New tourist route of historic gardens

Por TPN/Lusa, in NoticiasTurismoNorte · 13-05-2021 

Northern and Central Portugal now offers 12 “Garden Experiences”, a new tourism product that brings together “29 historic gardens” and helps promote local security in times of pandemic.
The Vale Abraão Forest, the Casa de Mateus, the Vidago Park and Pedras Salgadas, in the district of Vila Real, the Casa do Campo, in Celorico de Basto, the Tibães Monastery, in Braga, the Quinta da Aveleda, in Penafiel (Porto district), the botanical gardens of Porto and Coimbra, the Quinta das Lágrimas, in Coimbra, the Mata do Buçaco, in the district of Aveiro, or the Penha Park, in the district of Braga, are some of the historic gardens included in the 12 tourist routes that are already available and marketed, announced the heads of the Association of Historic Gardens of Portugal, during the press conference to present the 12 ‘Garden Experiences’, held at the Soares dos Reis Museum, in Oporto.

“Gardens are environmental tourism, safe tourism and not mass tourism. Gardens are one of the areas of tourism that can be safely opened [in times of pandemic],” said Manuel Sousa, an architect and specialist in historic gardens in Portugal, during the press conference of the Portuguese Historic Gardens Association.

Manuel Sousa assumed that it is difficult to create a tourism product from scratch, but stressed that the future goal is to “grow with more experiences and continue to develop this product for the rest of mainland Portugal and the archipelagos of Azores and Madeira, as well as to internationalise the product”.

“It was an effort to transform this product [Portuguese historic gardens] into a tourism product with a new dynamic. It was a field study, talking to the owners, characterising (…). It was necessary to create a sellable product for tourists,” he explained.

The “packs” were conceived in a diversified way, with different durations, in a flexible way, as it is the visitor who can add more time or more places to his experience.

The packs include guided tours by the owners or their representatives, but if the visitor wants to explore on their own, there are also suggestions to visit new places or revisit them in a new context,” said Teresa Andresen, in a note handed to journalists during the press conference.

Associated with these tourism proposals are two travel agencies – Club Tour and Travel Tailors – that market the product and can help visitors make reservations, as well as give advice on where to eat or stay.

The Association of Historic Gardens of Portugal, created in 2003, now has more than 200 members who own some of Portugal’s most outstanding gardens.

A market for every day of the week in Lisbon

©MagdalenaPaluchowska

Markets are a great place to see the real, everyday Lisbon and get a feel of local life. There are numerous markets scattered throughout the city: street markets, some that sell local organic produce and others that offer the best fish and oysters on the Atlantic coast, without forgetting the flea markets that specialise in second-hand items or antiques.
Our selection of top Lisbon markets includes something for everyone and an option for every day of the week.

Monday: Mercado da Ribeira

@Marinawatsonpélaez
When: 10:00 – 00:00 (10:00 – 02:00 on Thursdays and Saturdays).
Where: Avenida 24 de Julho 1200-479 in the Cais do Sodré district.
Insider tip: The restaurant serves the freshest fish in the city.

Tuesday: Feira de Ladra

@marcogilphotography
When: Tuesdays and Saturdays from first thing until 18:00, but it’s better to go in the morning.
Where: Campo de Santa Clara in the Alfama district.
Insider tip: Have a good rummage around to find amazing antiques and second-hand or vintage clothing!

Wednesday: Mercado de Cascais

@mercadovilacascais
When: Monday to Saturday 09:00 – 17:00.
Where: Rua Padre Moisés da Silva in Cascais.
Insider tip: Check out the incredibly fresh fish and locally-grown fruit and veg.

Thursday: Farmers’ Market

©MagdalenaPaluchowska
When: Every day from 07:00 – 14:00.
Where: Rua da Atalaia in the Bairro Alto district.
Insider tip: Get a good look at local life!

Friday: Mercado de Campo de Ourique

@voyagealisbonne
When: 10:00 – 23:00 or 10:00 – 01:00, depending on the day.
Where: Rua Coelho da Rocha.
Insider tip: Do NOT miss the oysters!

Saturday: Mercado biológico do Príncipe Real (organic farmers’ market)

@timeout
When: Saturdays 09:00 – 15:00.
Where: Jardim França Borges park, aka Jardim do Príncipe Real.
Insider tip: Look out for the breads made with different types of flour – simply delicious!

