7 of the best...


From churches and castles to vineyards and valleys, Portugal’s rich culture is evident at several Unesco World Heritage Sites. Here are some of the top locations not to be missed


Historic Centre of Porto, Luis I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar Porto and the North


The coastal city of Porto is bursting with hundreds of years of history. There are a number of well-preserved buildings in its historic centre, with some wonderful architecture to be admired. Just south of the city centre is the Luís I Bridge over the Douro River – a feat of engineering dating back to 1886. Completing the heritage site not far from here is the Monastery of Serra do Pilar, which boasts superb views over the city and river.


Laurissilva of Madeira Madeira


This ancient forest makes up around a fifth of the island and was named a Unesco site in 1999. Among its treasures is the Chão da Ribeira, a beautiful town in the northwest, surrounded by laurissilva forest. Visitors can also hike along one of several routes in the Queimadas Forest Park to get up close to the unique flora, and there are plenty of scenic spots along the way for a picnic.


University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia Centre of Portugal


Established in 1290, the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest universities still in operation in the world, draws tourists from far and wide. As well as being located on a beautiful campus, it has a number of buildings that are well worth exploring. One of these, the Joanina Library, not only contains tens of thousands of books but also a colony of bats that helps keep the library free from insects.


Historic Centre of Evora Alentejo


The Roman temple is one of the most impressive things to see in the historic centre of Evora, which has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1986. Evora has fascinating museums, beautiful churches and picturesque cobbled streets. It’s also home to the Capela dos Ossos, a small chapel lined with human skulls and bones.


Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon Lisbon


This impressive Gothic-style monastery was built to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s return from India. The structure is one of Lisbon’s most famous attractions – as is the Tower of Belém, set on the banks of the Tagus River. Visitors can climb up through three floors of chambers and a former chapel to reach the open terrace at the top, which offers great panoramic views of the capital.


Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde Porto and the North


The Côa Valley is home to some of the most significant prehistoric carvings. Thought to date back as far as 22,000BC, these engravings weren’t discovered until the early 1990s. Visitors can book guided tours of the rock art sites, or head to the museum to learn about the valley’s history. Siega Verde, next to the valley, is also home to prehistoric carvings, with its rocks engraved with images of animals.


Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture Azores


Pico Island in the Azores has a thriving wine scene. Although based on a volcanic island, winemakers produce wine in a way that’s unique to the Azores’ environment. Plots of the vineyard are surrounded by stone walls to protect them from the elements – a technique adopted since wine was first produced on the island in the 15th century. There are close to 2,500 acres of vineyards on the island, and visitors can go on wine tours and taste the floral flavours for themselves.


Unesco sites


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