All tagged King of Portugal

Situated on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian peninsula, Lisbon is the second-oldest European capital and gateway to Europe for anyone who is traveling from the Americas. It now stands as a legacy of a vast and storied empire that once spanned from the Americas to Africa and Asia. Additionally, its position in the middle of the country and status as a global city combine to bring you a melting pot of culture, history and delicious cuisine. Walking around Lisbon and seeing all of the colorful buildings, statues and characteristic trolleys feels almost like you’ve been transported to the late 19th century. For us, Lisbon (and Portugal in general) is one of Europe’s best kept secrets and we encourage every traveler to visit this beautiful city.

Guimaraes, Birthplace of Portugal

Just a half hour north of Porto lies the city of Guimarães, considered to be the birthplace of Portugal ever since Afonso Henriques defeated his own mother in battle and her Galician allies and proclaimed himself Portugal’s first king. Since it was so close to Porto, we decided to take a daytrip to this historic city which has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it was well worth the visit.