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Sintra
Moorish Fountain & Fountain of the Small Birds
The Moorish Fountain is built on the Islamic architecture (Arabic inspiration). Due to the Islamic influence and style, this mountain was named ‘the Moorish Fountain’. It was built in 1922 by the master sculptor of Sintra, José da Fonseca… Continue Reading
The Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros in Portuguese), sits on top of a hill which towers above the village of Sintra. The earliest castle on this site was built by the Muslims in the 8th or 9th century… Continue Reading
Living Statues Festival
Sintra Living Statues Festival (Festival de Estátuas Vivas de Sintra) was held on 3rd – 4th October and characters were beside the road between 3pm to 7pm… Continue Reading
Monserrate Park
The Monserrate Palace lies 3.5km to the west of Sintra and Rua Visconde de Monserrate leads into this vast park. This 30 hectare park around the palace is filled with many gardens… Continue Reading
Monserrate Palace
The Monserrate Palace is built on a hill, west of town of Sintra. The Monserrate Palace is built on Islamic architectural style but the central atrium is decorated with Indian alabaster panels… Continue Reading
Moorish Castle Chapel Exhibitions
The Chapel of Sao Pedro de Penaferrim is just outside the walls of the Moorish Castle in Sintra. The chapel was built in the late 12th century. In the past, the area outside the inner walls… Continue Reading
National Palace
The National Palace of Sintra is located at the Praça Republic (the Republic Square) in Sintra town. Sometimes this palace is called the Town Palace… Continue Reading
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum of Sintra is located next to the National Palace, housed inside a 19th century building. It displays some of the finest dinosaurs bones an eggs… Continue Reading
Pena Palace - Exterior
The Pena Palace of Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perched on a hill with its’ brightly coloured exterior it is one of the most romantic buildings in Sintra Town… Continue Reading
Pena Palace - Exterior
The Pena Palace of Sintra was built for King Dom Fernando after he married Queen Maria II. Access to the interior of the Pena Palace is through a small door… Continue Reading
Quinta da Regaleira Palace
The Quinta da Regaleira Palace in Sintra is a decorative 20th century residence which is situated on Rua Barbosa do Bocage. It is a beautiful building, surrounded by a lush green park… Continue Reading
Quinta da Regaleira Park Sintra
The Quinta da Regaleira Park in Sintra is part of the Quinta da Regaleira which has a palace and a four hectares of land. The park itself has dense trees, tunnels, Initiation Wells, Lakes, fountains and the Aquarium… Continue Reading
Sintra City
Sintra is a city and municipality in Portugal, just 30km from Lisbon. The city itself is a major tourist attraction for many who come to Portugal. It is regarded as the best day trip from Lisbon… Continue Reading
Silves
Al Mouatamid Ibn Abbad Park
This park site between Rua da Cruz de Portugal and N124 in Silves, the park is named after famous Abbadid ruler of Seville who was one of the greatest of the Andalusian poets… Continue Reading
Turret of the City Gate
The Turret of the City Gate is located inside the old city of Silves. This gate would provide access to the upper parts of the city, including it’s main mosque and castle in the past… Continue Reading
Roman Bridge
It’s name has derived from the fact that once a Roman bridge existed here. Later, Arabs also built a bridge to access the city. The current bridge is from the 15th century and it has five arches… Continue Reading
Castle of Silves
The Castle of Silves is located in Silves, Algarve region of Portugal. The russet-coloured, Lego-like castle has great views over the town… Continue Reading
The Municipal Museum of Archaeology in Silves is located at Rua das Portas de Loulé. This museum displays the archaeological finds from the city… Continue Reading
Silves Cathedral
The Silves Cathedral is located below the Castle of Silves, it was built in 1189 on the site of an earlier mosque. Silves was an important city during the Muslim era… Continue Reading
Silves Town Hall
Silves Town Hall is locally known as Camara Municipal de Silves is situated in the Praça do Municipio, close to the Turret of the City Gate… Continue Reading
Silves City
Shilb (Arabic name for Silves) was one of the most important towns in the western al-Andalus. Due to its location, beside the river, the city was a hub for trade… Continue Reading
Faro
Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Faro, also known as the Municipal Museum is located inside the Faro’s Old Town. It is housed inside a splendid 16th-century building … Continue Reading
Capela Dos Ossos (Igreja de Carmo)
Igreja de Carmo is located at the Largo do Carmo in Faro. It is also known as Capela Dos Ossos. Igreja de Carmo offers an insight into how Portuguese had decorated their churches… Continue Reading
Faro City
Faro city is located on the southern coast of Portugal. It forms the part of Algarve (comes from al-garb in Arabic) in the past, Faro was known as Uhsunubia. One of the unique feature in Portugal… Continue Reading
Faro Cathedral
Faro was taken by the forces of King Afonso III in 1249 from the Muslims. After capturing the city, the Cathedral was built at the site of an Muslim mosque in 1251… Continue Reading
Ria Formosa & Ilha de Farol
From Ilha de Farol, the boat took us to nearby Barreta Island. This island is also known as Ilha Deserta, Deserted Island or Santa Maria Cape Island… Continue Reading
Old Town
The Old Town of Faro is small, quiet and wonderfully atmospheric. Faro was the last Muslim town in Portugal which fell in the Christian hands… Continue Reading
Loule
Castle of Loule
The entrance of the Castle of Loule is situated at Rua Dom Paio Peres Correia. The old Arabic name of this town was al-Ulya… Continue Reading
Loule City
Loule is a municipality in Faro District and, only 16 km from Faro. It is a relaxed and unhurried destination, away from the busy beaches… Continue Reading
Matriz Church and Garden of Skulls are both situated at the Rua da Matriz in Loule, church is also known as the Church of Sao Clemente… Continue Reading
Municipal Market
The Municipal Market of Loule is situated at the Praca da Republica Street, beside the Camara Municipal… Continue Reading
The Municipal Museum of Archaeology Loule is located in the building that used to be part of the Castle of Loule… Continue Reading
Tavira
Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura is a structure which offers a lookout point over Tavira but from a different angle. It was an old water tower opened in 1931 to supply water to the whole city… Continue Reading
The Castle of Tavira is located at Largo Abu-Otmane (Abu Osman Square), this castle is on the south western side of Tavira. This castle lies in the town’s historic centre and it is well signposted… Continue Reading
Gilao River & Roman Bridge
Gilao River starts its journey in the Serra do Caldeirao mountains of the central Algarve, near Tavira it drains itself into the Atlantic Ocean. It has numerous bridges in Tavira and the Roman Bridge is one of them… Continue Reading
Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo
Current church is a 13th-century Gothic church which was built on the site of an old Muslim mosque in the 13th century. The mosque served its’ purpose as a medina mosque within the city walls during the Muslim rule… Continue Reading
Islamic Centre of Tavira
The Islamic Centre of Tavira Museum (locally known as Nucleo Islamico) is located close to the Roman Bridge. Archaeologists found at this site that the Moorish wall of the castle formed an integral part of the building… Continue Reading
Jardim Publico de Tavira
Beside the Roman Bridge, next to the Republic Square lies a beautiful park, called Jardim Publico de Tavira. This is a small but well maintained park and it also offers great views of the river… Continue Reading
Municipal Museum of Tavira
The Municipal Museum of Tavira is a small museum in size but the purpose of this is to preserve, exhibit and promote the heritage of Tavira. After entering through the main door from the street, one sees a structure under glass… Continue Reading
Almohad Quarter
While converting the 16th-century Convento da Graça into a luxury hotel, old Muslim quarter and defensive walls of the ancient coastal city of Tabira (Arabic name) were found. Now they are preserved in the basement… Continue Reading
Tavira City
Tavira is only 28 kilometers from Faro, though this city is small but very rich in history. This town was conquered from the Moors on July 11 of 1239 by King D. Paio Peres Correia. Old Town still has an essence of Muslim past… Continue Reading
Mertola
Muslim Neighbourhood
Mertola is known for preserving one of the best sites from the Muslim era in whole of Portugal. Alcacova shows how people lived in Mertola, is built next to the ruins of the Almohad Neighbourhood … Continue Reading
Islamic Art Museum
The Museum of Islamic Art is located in the south side of the old town. It is a modern and tastefully organised museum to show the Islamic past in Mertola. The museum is situated inside former granary of Braganca House… Continue Reading
