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Vacation in Portugal  -  Portugal Vacations.

Portuguese Republic, former Kingdom.

Regions in Portugal : Porto e Norte de Portugal [ Northern Portugal ], Beiras - Centro de Portugal [ Central Portugal ], Lisbon [ capital city ], Alentejo and the Algarve.

Azores Islands, Costa de Prata, Costa Verde, Faro, Funchal, Madeira, Planicies, Prata

Portugal at the Atlantic Ocean is Spains neigbouring country.

Capital City Portugal : Lisbon


car hire, hostels, hotels, rental homes, tour operators, travel guides, transport / traveling to portugal 

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Car Rental Portugal

 Alamo  -  Luxury Discount Auto Rental Company
 Avis
 Budget Rent A Car
 Hertz

Rental Homes / Vacation Rentals / Apartments

 Euro Relais  -  Holiday Cottages in Portugal
Charming chalet, villa, castle or mill? Country cottage, mansion or farmhouse? Discover their special holiday homes and book online!

 Portugalvacances.com  -  Villas and holidays in Portugal at affordable prices
North and Centre, Lisbon Coast, Alentejo, Algarve
 Holiday Rentals
 No Campo
A modernly furnished, detached rental home / residence with enough space to receive 4 adults. Surrounded by bougainvillaea, oleander and palm-trees. 
To the south of Lisbon, in the Alentejo, lies the Costa Azul. Near Grândola you will find no campo 

Hostels

 Hostelbookers.com  -  Great Hostels, Free booking
Hostelbookers.com is one of the worlds largest online booking services for hostels. All hostels you see here are offering realtime prices and availability.
 Pousadas Juventude  -  klick on 'Contactos e links'
 Youth hostels in Portugal

Hotels in Portugal / Pousadas

 Booking - Hotels in Portugal  -  an easy way to select and book hotel rooms
Centrally located hotels ranging from small family run budget accommodation to world-class five star hotels. Bookings is a dedicated hotel and accommodation reservation web site.

 Pestana Hotels & Resorts  -  Lisbon, Oporto, Algarve and Madeira
 Pousadas - lodgings where you can appreciate the traditional regional gastronomy
Dozens of state-run Pousadas, strategically situated in or near major tourist destinations throughout the country, almost invariably offering the most comfortable accommodations and, often, the finest food in the area.
 Expedia.com
 Hotels.com 

National Parks

 Naturlink
 Nature Park of Aire and Candeeiros Mountains
The Nature Park of Aire and Candeeiros Mountains encompasses Estremadura, Ribatejo and Beira Litoral. The nearest entrances are in Alcobaça and Porto de Mós. It occupies 2/3 of the Maciço Calcário Estremenho (limestone formations). In some places the landscape looks like the lunar surface. The villages of Mendiga, Arrimal, Cerro Ventoso and Alvados are located on the perimeter, where stone walls separate small plots of land and there are windmills on the tops of hills. The visitor should not miss Olhos de Água at the headwaters of the Alviela river and the lakes of Arrimal and Alvados. The curious rock formation includes the caves of Alvados, Aire and Santo António. The red beaked magpie nests in the park. On the eastern flank of the Aire mountain, 10 kilometres from Fátima, dinosaur prints have been found in Pedreira do Galinha.
 Nature Park Ria Formoso  -  Traditional sea salt from the Algarve.
Ria Formosa is a natural habitat for flamingos, storks and many other water-birds.

Travel Agents / Tour Operators

 Abercrombie & Kent  -  Luxury Travel & Tours
 EEI Travel  -  Lisbon Special, Portugal Fly & Drive, Algarve Journey, Walking Portugal
 Globus Journeys  -  Portugal in depth, Grand tour Portugal & Spain
 Happy Holidays 
An independent kingdom since 1143, Portugal established its continental frontiers in 1297 and is one of the oldest nations in Europe. Enjoy hundreds of years of history as the country's culture brings it to life.
Algarve, Albufeira, Silves, Fabrica do Ingles, Lagos/Sagres, Cape St. Vicente, Porches, Azeitao, Winery of Jose Maria da Fonseca, Shrine of Fatima, Lisbon, Royal Palaces of Queluz and Sintra
 Tauck Spain Tours  -  Spain & Portugal
Highlights of this scenic and cultural Spain and Portugal tour include Lisbon, Sintra, Estoril and the Algarve in Portugal, and Seville, Gibraltar, enchanting Ronda, Granada, Cordoba, Toledo and Madrid in Spain.
 Rail Europe  -  Rail Passes, Train Tickets & Schedules 
 Select Travel
 Topdeck Tours
They take you to the most amazing places in Europe, their experienced tour leaders are the best in the business, and will help create the perfect atmosphere for a great holiday. Topdeck Tours encourage individuality, and the fun just flows naturally.
 VAX VacationAccess  -  A Better Way To Book - Lisbon Vacations




