Traveling Portugal
Flags, Bags, and Portugal
History of Portugal’s flag
Portugal has quite an interesting history of how their flag came to be. Unlike other European flags, it is not the simple three stripes arranged in different forms with different colors. No, they have a nicely complex flag.
The flag’s core shows a white shield with 5 blue shields inside it. According to legend, this has been the core of the Portuguese flag since 1137 when Count Afonso Henriques defeated the Moores — each shield representing a shield he beat out of the hands of 5 Moorish Kings. Good start to the flag!
The red ring with the golden castles is said to have been added in the 1200s, potentially representing the introduction of modern day Algarve to Portugal. This basic design has been carried over to modern day — although the current golden armillary sphere was added in 1811 as Portugal was exploring the world (the armillary sphere was used as a navigation tool), and the background was turned to green and red in 1910 after the revolution in Portugal that led to the overthrow of the monarchy and made Portugal a republic.
There’s a little fun fact for you. Now on to the travel bit!
My experiences there
I spent 5 days in Portugal exploring some spots between Lisbon and Porto. I had the opportunity to choose between heading south or heading north and for my first trip in the country I chose to go north, mainly because I was interested in Nazare (big surf country) and Porto (old city with lots of history). So I spent 2 days in Lisbon, 1 day exploring Obidos and Nazare, and 2 days in Porto. Here were my highlights.
Lisbon
The first 2 days I spent in the country were in Lisbon. The capital city made an easy place to enter and also rent a car from when it was time to leave. It also provided a good overview of Portuguese history and culture. My time in Lisbon was split up into a couple of areas:
Belem: Belem is technically a little outside of Lisbon (accessible by trolley, bus, or taxi — trolley is recommended), but definitely worth a stunning couple of hours. Belem is home to Monastery of Jeronimos, the 16th century white marble monastery with cloister. Also nearby is the strangely beautiful Belem Tower, the 16th century guardian to Lisbon’s port. My insider tip: pack a meal and sit alongside the water and enjoy the ships passing by and the cool breeze.
Alfama district: The Alfama district is the oldest part of the city that is still remaining after the 1755 earthquake. With its history dating back to the 6th century, there is plenty to explore here. I actually even spent most of my time in this little quarter. I explored here during sunrise and also did a Fado bar/restaurant tour here too that was really great. My insider tip: Get lost here, choose your next street on a whim, and don’t be afraid to stop and soak it all in. For a great view over the whole area, head to Miradouro de Santa Luzia.
Sao Jorge Castle: This massive structure actually was first built in the 7th century but was expanded upon in the 11th century by the Moors. There are plenty of areas to walk around both inside and outside the castle, and the gardens were free when I was there. My insider tip: catch the sunset from the ramparts — you won’t be disappointed.
Baixa: When the earthquake hit it completely destroyed this part of the city. Thousands died, a tsunami washed people away to sea, and a fire broke out and razed the city to the ground. Talk about a 10 day disaster. In the wake of this, a military man by the name of Marques de Pombal was put in charge of rebuilding the city as fast as possible. He accomplished this, that is for sure, and the wide streets that run perpendicular and parallel to each other make for great shopping and eating. My insider tip: Check out the trolley tracks and ride around for a bit. The trolley famously snakes its way around this area.
Bairro Alto: The last quarter of Lisbon worth exploring is the Bairro Alto, with big churches and big views, plus the fashion district, this is a place worth wandering around as well. One of my favorite points was the view from Graça over the city.
Fado: The traditional singers can be found in bars across the city. Look for a smaller hole in the wall place that offers live Fado or ask your hotel/hostel what they may recommend. I did a small tour through my hostel and really enjoyed it!
Nazare and Obidos
Nazare and Obidos are on the drive to Porto, and that is where my trip headed next, and what I recommend for anyone willing to rent a car. The first stop along the way would be Obidos if you are coming from Lisbon.
Obidos: This walled city from the 14th century is like a little time warp. Originally founded by the Celts in the 300s, its current city dates back to medieval times and is truly a masterpiece if you want to discover white walls and beautiful architecture. Protected since 1951 as a historical site, Obidos is great for an early morning stop or late evening stop. Midday brings a ton of other visitors, so be aware. My insider tip: Take your time to walk the full length of the wall. It offers great views and gives you a really great feel for the city and how it developed.
Nazare: This old fishing turned resort town isn’t really worth a visit in and of itself. What is worth it are the beaches. Nazare is actually home to some of the biggest waves in the world. Watch a YouTube video if you don’t believe me. It is unreal. I was there in April (not big wave season) and the waves were still impressive. My insider tip: Hike/drive/bus up to Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo. This is the lookout point where people watch the crazed surfers go at the big waves. Interestingly enough, the big waves ONLY happen on the right (north) side of this rock structure — the left side, where Nazare technically is, is filled with much smaller waves, as shown by my drone shot here.
Porto
The rugged, more run down northern old port city of Portugal was actually my favorite city of the two. It offered a not nearly a polished view on Portugal and its history. Really, the best part of the city are the streets and wandering around. In case you are looking for specific destinations, here are my favorite spots:
Clerigos Church and Tower: A post from me wouldn’t be complete without at least a couple of churches thrown in! The Clerigos Church and Tower stand high above the city and the tower offers incredible views over the city. The church also allows you to stand above the nave where I was incidentally also filmed for a local news crew. Yep, I am now a superstar in Porto!
Cais da Ribeira waterfront: The most idyllic part of the city is its waterfront — with cute restaurants and the traditional colorful houses, grab a drink and sit outside and enjoy the beautiful Portuguese weather.
Luís I Bridge: The massive, Eiffel Tower reminiscent bridge crosses the river and is scarily high but worth a walk across, without a doubt. If it is windy up there it can feel quite scary, but the views are truly breath taking. My insider tip: grab a picnic and take in the sunset from above the bridge at Igreja da Serra do Pilar.
Wine tasting: While I am not a big wine drinker, or drinker at all, this area is beloved by those that are. With plenty of vineyards and local wines to taste, if that is your thing, then definitely make some time for a wine tour here in the city of out in the country.
The End
That’s all folks! Those are some of my highlights and insider tips to exploring a bit of Northern Portugal. On my next trip I would love to go south and explore the beaches and fishing villages. Any thoughts or recommendations, reach out in the comment section!
