had a large debt.
Those who stood at the head of the order were first tortured and then burned at the stake. The castle, which stands in Tomar, was built by the Templars in the 12th century, and later, after the defeat of the order, King Dinish I founded the Order of Christ, which received the lands of the Templars. The symbolism and charter of both spiritual organizations were very similar. So the castle, where the Convent de Cristo monastery is located today, is a must-see. Inside you will see a wonderful setting - paintings, sculptures, frescoes.
Batalha
In Batalha you can get acquainted with the next pages of the history of Portugal. Visit the Batalha Monastery, one of the oldest temples. Its facades decorated with patterns are a real work of art. Another old church built in the 16th century is Santa Cruz. Its decoration is extremely modest, but here you can see the figure of the Virgin with the baby Jesus in her arms. In memory of the battle between the troops of Juan the First and Juan of Castile, a chapel was built, which will be interesting to all lovers of history.
The Historical Museum deserves attention, here you can see many finds from the Paleolithic era. And in the Specialized Museum, children will be able to put on knightly armor. Near Batalha there is an ecological park, in which the ruins of medieval buildings have been preserved. And finally, tourists love to visit the Moeda Caves, which, as a result of the original lighting, seem to be made of gold.
Fatima
It will be interesting to visit this small city, first of all, for believers. Here in 1917 the Mother of God appeared to children six times - little Lucia and her relatives Francisco and Jacinte. At first they did not believe the children, but later a crowd of thousands gathered to see the miracle. People saw how the Virgin Mary stopped the downpour - the sky cleared. Soon, of the children, only Lucia survived, two others died, as the Mother of God predicted. Lucia lived a long life and became a nun. She also wrote down three revelations of the Virgin Mary, they all came true. In particular, this applies to the terrible wars that Europe has experienced.
Since then, pilgrims from all over the world flock to Fatima - there are millions of them. This led to the construction of an architectural complex, which includes a basilica, a temple and a chapel. Since a lot of people come, Fatima also has an area that can simultaneously accommodate about 200 thousand people. The priest's speech is broadcast through the speakers. Once in Lisbon, do not miss the opportunity to go and worship the Mother of God of Fatima.
Evora and Cromlech Almendrish
This place will make guests remember Stonehenge. The nature is beautiful here, and there is some mystery in the air. Attention is drawn to two large stone circles: one larger, the other smaller. In total, there are a little less than 100 megaliths here, it is assumed that their number exceeded a hundred, but people used stones for some purpose. Why did the ancients laid out these circles? It happened 4-5 thousand years BC. Probably for astronomical observations. Some megaliths are covered with symbolic designs. This place was discovered relatively recently - in 1964.
Mafra
The main attraction in Mafra is the royal residence. It is not difficult to go and see it, because the town is located 30 km from the capital of Portugal. The construction of the residence dates back to the first half of the 18th century. Initially, it was supposed that there would be a small monastery, but then the royal family got additional funds, and the plan changed. It was decided to build a luxurious palace. And it was quite successful. For a long time, diplomatic receptions took place here. And when the power of the monarchs fell - it happened at the beginning of the 20th century - the residence became a museum.
The palace has over a thousand rooms, one and a half hundred stairs, dozens of beautiful courtyards. The palace complex includes a monastery, where about 300 monks lived. The needs of the monastery were paid by the king. A very beautiful baroque basilica decorated with marble. 6 organs are known all over the world - they were intended for joint play. 98 bells made the local belfry the largest in the world. The numerous halls of the palaces also deserve attention; the huge library is of particular admiration.
Jose Franco
This excursion will be interesting for both adults and children, but especially for those who are engaged in applied art. In the middle of the last century, the potter Jose Fracu created a real Portuguese village. He has worked with clay since childhood, learning from his father and grandfather. He made wonderful dishes. Moreover, he knew how to win over people at first sight - he had a sense of humor, was very hardworking and good-natured. He was called "the artist of the potter's wheel".
He dreamed that someday all people would live peacefully, and believers of different denominations would not take up arms against each other. Once in a dream, the master dreamed of a village - everything in it was so harmonious that it was pleasing to the eye. And young Jose decided to make what he saw in his dream come true. Things went so well that the Pope blessed him. Today you can visit this village, see how the peasants lived at the beginning of the last century, admire the exhibition of sculptures. And also - to sit in a small tavern, taste local food, and buy something from earthenware in a souvenir shop - as a keepsake.
Ericeira
A very picturesque fishing village where time seems to have stood still. It is located not far from Lisbon. Here you can see typical Portuguese houses, a fish market, churches. And from the multitude of cafes and bars, your eyes simply run up. It is worth stopping by and enjoying delicious seafood dishes. You can buy local wine and, of course, go to the market for souvenirs. Ericeira is also known all over the world as a surf center. World celebrities, the best athletes come here to catch a drive, riding the local waves. There are also major world-class surfing competitions.
Paradise Gardens of Buddha
To visit these gardens, you need to cover about 80 km. They are located away from the traditional tourist roads, surrounded by vineyards. Juse Berardo decided to arrange such a place in his native Portugal - and he took up this at the beginning of the 21st century, taking two decades to work. As a result, the gardens should occupy a huge area of 45 hectares. The patron was shocked by the barbarism committed by the Taliban - in Afghanistan they destroyed the unique statues of Buddha. In his gardens, he decided to introduce guests to the art of the countries of the East. Therefore, the most significant part of the territory is set aside for this topic.
Here you can see various sculptures - from Buddha to Fu dogs, as well as decorations adopted in Japanese garden design. The guests are also greatly impressed by the "Terracotta Army" with painted sculptures of warriors. Another part of the gardens represents the art of the African Shona people (Zimbabwe). Here you can see sculptures made of stone and metal. The third part contains works of contemporary art.
Setubal
This place has been known since the days of Ancient Rome. Remains of the military camp of the Romans have survived, and the place where salt was mined and processed at that time - the "white currency", was salted fish. After the influence of Rome ended, the town became part of Portugal. Navigation developed here, a fortress was built to protect the local population from pirates.Today, there is a national park near Setubal, and tourists can combine exploring the city and amazing natural landscapes.
Of the sights, one can note the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Graz, erected in the 13th century, the Jesus Monastery, which is about 500 years old, the ancient Jesus Square. The National Park houses the Museum of Oceanography. You can rent a boat and ride along the coast, or go to the local market where everything in the world is sold - from fresh vegetables to fish. It is also recommended to visit the fortress in the upper part of the city, erected in the 16th century. It has the shape of a star. Today, there is a hotel in the premises of the fortress.
Thus, having arrived in Portugal, you should not be limited to Lisbon alone. While in the capital, you can take short trips that only take one day. But you will have the opportunity to see a lot of unusual things. Further - according to your taste. Will it be old sights - palaces, churches, castles and fortresses? Or would you rather visit museums, or maybe national parks? A small country carefully preserves so many architectural masterpieces, works of art, its nature is so good that any of these trips will remain in your memory as one of the best memories.