Travel Guides Portugal / Related books

 Portugal - Lonely Planet Country Guide - Charlotte Beech, Abigail Hole, Richard Sterling
Think you've done it all? This comprehensively updated book will help you find the haunting strains of fado, spectacularly decorated azulejos, the wonders of ancient castelos and the delights of succulent bacalhau a Gomes de Sá.
78 detailed maps; special sections on architecture and port wine; activities galore--golf, jeep safaris, water sports; accommodation and food options for every budget; user-friendly language chapter and handy glossary.
Paperback 488 pages (March 2005); Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; Language: English; ISBN: 174059682X.
 Portugal - Rough Guide 
By Mark Ellingham, Graham Kenyon, John Fisher, Jules Brown, Matthew Hancock.
The Rough Guide to Portugal is the ultimate handbook to one of Europe's most beguiling countries. The full -colour introduction includes stunning photos of the best sights and activities, from the famous resorts of the Algarve to the nightlife of Lisbon, from historic Evora to the wine lodges of Porto. There are lively accounts of all the attractions, including those well off-the-beaten-track and practical tips on outdoor activities such as exploring the country's magnificent mountains, endless beaches and stunning national parks. In every chapter there are good maps and plans, complete with keys for all accommodation, eating and drinking establishments . Finally, in the 'contexts' section there is unrivalled cultural background from fado to cuisine, football to history.
Paperback 640 pages (March 31, 2005); Publisher: Rough Guides; Language: English; ISBN: 184353438X.
 "Time Out" Lisbon 
Beautifully laid out on seven hills overlooking the River Tejo and littered with monuments testifying to Portugal's former maritime glory, Lisbon is a sightseeing delight as well as a mecca for clubbers and party people in search of a wild weekend. Written and researched by Lisbon residents, this awardwinning Time Out guide escorts you around the coffeehouses of the Chiado, the bars and restaurants of the Bairro Alto, the clubs of the Docas and Santa Apolonia, down into the city's deepest African and Brazilian dives and out to the finest beaches of the Caparica Coast.
Paperback 256 pages (August 2005); Publisher: Time Out Group Ltd.; Language: English; ISBN: 1904978045

Transport / How do I travel to Portugal

 Lisbon Airport
 Faro Airport, Flores Airport [ Airport Azores ], Funchal [ Madeira ], Horta, Airport Ponta Delgada Joao Paulo II [ Azores ], Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro [ 11 km from Porto City ], Porto Santo, Santa Maria [ Azores ]

 TAP Air Portugal  -  Portuguese Airline  -  Flight tickets Lisbon

  Airline Tickets / Discount Flights  -  Flights to Portugal

 Portuguese Railways

 Online Maps Portugal [ Uni Texas  -  Perry-Castañeda Library  -  Map Collection Europe  ]


Links 

 Travel Insurance  -  online travel and holiday insurance

 Portugal Tourism

 Lisbon / Lisboa  - Capital City of Portugal

 Porto [ Oporto / Northern Portugal ]
Oporto, the capital of the country's northern regions, with its international t airport, offers the delights of a riverside city as it is magnificently situated on the mouth of the Douro river, from where boats leave to sail up the beautiful river.
 Beiras  -  Central Portugal  -  with capital Coimbra
Stretching from the Spanish frontier to the sea, the Beiras region of central Portugal provides a natural link between the cool, green meadows of the north and the hot, dry pastures of the south.

 Alentejo
From the peaceful landscape of the vast Ribatejo open plains to the extense golden Alentejo wheat fields, the peaceful landscape is but a curtain that opens on to an unimaginable heritage.
One is first taken by surprise by the remarkable traces of successive cultures: dolmens and cromlechs, Roman and Arab vestiges mingling with the most recent sign of Christianity of which the numerous medieval castles are but one example.
Towns:: Beja, Borba, Estremoz, Evora, Montemor-o-Novo, Portalegre, Santiago do Cacém, Vila Viçosa
 Algarve
Towns: Alcoutim, Albufeira, Aljezur / Castro Marim, Faro, Lagoa / Lagos, Loulé, Monchique, Portimão, Olhão Sagres (Vila do Bispo), S. Brás de Alportel / Silves / Tavira

 Azores Islands / Açores [ nine islands ]
 Madeira  -  with the capital Funchal
Madeira is a lush, sub-tropical paradise, uniquely different in feel from its parent country, Portugal. In fact, Madeira is closer to Morocco than to Portugal. Much of the mountainous and volcanic interior of the island remains remote even to this day although it`s highest peak, Pico Ruivo, remains a popular attraction for walkers.