Sunday: LX Market

@kimoji84
When: Sundays 10:00 – 18:00 (winter); 11:00 – 20:00 (summer).
Where: Rua Rodrigues de Faria (at the LX Factory).
Insider tip: Grab yourself one of the local hand-crafted products as a souvenir.

5 Activities To Do With Kids In Lisbon

Are you planning a family trip but can’t decide where to go? Lisbon is the ideal destination for a city break with kids!

With its mild climate, large parks and green spaces, fascinating variety of neighbourhoods and superb selection of bars and restaurants, it also offers a number of cultural activities that are great fun for the whole family. Take a look at our recommendations for child-friendly options in the city of the seven hills and see for yourself why family holidays in Lisbon are unforgettable!

 

Oceanário de Lisboa

The Lisbon Oceanarium is considered the largest in Europe. Its gigantic main tank houses a breathtaking variety of marine creatures, including sharks, rays, penguins and jellyfish and there are four huge viewing windows for the kids to watch them as they swim by.

Photo: @pedroapina

 

Museu de Marinha

Lisbon’s world-famous Maritime Museum is located in the bustling neighbourhood of Belém and takes the whole family back in time. It’s a great place for the kids to learn more about Portugal’s seafaring history and the exploration and discoveries that changed western civilisation forever.

Photo: @jennyh_33

 

Pastéis de Belém

Another unmissable stop on your adventures around the city, especially if you’re travelling with kids, is the Belém neighbourhood and the emblematic Pastéis de Belém bakery. The recipe for its world-famous custard tarts was devised at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Heironymite Monastery). When it closed, the bakery began producing these delicacies that have gradually become known and loved everywhere.

Photo: @pasteisbelem

 

Tram 28

Lisbon’s iconic Tram 28 travels up some of Lisbon’s steepest cobblestoned streets towards the Barrio de Graça.  The kids will love riding on this yellow gem from bygone days as it clatters through the old town.

Photo: @dlanciones

 

Parque Eduardo VII and Parque Florestal de Monsanto

Eduardo VII Park is a fantastic place to have a rest during an intense day of sightseeing in the city. This oasis was named after King Edward VII of England, who visited Lisbon in 1903. Another highly recommended place to recharge the family’s batteries is the Parque Florestal de Monsanto, a large protected forest where visitors go to enjoy outdoor sports such as riding bicycles, hiking or even climbing.

Photo: @loretarocha

 

The cover image is from Wikimedia Commons.

“Thinking of…” by Nicolae Popá

Nicolae was born and raised in Moldova, and since 2001 he lives in Portugal.

He´s been an artist since he was very young. At the age of six he started to draw and create paintings, interacting with everything related to art. While he was studying drawing, he was able to enrich his vision about art. He began to live different experiences related to art, that were very meaningful to him.

Some years later, he purchased his first camera and started to have photography as a hobby. Taking pictures he felt that he needed to put in them something that represented himself, so he decided to go into photo editing.

At the moment he´s working on some really exciting projects.

The Lisbon-based photographer will present his works at Gat Rossio on 24 February 2018. The exhibition will be open until 24 April 2018.

Join the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/182901012462075/

Miradouros: 5 Breathtaking Views That Will Make You Fall In Love With Lisbon

Did you know that Lisbon was founded on seven hills? That is why when we think about this popular destination we always picture the spectacular views from its more than 20 lookout points. The singular contour of the land on which the city has flourished has given rise to the steep streets where these miradouros have been built and become meeting points frequented by visitors and locals on a daily basis. Here is some information about our favourite lookout points – the ones we think are the most attractive and offer the most postcard-worthy panoramas.

Get ready to fall in love with Lisbon and these views that will have you on cloud nine!

 

Santa Luzía

Located in the bustling Alfama district, this charming lookout terrace is possibly one of the most beautiful observation points in the city. With sweeping panoramic views over the River Tagus and the dome of Santa Engracia Church in the distance, its timeworn decorative tiles that mark the passage of the years against white walls, and beautiful vines and bougainvillea make this a uniquely romantic place! Photo by @lulu_bepi

 

Castelo de São Jorge

Castelo de São Jorge (Saint George’s Castle) sits atop the highest hill in Lisbon and offers the most panoramic view of the city. Originally built more than eight hundred years ago, this emblematic citadel rises up above the cobbled streets to offer not only spectacular views over most of the city’s neighbourhoods, but also gorgeous framed vistas like the one you can see in the image above. Photo by @designgipsy

 

