Portugal Destinations

The wealthy oceanside town of Cascais is known for it’s beautiful beaches and high priced housing market, but there’s also a great restaurant in an amazing setting that serves top-notch vegetarian dishes. House of Wonders It’s not always easy to eat healthy when dining out in Portugal. So, when I find healthy food…

On one of the most prominent points in the Setubal Peninsula sits an historic castle with a fascinating history. View south to Setubal, the Sado River, and beyond to the Troia Peninsula (photo: Brent Petersen) Palmela Castle origin story Portugal seems to be one of those places where every hilltop is capped with…

Italian bakeries crank out millions of zeppole every Saint Joseph’s Day. Enjoying this delicious pastry is a tradition not only in Italy, but all over the world. Saint Joseph’s Day March 19th is Saint Joseph’s Day, aka the Feast of Saint Joseph. It’s also recognized as Father’s Day in many countries, including Italy….

Continental Europe’s westernmost point is marked with a monument on the windy cape. By far, the biggest tourist attraction in the Colares parish (part of the Sintra municipality) is Cabo da Roca. The first thing you’re likely to see as you round the bend and Cabo da Roca comes into view is the…

In the heart of the Parque Natural da Arrábida (Arrábida Park) is a charming little winery. Quinta de Alcube’s production is so small they don’t even have a local distributor. Any restaurant or store that wants to sell their wine has to drive to the winery and pick it up themselves. So, if…

Some of the best views in Portugal is paired with lots of street art at this former army base. 7 Bateria de Outão origin story After WWII (in which Portugal was neutral), fascist dictator António de Oliveira Salazar was paranoid about an invasion. To protect the country against foreign incursions by sea, the…

A delicious pastry from the university town of Coimbra, Portugal Pastel de Santa Clara and espresso at Pastelaria Briosa, Coimbra (photo: Brent Petersen) Pastel de Santa Clara origin story The Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha (Old St. Clare Monastery) was originally built in the 14th century along Coimbra’s Mondego River. and consecrated in 1330 CE….

Berenjenas Fritas con Miel (Fried Eggplant with Honey) is a tapas dish that’s incredibly popular not only in Cordoba, but all over Andalucía. Berenjenas Fritas con Miel at Restaurante Sociedad Plateros María Auxiliadora in Cordoba (photo: Brent Petersen) Berenjenas Fritas con Miel origin story The importance of The Moors’ influence on the cuisine…

A pastry invented by nuns in the 16th century is now an iconic treat enjoyed all over Portugal. Pastel de Tentúgal origin story Like most famous pastries in Portugal, there is a great legend surrounding its invention. So it is with the Pastel de Tentúgal. Supposedly, in the 16th century, Carmelite nuns in…

Graça is a neighborhood in Lisbon that is often overlooked by tourists. But, it’s gaining in popularity and there is plenty to recommend it, including an interesting street art installation. Caracol da Graça steps artwork (photo: Brent Petersen) Where is Graça? Graça is a neighborhood in the São Vicente parish of Lisbon. It’s north…

The largest cave system in Portugal is one of the country’s seven wonders. One of the many pools of water in the Grutas de Mira de Aire (photo: Brent Petersen) Grutas de Mira de Aire origin story The Grutas de Mira de Aire (Caves of Mira de Aire) system of caves formed in…

A lavish royal palace and garden is just a quick train ride from Lisbon Formal garden at Queluz Palace (photo: Brent Petersen) Queluz National Palace Origin Story Following the discovery of gold in the Portuguese colony of Brazil, the ruling royal family of Portugal became obscenely wealthy. Extravagant palaces were built including the…

Cordoba is famous for it’s cold tomato soup, but it’s not gazpacho! Salmorejo origin story Legend has it that when Spanish soldiers held as prisoners after the Portuguese victory in the Battle of Montes Claros were returned to Spain, they brought the recipe for Salmorejo with them. This story could be true since…

Lisbon’s modern neighborhood is on reclaimed land from a former industrial site. Parque das Nações origin story Parque das Nações (Park of Nations) is a gorgeous waterfront neighborhood in Lisbon. Prior to 1998, it was an ugly area of slaughterhouses and polluting factories no tourist would have any reason to visit. That changed…

Just a 15 minute drive from Galway, sitting on the River Corrib, is the abandoned Menlo Castle. The castle was built in the mid 16th century. It was originally occupied by Thomas Colman but shortly thereafter, the Blake family (the Blakes were one of the original 14 Tribes of Galway) acquired the castle…

