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June 2013 issue • On sale from 23 May

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June 2013

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Portugal
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Portugal travel guide

One of Europe's most laid-back nations boasts a strollable capital, rugged interior and rich cultural history

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If you thought all Portugal had to offer was the Algarve’s beach resorts and golf courses, think again. Head north and you’ll find the open plains of the Alentejo region, punctuated with cork and olive groves and pretty white-washed villages.

Just above Alentejo there’s the mountainous regions of Beira Baixa and Beira Alta. These are little visited but their pilgrim trails offer spectacular routes for hikers. Further north still, there’s the verdant hills of the Douro Valley - famous for their port-wine estates and also home to prehistoric rock paintings.

Dotted throughout the country you’ll find medieval castles, well-preserved Roman ruins and Unesco-listed historic towns such as Coimbra and Évora.  And if you still can’t get sand and sea off your mind but can’t stand the crowds, ditch the Med and explore the rugged beaches of the Atlantic coast instead.

Wanderlust recommends

  1. Stroll through the winding streets of Porto’s Unesco-protected historical centre
  2. Boat out to Ilha da Berlenga – a dramatic, craggy island, that has been declared a nature reserve thanks to its population of gulls, cormorants and puffins
  3. Take a trip back in time, really far back in time, when you visit Foz Côa national park, where you’ll find medieval crosses, Roman ruins and prehistoric rock art
  4. Soak up the atmosphere in the hill town of Coimbra – the site of Portugal first university and the capital of Portugal’s distinctive fado music

Wanderlust tips

On national public holidays almost all shops, museums and monuments close. Transport services are greatly reduced. There are also endless local festivals when entire cities and regions grind to a halt. Its well worth checking the Portuguese calendar before you arrive so you don’t get caught out.

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