| TAGUS
VALLEY |
Rich in history, culture and leisure opportunities, the Tagus
Valley is one of the most appealing holiday regions in Portugal.
Two stretches of glorious coastline give visitors the chance
to escape from Lisbon to play golf, relax on the beach or explore
remote villages during their stay.
North of Tagus lies the Estoril Coast & Sintra region, famous
for its sandy beaches, glitzy casino, Formula 1 race track and
elegant stately mansions. Sintra's status as a UNESCO World
Heritage site brought well deserved recognition to one of Europe's
most extraordinary landscapes. Its dense concentration of palaces
amid a magical world of peaks, gorges and woods inspired Romantic
poets such as Byron and Keats. Nearby, the Cabo da Roca lighthouse
marks mainland Europe's most westerly point.
The lesser known Costa Azul region south of Lisbon is a peaceful
haven of quaint fishing villages and sandy coves. Sesimbra,
with its calm, sheltered bay, is a popular holiday resort for
Lisboetas, while the busy fishing port of Set·bal is
well known for its high quality fish restaurants.
A characteristic feature of the Tagus Valley is its string of
walled villages and imposing hilltop castles. Most notable of
these is the preserved medieval town of Óbidos, just
an hour's drive north of Lisbon. With its whitewashed houses
and charming cobblestone streets, it is without doubt one of
Portugal's most classic medieval settlements.
Further north lies Alcobaþa, a town dominated by its impressive
12th century abbey, the largest church in the country. Of equal
importance is the nearby town of Batalha, most famous for its
stunning monastery built in the 15th and 16th centuries. Built
to celebrate the victory at Aljubarrota, it is considered to
be among the finest structures in Southern Europe.
A few miles inland is Fátima, one of the world's most
important shrines for Catholics. The appearance of the Virgin
Mary in 1917 transformed the small village into a major religious
centre. |
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
