The Jerónimos Monastery is a magnificent monument marking the high point of Portuguese art in the century of the Discoveries.

Discover one of the most fascinating Gothic monuments in Europe.

King João I ordered the monastery to be built in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for the Portuguese victory at the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385

UNESCO has classified this unique monument as a World Heritage site. It is a symbol of both Western history and the history of Portugal.

Aveiro has everything you could possibly need for an enjoyable stay, beginning with a spectacularly beautiful boat ride along the 47 kilometres of the lagoon and its canals.In any season of the year, but especially in the summer, the Ria de Aveiro becomes a major tourist attraction, turning into a festival of light and colour that reaches its high spot during the Regatta of the Barcos Moliceiros.

The Algarve region has beaches to suit all tastes. We’ve selected a few for you to visit.

If you’re looking for wild, untamed beaches with lots of waves, then the beach of Arrifana, on the Costa Vicentina, is one of the most beautiful.

The monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As soon as you enter the church’s immense nave - the largest built in Portugal in the Middle Ages - you feel a sense of spirituality that’s typically evoked by early Gothic architecture.

If you keep your eyes open, you’ll be able to see wild horses, or perhaps a roebuck, which is the symbol of the Park.

Parque das Nações, site of the World Expo ’98, is a great space dedicated to the public’s enjoyment.It, is located in the eastern part of Lisbon and boasting a vast riverfront. The Pavilhão de Portugal is, a daring architectural project designed by the famous architect Álvaro Siza.

Peniche is Europe’s most westerly town and home to the largest fishing harbour in Portugal.

Next to the fortress, the old fishing harbour remains picturesque.

In the mountains, you will discover old Roman roads that you can walk along, as well as dolmens and menhirs from a bygone age. In spring, the hillsides are covered in wild flowers. Amidst the pure, fresh mountain springs used by the Romans, the Serra do Caramulo invites you to relax in an environment that will help you to thoroughly cleanse and purify both body and soul.

Festivals play a major role during the summer. Almost every city, town, and village has a festival, and they are especially popular in June, when events are dedicated to three saints known as the santos populares (popular saints: Saint Anthony, Saint John, and Saint Peter). Why the populace associated these Catholic saints with pagan festivities is not known, but it is possibly related to Roman or local deities who existed before Christianity spread into the region. These festivities generally include wine and água-pé (a watered-down wine), traditional bread, grilled sardines or traditional meat-based dishes, pimba music, traditional street dances, fireworks, and religious processions.

Cozido a Portuguesa- Portugal

2 pounds beef shin1/2 pound bacon2 quarts boiling water2 pounds potatoes, pared1 pound carrots, scraped1 pound turnips, pared1 large cabbage, quartered1 smoked sausage, sliced2 cups rice.

Add meat and bacon to water. Cover. Simmer for 2 Hours. Add vegetables.Simmer for 15 minutes. Add sausage. Simmer until vegetbales are tender.remove 4 1/2 cups broth from stew. Bring to boil. add Rice. Cover. Simmer for 30 minutes. Drain stew; Pour broth into soup bowls. Place meat on Platter. Surround with vegetables. Serve with rice.

6 servings.Suggested menu: Portuguese stew, escarole salad, garlic bread, peach cobbler,coffee or tea.