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Anjos Teixeira Museum
Named in honor of two of Portugal’s greatest sculptors, this small museum is housed in a former watermill in the outskirts of Sintra.
Atelier Joaquim Pombal
Belem
Belem is most famous for the Belem Tower and the Monument of Discoveries, but also the Pasteis de Belem (Rua de Belem) for delicious, world-famous custard tarts (just a short walk away from the quirky Museum of Coaches). Also worth checking out is the magnificent Jeronimos Monastery (Praca do Imperio), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Belém Cultural Center
The massive Belem Cultural Center offers over a million square feet of space for a conference center, performing arts halls and exhibition galleries. The center often hosts performances with a range of artistries such as theater, dance, jazz and opera.
Belem Tower
Considered to be one of the main works of the Portuguese late Gothic style, the imposing Belem Tower is a must-see while in Lisbon. Built from rare, local limestone, the tower was commissioned by King John II in the early 16th century and is considered one of the seven wonders of Portugal. Open to the public, the tower can be climbed to the top, where visitors will catch beautiful views of the river.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
Carmo Convent
Located in the center of the city in Chiado, the ruins of the Carmo convent offer a striking legacy of the massive earthquake that nearly wiped Lisbon off the map in 1755. Originally built in 1389, the Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was destroyed by the magnitude 9 earthquake; the Gothic complex’s roof caved in, leaving only its pillars and arches. Most of the city was eventually rebuilt (with seismically robust edifices, of course), but this site — which was the largest church in the capital at the time of the tragedy — was purposefully left roofless as a reminder of the natural disaster. Today, in addition to the remains of the nave open to the sky, you can visit the Carmo Archaeological Museum with a collection of tombs (including King Ferdinand I’s), 13th-century coins, South American mummies, and other archeological bits and bobs.
Casa da Musica
Designed by legendary Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, Casa da Musica is iconic in the city of Porto. Finished in 2005, the institution hosts three orchestras and boasts two gorgeous concert halls. The musical experiments that take place here befit the experimental design of the building: in 2008 the Orquestra Nacional do Porto put on explorative public performances where music was captured alongside the conductor and musicians’ gestures, which were interpreted by various laser sensors.
Casa das Histórias Paula Rego
Designed in red concrete by Pritzker Prize-winner Eduardo Souto de Moura, the museum is dedicated to artist Paula Rego. Across seven rooms, visitors can view a collection of Rego's drawings and paintings (many of which are based on fairy tales or stories). Sometimes disturbing, sometimes surreal Rego wove politics and religion into many of her artistic works.
Castelo de São Jorge
Overlooking the city of Lisbon, this Moorish castle dates back to the 10th century. As legend has it, the Portuguese were only able to reclaim the castle during the Crusades when a young knight noticed one of the castle doors was open. He threw his body into the entranceway, preventing the Moors from shutting it and allowing Christian soldiers to flood the castle and reclaim the city. Housing the royal family at periods while Portugal was a monarchy, the castle is now open to the public and houses an enthralling exhibit on Lisbon’s history.
Centro Português de Fotografia
Founded in 1997, the Portuguese Center of Photography is housed in a former prison and is free to the public. Roam down institutional hallways and into the repurposed jail cells to view the frequently changing photography exhibitions.
Convent of the Capuchos
Day Trip: Évora
Elevador de Santa Justa
Lisbon, with its hilly terrain and steep streets, has always presented accessibility problems. In 1874, civil engineer Roberto Armentio presented a revolutionary idea: build a lift connecting the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Carmo Square. His concept was an instant hit and the lift was reopened in 2006 after being closed for repairs during its centennial birthday.
Fish market in Olhao
The Algarve’s busiest fishing port, Olhao boasts a fish market that is set at the center of the town. Noisy and vibrant, the stalls proudly display fish and shellfish, and purveyors will typically clean and gut your purchases for you as you wait. Visit in mid-August when the entire town gathers for the annual Shellfish Festival.
Foz do Douro
Where the River Douro meets the Atlantic sits the refined suburb of Foz do Douro. Formerly a fishing community and port, the area is now home to affluent Porto residents and exudes a laidback beach culture. The avenues that line the waterfront (Avenida do Brasil and Avenida do Montevideo) are dotted with excellent restaurants and lively bars and cafes. Also of note in the neighborhood are the Castelo do Queijo (Praça de Gonçalves Zarco; (351) 22-618-1067) a former fortress that now has a small military museum, Pavilhao da Agua (Estrada da Circunvalação; (351) 22-615-1820) an interactive museum on water, and Sea Life Porto (R. Particular Nº 1 Castelo do Queijo; (351) 22-619-0400) a fun aquarium for kids. Don’t miss the impressive lighthouse and strolling the Praia dos Ingleses, which was inspired by Nice’s Promenade des Anglais.
FRESS Museum of Decorative Arts
Gaia's Port Lodges
Porto is renowned for its port wine production, but Gaia, about 20 minutes south on the other side of the Douro River, is home to the cellars (known as caves) where the massive barrels of port wine are stored. Visit one of the port lodges to tour the storehouses and sample port in their tasting rooms to get a feel for the port culture. Grahams (Rua do Agro 15, ((351)-22-377-6484) is a beautiful lodge with spectacular views of Porto and the bridge that connects Oporto and Gaia. It has a working cellar, tasting room and a museum explaining the history of port. Sandeman (Largo Miguel Bombarda 3, (351)-223-740-533), which has been in business for over 200 years, is housed in a historic building alongside the river. Take a tour of the storehouse to see the casks and conclude with a sampling of ports in their tasting room. There is also a seasonal terrace for cocktails. In its fourth century of port storage, Taylors (Rua do Choupelo 250; (351) 223-772- 956) provides audio tours through the warehouses to learn about the cellar’s history, tastings of their ports and a beautiful terrace for enjoying the wine with tapas.
Golf
Known as one of the best golf destinations in Europe, the Algarve boasts a handful of elite courses. The Henry Cotton–designed championship course at Penina is generally thought of as the region's first premier golf course and remains one of its best. Away from the hustle and bustle of Faro, the Jack Nicklaus–designed Monte Rei in Seismerias is ranked among the top 100 courses in the world and is considered to be one of the toughest in Europe. Member can contact the Bookings Team with assistance in planning a unique experience.
Igreja de Santa Clara
Built in the 1400s as a Franciscan convent, this church boasts a Gothic exterior but ornate, very distinctly Baroque interiors, dripping in gilded carvings and over-the-topic design aspects. Recently out of an extensive renovation, the church, which abuts Palácio da Bolsa, is a must-see site in Porto.
Igreja de São Francisco and Palacio da Bolsa
Igreja de São Roque
One of the first Jesuit churches in the world, the Igreja de Sao Roque is worth a visit. Decorated with ornate tiles from Seville’s Triana district, the church houses eight chapels, each more gorgeous than the next.
Igreja São Domingos (Church of Saint Domingo)
Jerónimos Monastery
This former monastery in Belem has some of the most beautiful Late Gothic architecture in Lisbon with an intricate cloister.
LX Factory
A former mid-19th-century complex of factories and manufacturing outlets, LX Factory is today a reinvented compound consisting of restaurants, cafés, shops and markets. With buildings adorned with fascinating graffiti, locals and tourists mingling, excellent shopping and delicious bites, this is a not-to-be-missed aspect of today’s Lisbon.
MAAT
Matosinhos Day Trip