Portugal is an incredible country located on the Iberian Peninsula. Although it shares a border with Spain and is certainly part of the European continent, Portugal is decidedly unique. Within one country it is possible to visit bustling cities, isolated beach resorts and breathtaking mountain peaks. The culture, history and heritage are also vibrant and fascinating. It is because of these various reasons that Portugal is such a popular tourism destination for travellers around the world. In order to best understand the beautiful destinations that await you in Portugal, take a look at these top ten Flickr photos of the nation.
1. Porto’s Skyline
There can be no doubt that the best way to see this incredible city in Portugal is from the banks of the Douro River at night. The city of Porto was founded on the river and most of the architecture of note is found on the banks, giving this area special designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Baixa, Lisbon
As the capital city of Portugal, Lisbon is home to an incredible number of museums, monuments, landmarks and impressive attractions. One the simplest and most beautiful sights in the country is the view over Old Lisbon, or Baixa. Take in the expanse of red roofs as well as the beautiful castle towers in a truly picturesque destination.
3. Praia de Faro
This beach is the most popular and certainly the longest in the Algarve coastal city of Faro. It is the ideal destination for those wanting to relax in the sun, enjoy a beautiful stretch of sandy shorelines or take a dip in the sea. This photo by Alexander Savin shows the late afternoon sun on one particularly beautiful stretch of sand. Faro is home to a number of great accommodations from budget hotels to spacious homes suitable for a villa holiday.
4. Silves Castle
Long before Lisbon was the Portuguese capital, the town of Silves was the head of the Moorish people living in the Algarve region of the nation. Today it is a pleasant and charming town where the main attraction is the Silves Castle and surrounding ruins. This photo illustrates just how intricate the layout was and helps to explain more about the Moorish culture and heritage.
5. Se Velha de Coimbra
Although there are dozens of impressive religious structures throughout the country of Portugal, the Se Velha de Coimbra is easily one of the best known and the most beautiful. The enormous cathedral is the dominant historical attraction in the Centro city of Coimbra. This photo shows the Se Velha de Coimbra from the side and a glimpse of the impressive front facade.
6. Coa Valley
This location in the Guarda district of Portugal is a truly picturesque destination. The region is known for being home to beautiful hills that surround the winding Coa River. This photo shows the hills, the Coa River and even some of the many vineyards that produce grapes for local wine production. It is the ideal vacation spot for anyone who wants to get in touch with nature and avoid the busier crowds of the city.
7. Mercado Dos Lavradores, Funchal.
Funchal is one of the most beautiful towns on the Portuguese island of Madeira. A historic port, the São Lourenço Palace and magnificent gardens make the town a popular destination, but the highlight of Funchal is the lively and bustling market of Mercado Dos Lavradores. This picture displays some of the fresh produce for sale and the vibrancy of both the local sellers and shoppers in Funchal.
8. Albufeira
Although Albufeira was once a small fishing village, today it is a bustling and exciting vacation destination. The main attraction of this town is the beautiful beach, shown in the picture. You can see the historic old town which looks down onto the coastline. Albufeira is home to many affordable apartments in Portugal which are cheaper than the local hotels and can save you money on self-catering while on holiday.
9. Castelo de São Jorge
This incredible piece of architecture is one of the most historically and architecturally significant structure in the whole country. Found in the capital city of Lisbon, the Castelo de São Jorge overlooks the city as well as the flowing river. This picture helps to signify just how large and impressive the castle truly is.
10. Peneda-Gerês National Park
Although there are plenty of scenic destinations in Portugal, none is quite so large or so impressive as the Peneda-Gerês National Park. This park crosses through three major districts of Portugal and includes at least two mountain ranges. Visit if you want to get away from it all and bask in incredible beauty. This photo shows the impressive landscape of the park.
Flickr Images Courtesy Of: pocketrockets, natsumi kotsuki, karismafilms, glenbowman, brostad, brostad, dkorobtsov, ivogomes, patrickmayon and suhajdab.
We hope you enjoyed the 10 Flickr images of Portugal contained above. This is a sponsored post on behalf of HomeAway, why not book a villa holiday, select from one of their many apartments in Portugal.
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