Torre do Relogio & Casa Romana
Torre do Relógio is a tower, situated very close to the Town Hall square. From the River Guadiana, steps bring visitors to the upper level of the town. Casa Romana (the Roman House) is situated under this Town Hall of Mertola… Continue Reading
Hotel Museum & Weaving Workshop
The Weaving Workshop in Mertola is part of the Mertola Museum project. Weaving woolen blankets is one of the region’s oldest traditional arts.Inside the Hotel Museu in it’s basement lies ruin from the Almohad period in Mertola… Continue Reading
Castle of Mertola
The castle of Mertola is located on the highest point of the town due to its military importance. Close to the entrance, a statue of Ibn Qasi stands outside the castle… Continue Reading
Matriz Church & Mosque
The Matriz Chruch of Mertola is situated at Rua Elias Garcia. This building was originally a mosque built between 12th and 13th centuries… Continue Reading
Mertola Town
Mertola town is situated in the middle of the Guadiana Valley Natural Park. It is a protected nature reserve situated in southeastern parts of Portugal in Alentejo region… Continue Reading
Serpa
Castle of Serpa
Largo dos Santos Próculo e Hilariao brings visitors to the dramatic entrance of the Castle of Serpa. Just before the entrance door large chunks… Continue Reading
City Walls and Aqueducts
Parts of the city walls in Serpa date back to the 11th century. The walls are mostly the work of Dom Dinis from the 12th century … Continue Reading
Pulo do Lobo
Pulo do Lobo is a waterfall over the River Guadiana in the Lower Alentejo region. The name of this waterfall means ‘wolf’s leap’… Continue Reading
Chapel of our Lady of Guadalupe
Just outside Serpa lies the Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe (Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe) at a distance of 2 kilometers … Continue Reading
Serpa Town
Serpa Town is situated in Alentejo region of Portugal. The road from Mertola to Serpa passes through Guadiana Valley Natural Park… Continue Reading
Elvas
Amoreira Aqueduct & British Cemetery
Amoreira aqueduct are situated just outside the town of Elvas while the British Cemetery is located on the eastern wall of Fort Elvas… Continue Reading
Castle of Elvas
The Castle of Elvas lies to the north of the town, overlooking the Spanish city of Badajoz. It is small in size but it is Portugal’s most battle hardened castle… Continue Reading
Elvas City
Elvas city of Portugal is very close to the Spanish border, just 15 km from Badajoz. It was a Muslim town for nearly four centuries… Continue Reading
Fernandina Tower
The Fernandina Tower in Elvas was once part of the second city walls during the Muslim period in Portugal. This tower got separated… Continue Reading
Walls & Gates
Walls and Gates of Elvas reflect an extraordinarily sophisticated military technology. Its defensive system of moats, forts and heavy walls was an important element… Continue Reading
Lisbon
Belem District
Belem district of Lisbon sits in the southwestern part of the city. Its name comes from the Portuguese word for Bethlehem… Continue Reading
Belem Tower
Belem Tower (Torre de Belem) is situated on the northern bank of the River Tagus in Lisbon. The reason to build this tower… Continue Reading
Carmo Convent & Archaeological Museum
Carmo Convent (Convento do Carmo) is a part-ruined medieval convent and Archaeological Museum in Lisbon… Continue Reading
Jeronimos Monastery
The Jeronimos Monastery is situated in the Belem district of western Lisbon. This Late Gothic Manueline style … Continue Reading
Lisbon Cathedral
The Lisbon Cathedral is one of the most famous icons of the city, locally it is known as Sé de Lisboa… Continue Reading
Medieval Walls & Gates
The medieval walls and gates of Lisbon were part of the Muslim defensive system, built between the 10th century and 12th… Continue Reading
Padrao dos Descobrimentos
The Padrao dos Descobrimentos is a monument in Lisbon which celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery from the 15th century onward … Continue Reading
Casa dos Bicos
Casa dos Bicos in Lisbon is a historical house built in 1523 at the behest of King Brás de Albuquerque… Continue Reading
Praca do Comercio
Praca do Comercio in Lisbon is one of the most famous city squares. On it’s northern side, Rua Augusta Arch stands … Continue Reading
Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon is a historical lift which sits at the end of the Rua de Santa Justa and connects two parts… Continue Reading
Saint George Castle
The Saint George Castle in Lisbon is locally known as Castelo de Sao Jorge and it is situated at Rua do Chao da Feira… Continue Reading