3. Lisbon and the Tagus Valley
The region is characterised by the wide and majestic River Tagus (Tejo) with its impressive bridges, salt pans and exotic birds; by the powerful and awesome Atlantic coastline with stunning sandy beaches and quaint fishing towns; by picturesque working windmills; by rolling fertile countryside punctuated by neat terraces of vines, olive groves and pinewoods; by many historical towns and villages and by the impressive national parks of ‘Sintra’ and ‘Arrabida’.
This region includes a wide diversity of landscapes, both physical and cultural.
To the north we have the limestone outcrops of the Serras de Aires and Candeeiros national parks, with their impressive cave systems. Also there are the historic towns of Leiria, Batalha with its Manueline monastery, Tomar (site of the world heritage Convento de Cristo and centre of the Knights Templar at the time of the Crusades) Alcobaça, with its magnificent Benedictine monastery, the spa town of Caldas da Rainha, the picturesque town of Óbidos still contained within its castle walls with its typical ‘white-with-blue-trim’ houses adorned with flowers and Fátima with its important Catholic Sanctuary to the Virgin Mary.
To the west are the Atlantic coast with fishing towns of Peniche and Ericeira and the majestic palace and convent of Mafra, with its impressive chained library.
To the east is the fertile Ribatejo region, famous for the breeding of livestock in the form of bulls for the arena and of the thoroughbred Lusitanian horse. Important centres include Santarém, which is known as the Gothic capital of Portugal, Golegã which is famous for its equestrian fair, and Constância where the river Zêzere meets the Tagus (Tejo).
To the south is the Setúbal peninsula famous for Moscatel wine, with many fine sandy beaches, the white hillside fishing village of Sesimbra, the tree-clad slopes of the Serra da Arrábida which drop down into the crystal blue waters of the Atlantic, the hilltop castles of Setúbal and Palmela, the austere promontory of Cabo Espichel where dinosaurs once walked, aeons later followed by pilgrims to the sanctuary to the Virgin Mary.
In the centre, Lisbon, Portugal’s capital city, often referred to as ‘The City of Light’ and considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful cities with its unique blend of historic charm and modern bustle. It spreads over seven hills on the northern side of the River Tagus (Tejo) bordering what must be one of the world’s most spectacular natural harbours. Nearby is Cascais, a picturesque fishing village with a very cosmopolitan flavour, and the magical hillside town of Sintra, with its unique climate and architecture, beloved of kings and poets.