Bewuste keuze-Rondreis Noord Portugal

About the destination: Situated on a dramatic valley cut by River Douro, Porto is known for the beauty of its building and the sweet taste of is wine. The hub of the city is Avenida dos Aliados, a wide avenue encircle by Praça General H. Delgado and Praça da Liberdade. Nonetheless, the most alluring part of the city is Ribeira, the river district and a Unesco World Heritage Site, where three of Europe’s most graceful bridges span the gorge. Busy Praça da Liberdade and the adjoining Avenida dos Aliados make up the centre of town, where statues stand in the centre of busy mosaic walkways. Nearby rises Porto’s great cathedral, a colossal, fortified Romanesque structure whose heavy granite foundations, thick walls and tiny windows enclose a gloomy interior. The Ribeira stretches along the river, skirted by a wonderful quay filled with shops and restaurants. Porto’s most characteristic monument, the ornate Torre dos Clérigos, offers a panorama of the city from atop its 240 steps. No visit to Porto would be complete without a stop at some of the many bodegas, wine lodges, where port is stored and bottled. And a visit to the amazing Lello library with its spiral staircase, is a must see as well, even if you are not a Harry Potter’s fan.

About the destination: Viana do Castelo is a municipality and seat of the district of Viana do Castelo in the Norte Region of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 88,725, in an area of 319.02 km². The urbanized area of the municipality, comprising the city, has a population of approximately 36,148 inhabitants.

About the destination: Ponte da Barca is a municipality in the district of Viana do Castelo in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 12,061, in an area of 182.11 km².

About the destination: Braga is one of the oldest cities in Portugal. The Portuguese called it Roma because it was a center of ecclesiastical power. Portugal's spiritual heart, is a lively little city with an exquisite assortment of baroque churches, a sprawling cathedral and Roman ruins, including one of the country's best-known sights, the Bom Jesus Sanctuary.It hosts traditional religious festivals throughout the year, including Portugal's most colourful Holy Week. Today it is a modern city with a young population, bustling with commerce and industry surrounding a lively and attractive old center with a number of pedestrian streets with cheerful cafes, elegant shops, exquisite restaurants and cool bars full of university students. Even though it is an old city it has a young spirit, so much so that in 2012 it was pronounced the European Youth Capital.

About the destination: Amarante is a city and a Portuguese municipality belonging to the District of Porto, North Region and intermunicipal community of Tâmega e Sousa, with about 12 000 in the city and 61 029 inhabitants in the municipality

About the destination: Penafiel (Portuguese pronunciation: [pɨnɐfiˈɛɫ] or [ˌpenɐfiˈɛɫ]) is a municipality in the northern Portuguese district of Porto. Capital of the Tâmega Subregion, the population was 72,265 in 2011,[1] in an area of 212.24 square kilometres (81.95 sq mi)

About the destination: Lamego is a city and municipality in the Viseu District, in the Norte Region of the Douro in northern Portugal. Located on the shores of the Balsemão River, the municipality has a population of 26,691,in an area of 165.42 km².

About the destination: Arouca is a town and a municipality in the Metropolitan Area of Porto, Norte Region, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 22,359, in an area of 329.11 square kilometres (127.07 sq mi). It had 20,383 electors in 2006. The population has grown from 7072 inhabitants in 1801. The entire territory of Arouca is "Arouca Geopark" which is a member of the European Geoparks Network and Global Geoparks Network on account of its outstanding geological heritage, educational programs and projects, and promotion of geotourism.

About the destination: Surrounded by vineyards, orchards and pine-forests, the charming country town of Viseu has been a northern crossroads since the time of the Romans. Situated in the Beira Alta between the mountain ranges of the Serra da Estrela and Serra do Caramulo, Viseu today, is the centre of the Dão wine-growing region, where crispy white wines and some of Portugal's most popular full-bodied reds are produced. With its small streets paved with granite flagstones, its Renaissance and classically encorbelled houses, decorated with shields bearing coats of arms, old Viseu has preserved its former glories. At the magnificent Adro da Sé, the beautiful square at the historical centre of Viseu, stands the Sé Catedral de Santa Maria de Viseu, a monument to faith. It is a huge square that is paved, and surrounded by four buildings: the Balcony of the Canons and the Tower of Homage, the Cathedral, the Palace of the Three Steps, now Museo Vasco Grau, and the Misericordia Church. In the middle of it all you will find a granite cross with the shield of Bishop Francisco de Oliveira. Viseu has a rich heritage still visible in its monuments. Best known for its velvety red wines and luscious gastronomic delights, Viseu will entice you with its vibrant folklore festivals, pastoral scenery and plentiful collection of cultural gems.