Reading a work of fiction set in your vacation destination is a great way to get more out of your trip. For me, planning a trip is half the fun. I love reading all about the place I’m going to be. Of course, I give some time to sites like TripAdvisor and HappyCow…

Volto já is a Portuguese phrase with several closely related definitions. But, when going to a store, it has an ambiguous meaning. Photo: Brent Petersen Volto já meaning “Volto já” (also “Volta já) is a common phrase in Portuguese. It can mean “get over” as in “Get over here right now.” Or, it…

Lisbon’s custard tart, the Pastel de Nata is available at every bakery in the city. But only one place can call their pastry Pastéis de Belém. Pastéis de Belém origin story Jerónimos Monastery where the Pastéis de Belém was invented (photo: Brent Petersen) Without the monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in the Belem…

Sausage Rolls are popular throughout the U.K. and Ireland. They consist of puff pastry wrapped around a pork sausage. Simple really. So simple in fact that no one knows exactly when they were “invented.” But, by the mid 19th century, sausage rolls were definitely a part of the diet of the Irish and…

Évora is a town in Portugal that attracts tourists from all over the world for its Roman Temple, Medieval Wall, and Gothic churches. But, huge numbers of visitors flock to Évora to see the centuries-old remains of former residents. Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos) Photo: Brent Petersen Évora origin story Celtic tribes lived around present-day…

A pastry chef in Palmela, Portugal has created a new pastry that incorporates one of the region’s most famous products. Pastel de Nata origin story The story goes that Monks at Jerónimos Monastery in the Belem neighborhood of Lisbon used egg whites to starch their habits and, as a result, had lots of…

Colares is the smallest and oldest wine region in all of Portugal. Wine grapes have been cultivated here for 800 years! Colares wines Getting ready for a tasting of Colares wine (photo: Brent Petersen) Colares is a town and parish, part of the greater Sintra municipality. Because of the area’s gorgeous coastline and…

Who was this 16th century fortress designed to protect? Forte de São Filipe, Setubal (photo: Brent Petersen) Philip II of Spain When King Henry of Portugal died, the kingdom was in crisis. Henry was a chaste cardinal and had no heirs. Philip II of Spain (known as Philip I in Portugal) swooped in…

A short train ride from Lisbon, Cascais, Portugal is a wealthy seaside enclave with lots of fun things to make it worth a day trip from the busy city. A major highlight is the Boca do Inferno (Mouth of Hell). Cascais walking tour Cascais is a very walkable city. The train from Lisbon…

Online rating sites don’t take into account cultural differences. You’re finally taking that Covid-delayed trip to Europe! Yay! You get off the plane, head to the hotel, drop off your bags and head out to see the sights. But first, let’s get something to eat! You grab your phone and pull up the…

Lavadouros have traditionally been places where ladies (it’s almost always women) come to wash clothes, chat with neighbors, and sing. These days, most modern Portuguese houses are outfitted with washing machines (if not clothes dryers). Those that don’t have a washer will pop down to the Lavandaria (laundromat). However, even if they are…

The annual Banheiras e Insólitos Regatta of Baía do Sado is a celebration of homemade (barely) seaworthy boats in Setubal, Portugal Banheiras e Insólitos Regatta of Baía do Sado (video: Brent Petersen) It seems there’s always something fun going on in our town of Setubal, Portugal. Music festivals, great food & drink, and…

The fried dough dish is a classic street food in Hungary. Lángos Origin Story Homemade Lángos (photo: zserbo.com) Historically, bread was baked in huge loaves (6 pounds or more) once a week in Hungary because it cost so much to heat up the giant brick ovens. Smaller loaves, 1 pound or so, were…

Trying to find a specific specialty coffee drink proves challenging in Lisbon. Mazagran origin story Our first Mazagran in Lisbon (photo: Brent Petersen) Mazagran is a cold coffee drink that was invented in Algeria. During the French invasion of Algeria in the first half of the 19th century, French troops stationed at Fort…

The culinary highlight of Sintra is the Travesseiro. This light and flaky pastry is filled an egg yolk and almond cream. There’s also a hint of vanilla. Travesseiro from Casa Piriquita in Sintra, Portugal (photo: Brent Petersen) In English, Travesseiro means “pillow” or “cushion” and that is an apt translation. The dough is…