Page 142 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

EXPERIENCE Central Portugal 1 2

With palaces, beaches and traditional
villages to see, journey out from the
captivating capital to explore the heart
of Central Portugal.
7 DAYS

In Central Portugal 4

Day 1
Afternoon Have lunch at one of Ericeira’s
Morning From Lisbon, head north on the fine fish restaurants before spending the
A37 to hilltop Sintra (p148). The conical rest of the day relaxing on the beach. The
chimneys of the 14th-century Palácio Praça da Rebública is always buzzing with
Nacional de Sintra (p150) herald the the sounds of revelry in the evening.
pastel-hued old town, which is
surrounded by dewy forests. Day 3
Afternoon Enjoy a light lunch at Saudade
(p159). The jungle-like gardens of Morning After exploring the winding
Monserrate (p158) on the N247 were alleys of whitewashed Ericeira, drive the
immortalized in Lord Byron’s Childe coastal N247 north to Baleal, a lovely islet
Harold’s Pilgrimage. It’s not hard to see village with a beach on either side of the
why he was inspired by them. Return to spit (p178).
Sintra to spend the night at the modern Afternoon Lunch on the beach, then take
Moon Hill Hostel (p157). the IP6 to picturesque Óbidos, which was
famously once gifted to the bride of a
Day 2 Portuguese king (p179). Spend a night at
the Pousada Castelo Óbidos hotel, housed
Morning Start the day with a visit to the in the town’s medieval castle (p179).
amazing 19th-century Palácio Nacional da
Pena (p152), the bizarre former summer
retreat of Portuguese royalty. Don’t forget Day 4
to explore Parque da Pena (p149) – the
romantic wood lands – which is home Morning Take the scenic route north
to quaint little grottoes. Your next stop to Coimbra via the historic abbeys of
is the former fishing village of Ericeira Alcobaça (p170) and Santa Maria da
(p157), which is a 30-minute drive away Vitória (p172), and the bustling
on the N247. resort of Nazaré (p181).
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