 Costa de Prata - Silver Coast
As one of the most economically developed regions in Portugal, Costa de Prata is also home for famous traditional art treasures, such as its porcelain and crystal, as well as its gastronomy, strongly influenced by the sea and counterbalanced by its tasty Bairrada wines and mouth-watering sweets. In the fishing villages or urban historic centres, the kindness of the people is but another asset to add to this bountiful area's vast list of qualities.
  Costa Verde - Green Coast - Northern Portugal
The country's longest motorway (A1, from Lisbon to Oporto) goes up to Braga (A3), in the heart of Costa Verde. If you follow the coastline on the road from Vila do Conde to Valença, you will not miss the beautiful beaches, seaside resorts and enchanting villages such as Caminha and Vila Nova de Cerveira. Inland and worthwhile visiting is the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Throughout the region the rivers, waterfalls, vineyards and fertile plots combine with the ancestral monuments in urban centres.
 Douro Region
Located in Northeast Portugal, within the Douro River basin, surrounded by craggy mountains that give it very particular soil and climacteric characteristics, this region spreads over a total area of approximately 250 000 hectares and is divided into three sub-regions that differ greatly from each other not only as regards the weather but also for socio-economical reasons.
 Lisbon Coast  -  Costa de Lisboa
Cascais Estoril, Costa Azul, Ericeira, Sintra
 Montanhas [ Mountains ]
In the heart of the country, descending towards the Tagus, lies a mountainous and beautiful region where there is still time to live.

 Faro  -  see The Algarve
 Funchal  -  Capital of Madeira  -  see Madeira
 Maia  -  Camara Municipal da Maia
Pertencem ao concelho da Maia as seguintes freguesias: Águas Santas, Avioso (Santa Maria), Avioso (S. Pedro), Barca, Folgosa, Gemunde, Gondim, Gueifães, Maia, Milheirós, Moreira, Nogueira, Pedrouços, S. Pedro Fins, Silva Escura, Vermoim, e Vila Nova do Telha.
 Matosinhos  -  Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos
 Planicies
 Vila Nova de Gaia  -  Bemvindo ao Portal de Vila Nova de Gaia

 Aamlia Rodrigues [ 1920 - 1999 ]
 Pelgrimage
In Portugal, Fátima is a very important catholic center, dedicated to the Mother of Jesus, Mary [ Maria ].
 Port Wine
Port Wine is a sweet fortified wine, exclusively produced in the Douro designated region, named after the city of Porto, where it is aged and bottled. Its unmistakable bouquet, body and flavour are due to the high quality of the grapes, as well as to the region's soil and climatic conditions.
 University  -  University of Coimbra
 World Heritage City Oporto
 News  -  Expresso -

Cuisine - Portuguese Cooking

Portugal is a country for wine lovers. The Romans associated Portugal with Bacchus, their God of Winery and Feast. Many famous Portuguese wines are known as some of the world's best: Vinho Verde, Vinho do Douro, Vinho do Alentejo, Vinho do Dão, and the sweet: Port Wine, Madeira wine and the Moscatels of Setúbal and Favaios.

 Virtual Portugal  -  Eating & Drinking in Portugal
Fish and Crustaceans; Meat, fowl and game; Cheeses; Desserts; Wines of Portugal [ a wealthy in good wines and, apart from the unique Port and Madeira - see map ]; Eating & Drinking places directories

Film / Movie

  Fado, Historia d'uma Cantadeira [1947] - Regie Perdigao Queiroga
Melodrama about a singer [ her love for Julio - a simple giutar player is hindering her singing career ]. Lots of music and singing. Leading role: Amalia Rodrigues. See MDB

History of Portugal

The Kingdom of Portugal emerged in the 12th century connected with the process concerning the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. At the same time that all the territories occupied by the Moors were conquered southwards Portugal, originally a county and a part of one of the most ancient Christian kingdoms of the Peninsula - Leão - demanded its independence in 1143.

Independent: 5th of October 1910.

 History on Portugal - WikipediA
Portugal during the past 3,000 years has witnessed a constant ebb and flow of different civilizations. Phoenician, Greek, Celtic, Carthaginian, Roman, Barbarian and Arabic cultures have all made an imprint in Portugal. In the 15th century, Portugal also entered into world history. Remarkable discoveries by its maritime explorers led to the accumulation of an overseas empire.
 National Archeological Museum

Music & Culture

 Agenda Cultural Nacional
 Fado [ destiny in Portuguese ]
A form of melancholic music. It is linked to the Portuguese word 'saudade', conveying a complex feeling of sadness, pain, miss and love, along with other feelings. Its origins are probably a mixture of African slave rhythms with traditional music of Portuguese sailors. And it also has a Arabic influence.

Nowadays fado is a world wide known symbol of Portugal, being represented for many years in foreign countries by Amália, and more recently by Dulce Pontes, among others. Throughout the world, to the name of Portugal, there were two things immediately related: the bullfighting and the Fado. Although taking many forms as it is sung in Porto, in Coimbra or in Lisbon, the Fado is, by self-earned right, the expression of the Portuguese soul.
 Instituto Camoes  -  Centros Culturais Portugueses
 Music Museum
The Music Museum is an institution under the Portuguese Institute of Museums (Instituto Português de Museus ), in which one of the richest instrument collections in Europe is housed, along with documents, an iconography collection and sound archive.
 Portugese Cinema

 MP3's - Portuguese Music

Web Portal / Portugese Search Engine / Directory

 Portugal4you.com  -  Online Travel Guide for Portugal, Madeira und Azores
 Portugalinfo
 Portugal Travel Guide

 Yellow Pages  -  English / Portuguese
 Telephone Guide  -  white pages - English / Portuguese language


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