About the destination: Aveiro, just an hour north of better-known Porto, is a town of picturesque canals and a prosperous fishing industry. Bar and café crawling in Aveiro is nearly as popular as the beaches at San Jacinto or Barra, and the northern reaches of Aveiro’s lagoon. Aveiro's traditions are closely tied to the sea and to the Ria de Aveiro, a few canals cross the city, and in the neighbourhoods, most of their life is connected to the sea and lagoon. There are also tours of the canals and Ria de Aveiro, it is a very special way to enjoy the city. In much of the older part of town, sidewalks and squares are paved with calçada, traditional Portuguese hand-laid pavement, in intricate nautical patterns. The town's most attractive buildings date from the latter half of the 17th century. Aviero's Cathedral, Sao Domingos Church, was founded in 1423 and is best visited early in the day; it's a major attraction for tourists. Over the last few years, a massive restoration project has transformed the old fishermen's quarter, just off the main canal, into a delightful little area of small bars and restaurants. A central market square hosts live entertainment during the summer months. Aveiro is a surprisingly cosmopolitan fishing town on northern Portugal with a youthful, energetic buzz.

About the destination: Coimbra is a town of steep, tiered streets winding above the River Mondego. No city in Portugal, except Lisbon, can compare with this university town in cultural and historical importance. Founded in 1290, the university has long been Portugal’s foremost centre of learning. If you can, come during the Queima das Fitas in early May, a raucous weeklong celebration featuring live music every night. Climb the stairs under the Moorish Arco de Almedina into the upper district of the city and the Old University, with its museum, chapel and library. A few steps outside the historic centre there is the city’s cosmopolitan side, a modernized waterfront with riverside restaurants, chic terrace bars and trendy shops. This charming town, full of Portuguese culture, is set amid a splendid old town of historic churches and medieval alleyways, with the buzz of student life all around.

About the destination: Since 1917, Fatima has been a holy city. The Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to three shepherd children. The Apparitions of Mary, transformed the city into one of the largest centres of Marian devotion in the world. Two huge churches were built over a vast 1km-long esplanade where the virgin appeared, the Basilica de Fatima and the Igreja da Santissima Trinidade, with a seating capacity of 9000 pilgrims. Every year, folk of all nationalities and creeds come here to prove their faith and ask for miracles. Fatima has become a symbol for Christian Portugal and the town’s essence is its Basilica. Inside the basilica the bodies of two children who claimed to have seen the Virgin are buried; the tombs of Jacinta and Francisco can be visited. The epicentre of the town is the Sanctuary of Our Lady Fatima. The major manifestations of devotees occur on May 13, when the Farewell Procession takes place. But the most beautiful sight is on the night of the 12th of May during the Candlelight Procession which sees thousands of visitor carry lighted candles. Around the town there are plenty of lodgings and hotels to accommodate the pilgrim masses as well as restaurants and shops, mainly of religious merchandising.

About the destination: Ericeira is a civil parish and seaside resort/fishing community on the western coast of Portugal, in the municipality of Mafra, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) northwest of the capital, Lisbon. Ericeira is regarded by some as being Europe's Surf Mecca, due to the exceptional coastline conditions for the practice of Surf. It is home for Ericeira's World Surfing Reserve, the first in Europe and the second in the world.

About the destination:

Welkom in Lissabon, een stad vol geschiedenis, cultuur en moderne flair. Gelegen aan de schilderachtige oevers van de Taag, biedt deze bruisende hoofdstad van Portugal een unieke mix van oude charme en eigentijdse dynamiek. Wandel door de smalle straatjes van Alfama, de oudste wijk van de stad, en bewonder het majestueuze kasteel van São Jorge voor een panoramisch uitzicht over de stad.

Verken de historische monumenten van Belém, zoals de iconische toren en het indrukwekkende Jerónimos-klooster, beide UNESCO-werelderfgoedlocaties. In de elegante wijk Chiado kunt u genieten van boetieks, theaters en gezellige cafés, terwijl Bairro Alto 's avonds tot leven komt met levendige bars en de melancholieke klanken van de fado-muziek.

Lissabon is ook een paradijs voor fijnproevers, met culinaire hoogstandjes zoals de beroemde pastéis de nata, verse zeevruchten en traditionele Portugese gerechten. Bezoek het moderne Parque das Nações voor innovatieve architectuur en het Oceanário de Lisboa, een van de grootste aquaria ter wereld.

Met haar kleurrijke festivals, rijke kunstscene en warme gastvrijheid biedt Lissabon een onvergetelijke ervaring voor elke reiziger. Ontdek de magie van deze betoverende stad en laat u meeslepen door haar unieke charme en veelzijdigheid.