The 10 Best Historic Sites in Portugal, Portugal

No expense was spared when they built this masterpiece of Manueline and Gothic architecture in 1502, which was inspired by Vasco da Gama who is buried here with other great navigators of the past.

The Moorish Castle is a military fortification that bears witness to the Islamic presence in the region, and was probably constructed between the eighth and ninth centuries and later expanded after the Reconquista. Overlooking the town of Sintra, it served as a watchtower, guaranteeing the protection of Lisbon and its surroundings.

Royal residence of two generations of monarchs, only fifteen minutes away from Lisbon, the National Palace of Queluz is intimately linked with significant figures in Portuguese history. Today it constitutes a major heritage site in Portuguese architecture and landscaping, and contains an important collection which reflects royal taste during the eighteenth and nineteenth century - from Baroque, through Rococo, to Neoclassicism.

Roman-Gothic 12th century cathedral. Guard a valuable treasure. Spectacular visit the cloisters of the cathedral and coverage, with magnificent views of the historic center. Is part of the monumental complex as a Unesco World Heritage

Acquired in 1840 by Charles Ridpath Blandy, the Blandy's Wine Lodge has always been and is still an integral part of the production of Blandy's Madeira Wine. Located in the center of Funchal, Blandy's Wine Lodge allows visitors to Madeira an opportunity to experience first hand Madeira Wine in the making. Our tours will guide you through some of the history of the wine, its development and evolution, as well as the opportunity to taste the various styles of Madeira. Blandy's Madeira celebrated its bicentennial in 2011, the Blandy Wine Lodges give you a privileged perspective on 200 years of Madeira Wine. The lodge was bought by Charles Ridpath in the mid-19th century and not only was it an extremely valuable property, but was also very useful due to the fact that it was directly connected to the family's town house. Each one of the Lodge's rooms have their own character and due to the differing temperatures and humidity, the wines all have differing ageing profiles based on their location within the lodge. The eastern warehouse holds wine dating back to 1920 and the family's private vintage collection is held within thick stone walls, below the ground floor. The museum holds artefacts that include letters from Sir. Winston Churchill, coins from Blandy's bank and the island's oldest wooden lagar, dating back to the 17th Century. Murals from the renowned German artist Max Romer decorate the tasting room and references from the company's wide range of vintage wines are held in the sala frasqueira. Today the Lodge is the heart of the family's wine business where over 650 casks, tonnels and vats are stored, ageing the finest of the family's wines in the traditional canteiro method.

The Royal Convent of Mafra, later named the National Palace of Mafra, is an imposing work from the reign of D. João V and the most important symbol of Baroque architecture in Portugal. Located in the heart of the village of Mafra - in the square named after the king who ordered it to be built, it is the only National Monument that includes a Royal Palace, a Basilica and a Convent. There are more than 40,000 m2 and 1200 divisions that include spaces and instruments unique in the world. This is the case of the Library, which holds all the knowledge of a collection with more than 36 thousand volumes; the bell set consisting of two chimes with a total of 98 bells; and of the six historic bodies that returned to echo through the Basilica in 2010. In addition to these unique characteristics, the Palácio-Convento de Mafra has accumulated several distinctions over the years. Classified as a National Monument in 1910, and is, since 2019, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

National Monument, located in the historical centre of the city, classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Palacio da Bolsa, built by the Porto Commercial Association on the ruins of the Saint Francis Convent, has become by excellence the Porto city’s drawing room, welcoming the most illustrious visitors, amongst which are monarchs, presidents and ministers from almost every country, transforming this building into the most visited monument in northern Portugal.