City: Central Portugal
Top Things to do in Central Portugal
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Top 10 Historic Sites in Central Portugal, Portugal
1. Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30,695 reviews
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.
Reviewed By dewdee - Bangkok, Thailand
This 500 year old monastery is absolutely beautiful on the inside out. If you're a history buff, I recommend buying the combo 12 euro ticket which gives you access to the archaeological museum adjoining the monastery as well. Every step is worth a photo and the architecture is really stunning inside. There is also a special exhibit right now on the upper level explaining the historical timeline of the place compared alongside important milestones in Portugal's history. Very informative and educational. This is a worthwhile visit because the surrounding Belem areas are all tourist attractions and is accessible by direct bus or tram from the city center.
2. Lines of Torres Vedras
3. Panteao Nacional
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,147 reviews
The construction of the church of Saint Engracia – currently the National Pantheon of Portugal - began towards the end of the 16th century and was only completed in the 20th century. This 400-year delay originated the proverb “Obras de Santa Engracia” meaning any work that never ends. A unique testimony to Portuguese Baroque art the National Pantheon stands on a hill overlooking the river Tagus being an icon of Lisbon’s cityscape. From its terrace you can have a majestic view of the city and its river. On the inside the Pantheon houses the remains of some of the most distinguished personalities of the country.
Reviewed By eddg2019
Another of the Alfama’s hidden in plain sight gems, the National Pantheon is located in what was formerly the Church of Santa Engrácia, which had a long and turbulent history. The church was converted into the National pantheon in 1916 and contains the tombs of important Portugeuse rulers and historical figures as well as a number of cenotaphs. It is worth it to climb the six flights of stairs to the interior of the dome, which has a walkway that affords magnificent views of the intricate floor patterns below. This is not for anyone with vertigo or a fear of heights. The dome level has an exit leading out onto a broad terrace that provides panoramic views over the Alfama neighborhood and beyond.
4. Castelo dos Mouros
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,492 reviews
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.
Reviewed By howardform
Everyone comes to Sintra for Pena Palace and frankly I liked the Moorish Castle alot more, its really cool. Be aware there is alot of walking up stairs and hill climbing , so you have to be in shape The views are amazing, you can get the best photos of the castle from the castle and you can also get great photos of Pena Palace from here as well It is less crowded than Pena Palace
5. National Palace of Queluz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,402 reviews
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.
Reviewed By Margo7850p
The Queluz National Palace is the residence of several Portuguese kings, such as D. Pedro III, his wife, Maria I and his son D. Pedro IV. It is a heritage in Portuguese architecture. Together with its historic gardens are one of the most unusual examples of the harmonious combination of landscape and palace architecture in Portugal.They illustrate the evolution of court style in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, during the Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical periods.A beautiful garden and a beautiful palace.You can relax there .Very good for families with children. Has a cafeteria and toilet. It's very easy to park. It is absolutely worth visiting.
6. Igreja e Mosteiro da Santa Cruz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 673 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
The Church of Santa Cruz is located in the center of Coimbra, the historic center, in a very charming place. A very nice church. It was erected in the first half of the XII century. Lots to see, lots of history. The heart of the Romanesque church is an unusual altar without a statue, and two amazing tombs of Portugal's first rulers: Alphonsus I the Conqueror and Sancho I. The blue azulejos tiles are a characteristic feature of the church. The interior of the temple is decorated with a huge organ with fantastic Japanese works of art. A monastery is a real gem. A must visit if you are in Coimbra. Next to it is a square with a number of cafes.
7. Palacio Nacional de Mafra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,153 reviews
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.
Reviewed By belgianguy1 - Bruges, Belgium
This place is huge and visible from a great distance...then standing right in front of it, I was in awe... definitely worth the unesco world heritage status it got...also check out the gardens, it's lovely!
8. Convento dos Capuchos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 558 reviews
The "Capuchos Convent" or "Cork Convent" was established in 1560 by Dom Alvaro de Castro, Counsellor of State to King Sebastiao, with the name Convento de Santa Cruz da Serra de Sintra. It is noteworthy for the extreme poverty of its construction, which represents the ideal of the Order of St. Francis of Assisi, and for the extensive use of cork in the protection and decoration of its small spaces.
Reviewed By Margo7850p
An authentic monastery built in the heart of the Sintra Nature Park. The Convent of the Capuchos is a historical convent consisting of small quarters and public spaces located in the civil parish of Sao Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra. Poverty was the central notion which ruled the construction of the Convent of the Capuchos. Fascinating to see how they lived in such simplicity. The site is located in the rural part of Sintra, along the northeastern flank of the Sintra Mountains, approximately 325 metres above sea level, in a location marked by dense vegetation and accentuated slopes. The minimalist convent was erected in perfect harmony with its surroundings, implanted in the rocks and boulders that formed this part of the Sintra Mountains. A good place to enjoy nature and see how the Franciscans lived in the 16th century without wealth. A quiet place with peace and greenery all around. Really interesting place, away from the main tourist routes. Not many tourists, peace and contemplative mood. Beautiful garden, pleasant walk. In place routes thought out for tourists - with lighting inside the buildings. There are parking, toilets and places for a rest. A beautiful drive there. Though all drives in this area mean narrow, winding, mountain roads.
9. Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 656 reviews
Reviewed By john8tea - Fukuoka, Japan
We stumbled on the ruined Convent of Santa Clara-a-Velha late on our first afternoon in Coimbra, after walking along the Mondego river and visiting the gardens of the Quinta das Lágrimas. This 13th-century convent was strongly associated with Portugal's saintly queen, Santa Isabel, and was an important pilgrimage site during the medieval period and beyond, until it had to be abandoned in 1677 due to the river's constantly rising floodwaters. After painstaking archeological and restoration work, the ruins can now be visited. You first make your way through the small museum/information centre, with many interesting artifacts and a great deal of information (unfortunately, the explanatory notes are only in Portuguese at the moment, but if you persevere you can understand enough to get the gist). There is an absorbing documentary video shown in the auditorium and if you can catch one with English subtitles (ours was at 5.30pm) it is well worth watching, as it sets everything in a richer historical context. Then you make your way out into the ruins of the convent church and cloisters, where the explanatory notices, though few in number, are in both Portuguese and English. It is a quiet, contemplative and evocative sacred space.
10. Aqueduto dos Pegoes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 428 reviews
Reviewed By twocreativetravelers - Moorsele, Belgium
We loved how 'uncontrolled' this site was, many tourist spots have all kinds of restrictions but this site offered the visitor total freedom. The Aquaduct is absolutely huge, rising about 100ft at its highest point. We walked on top to about the halfway point when we returned to the starting spot. Beware that on busy days there may only be 1 way traffic up there and there isn't a ton of room to social distance effectively. We're not engineers but clearly the construction we saw here is an amazing feat for the time frame in which it was built. The views are spectacular both from the top across the surroundings as well as from the bottom as you take in the entirety of the aquaduct.