Portas do Sol

These lookout terraces can be found near Castelo de São Jorge and offer a sweeping view over the rooftops of the old quarter of Alfama, the seafront and the River Tagus. There is also a trendy café with a terrace and a lounge bar where you can enjoy a drink or a snack as you take in the breathtaking scenery. Photo by @flaviamag

 

Senhora do Monte

This Lisbon belvedere (Our Lady of the Hill in English) is considered one of the best for watching the sun go down over the “The City of the Seven Hills”. It offers an almost 360º panoramic view over the city, including a great perspective of the Castelo de São Jorge, the Igreja da Graça church and the old quarter. It is very popular with both tourists and locals.  Photo by @americo.leitao

 

Graça

This loookout point’s official name is “Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen”, in honour of the renowned Portuguese poet, but locals refer to it as the Miradouro da Graça. You get a great view of the Castelo de São Jorge, the Elevador de Santa Justa (Santa Justa lift) and the Convento do Carmo (Carmo Convent) from up here, along with several more of the city’s key monuments. Photo by @cinna_min

 

Lisbon possesses a magical quality that is hard to find anywhere else in the world. As you have seen, its many miradouros are part of this enchantment, so make sure you visit them on your next trip to Lisbon and let yourself fall in love with this beautiful, ancient city!

 

Festas de Santo António

June in Lisbon is a synonym of celebrations and happiness, with balconies full of flowers. Coloured flags cross the streets from side to side. The smell of grilled sardines impregnates everything, and the music coming from any window acts as a reminder that Lisbon gets dressed up in June to celebrate its main festivity: Santo António.

Starting with a large popular parade with marching bands and joyful songs, the streets in the city centre fill with people. The “arraiais” –open-air dances in patios that are decorated with Chinese lanterns and bunting, where baked sardines are served to the sound of the music- share the city with more than a dozen stages that fill it with music, theatre, workshops and exhibitions over three weeks. Finally, on the 30th, a spectacular fireworks display is held over the Tajo river to mark the end of the festivities. The city, and especially the Alfama neighbourhood, is a real Portuguese-style party.

 

IMG_2061  IMG_2057

 

Interesting facts

Every year, several brides and grooms are given the privilege of getting married at a mass wedding held at Lisbon Cathedral under the protection of Santo António, who is also the patron of love and marriage. This tradition began in the 50s as an opportunity to get married for anyone who could not afford a wedding.

Furthermore, it is traditional in Portugal for single youngsters to hang an upside-down image of Santo António in their windows to help them find their soul mate and become one of the brides or grooms to get married in the unique setting of Lisbon Cathedral.

   

 IMG_2058  IMG_2059

 

If you’re planning to spend your holidays in Lisbon, June is your month and, of course, Gat Rossio is your hotel 🙂

 

gatrooms-logo-eye

 

En Lisboa junio es sinónimo de fiesta y alegría, los balcones se llenan de flores. Los banderines de colores atraviesan las calles de lado a lado. El olor a sardinas a la brasa lo impregna todo, y la música que sale desde cualquier ventana nos recuerda que durante el mes de junio, Lisboa se pone bonita para celebrar su fiesta grande: San Antonio.

 

Comenzando con un gran desfile popular animado por bandas marchantes y cantos de júbilo, las calles del centro de la ciudad se llenan de gente. Los «arraiais» –verbenas en patios que se decoran con farolillos y guirnaldas para servir sardinas asadas al son de la música– comparten la ciudad con más de una decena de escenarios que la llenan de música, teatro, talleres y exposiciones a lo largo de tres semanas donde finalmente, el día 30, se celebra  un espectáculo pirotécnico sobre el Tajo que ponen fin a la celebración, la ciudad, y sobre todo el barrio de Alfama, es una auténtica verbena a la portuguesa.

 

Curiosidades

Todos los años, unas cuantas parejas de novios tienen el privilegio de casarse en una boda masiva celebrada en la Catedral de Lisboa, al amparo de San Antonio, que también ejerce como garante del amor y del matrimonio. Esta tradición comenzó en los años 50, como una oportunidad de contraer matrimonio para aquellas parejas que no podían costearse una boda.

Por otro lado, es tradición en Portugal que los jóvenes solteros cuelguen en sus ventanas una imagen de San Antonio bocabajo, para ver si así les busca una media naranja con la que convertirse en uno de esos novios o novias que pueden casarse en un escenario único como la Sé de Lisboa.

 

Si planeas venir de vacaciones a Lisboa, junio es tu mes y, obviamente, Gat Rossio tu hotel 🙂