Only 20 minutes northwest of Lisbon is the town of Queluz. It makes a perfect day trip out of Lisbon and is easily accessed by car, train or bus. When you arrive, head straight for the Queluz Palace.
In the early 1800s the town's proximity to Lisbon and pristine country setting made it the perfect location for the royal family's estate and hunting lodge. In the latter part of the century the country estate was converted into a grander Summer Palace by the Infante Dom Pedro, and was the home of Queen Maria I during her reign. Today the Summer Palace and its gardens remain one of the finest examples of late 18th C. Portuguese architecture; it is often referred to as the "Portuguese Versailles." For more information on the Palace click here
If you would like to experience what it was like to stay in one of these fine buildings firsthand, you now can, as one of the buildings on the palace grounds once used by the Royal Guard of the Court is now a hotel - the Pousada de Queluz (Dona Maria I). For more information on the Pousada click here
As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.
On your next visit to Lisbon, take some time to visit the town of Cascais. Located just 45 minutes from Lisbon, this tiny fishing village has grown into an elegant and cosmopolitan town that attracts many visitors, with its sandy beaches, pedestrian streets and fashionable shops, restaurants and bars. In the early 20th century it was a favorite resort frequented by European nobility and kings.
Sun lovers will enjoy the nearby Guincho Beach, which is also a favorite of surfers and has hosted World Surfing Championships. For golf enthusiasts there are several golf courses in the area, including Quinta da Marinha Oitabos Golfe, which evokes links in Scotland. For more information on Cascais click here
As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.
The town of Évora in Portugal is perfect for our history-inclined travelers. With our pousada offerings, you can easily combine luxury with some spectacular sites that stretch as far back as the middle ages. Évora is known for its stunning medieval walls, unique churches and a 16th century aqueduct designed by military architect Francisco de Arruda. For these reasons, the town has been designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Be sure to check out the aforementioned aqueduct, which is known as Água de Prata Aqueduct. Originally built between 1531 and 1537 to supply the city with water, this structure has great historical significance to the region and even popped up in an epic poem be Luis de Camoes.
Other notable sites include the Cathedral of Évora, the S. Brás Chapel and Saint Frances Church. View our Portuguese offerings for more information.
As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.
In the past seven years, Mr. Smith, who no longer owns Korakia Pensione, has watched the Alto Alentejo, a border province carpeted with cork oaks and olive trees in southeastern Portugal, emerge as a stylish backwater. The region’s name is derived from “Além-Tejo,” which means “beyond the Tagus,” the river that flows past Lisbon. A new blacktop highway now stretches eastward from Lisbon, and within an hour you’re admiring vineyards, the occasional whitewashed town or castle and gently rolling plains."
Head over to the New York Times for the full article. As you've likely noticed, ILC is now offering pousadas throughout Portugal. We encourage you to head to our website or give us a call to check out the options.
As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.
People in Portugal have worked clay since prehistory - it is part of the very ground the nation is built on. Travel the country and one finds glazed tiles everywhere, on churches, houses, palace façades and in gardens. You see traditional red and black clay and every region has both. Many areas offer amazing museum reproductions such as Viana do Castelo and Coimbra and, there are whimsical and fun clay traditions such as the figures from Estremoz, the greenware from Caldas, or the Rooster of Barcelos.As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.
Caldas da Rainha, just north Lisbon, is the center of Portuguese pottery due to the abundance of clay deposits. Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, opened a factory in 1884 that makes the town, Fabrica de Faianca, famous. The factory still puts out a variety of cabbage and greenware, figurines, and fanciful pottery.
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