Get to know the perfect european holiday destination all year round - Guarda

The most notable attraction in Avenida da Liberdade is Avenida da Liberdade itself. This boulevard, built in the 19th century in the style of the Champs-Elysees in Paris, is the main avenue of the city. It runs north for a 1.6 km, from Restauradores Square to Marquês de Pombal Square, and is more than 90m wide. An elegant avenue with fountains, café tables shaded by trees, as well as a cobblestone pavement decorated with unique patterns. A few of the original mansions have been preserved, and many are outstanding from an architectural standpoint. In this avenue, there is also a monument to homage the Heroes of the Great War, a tribute to the 50 000 Portuguese soldiers who fought in World War I. This is also the site of the city's grander hotels and designer shops, including names like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Tods, Burberry, Hugo Boss, Miu Miu, among others. Top things to do in Avenida da Liberdade

Located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is Portugal’s second-biggest city and one of the oldest European centres. Its historical core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. The western part of its urban area extends to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Its settlement dates back many centuries when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire. Its combined Celtic-Latin name, Portus Cale, has been referred to as the origin of the name Portugal, based on transliteration and oral evolution from Latin.Port wine, one of Portugal's most famous exports, is named after Porto, since the metropolitan area, and in particular, the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, were responsible for the packaging, transport, and export of fortified wine. In 2014 and 2017, Porto was elected The Best European Destination by the Best European Destinations Agency.

Sintra is a magnificent town filled with breathtaking historic palaces and castles, all set around the lush tall hills of the Sintra mountains. Once the royal town of the country, Sintra has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and recognised for its incredible history and cultural importance. In the 19th century, Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture by Ferdinand II but has an architecture which dates all the way back to the Moorish empire.

Lagos is a historic town located on the magnificent and vivid Western Algarve. A city with a rich maritime history and spectacular natural environment. Lagos is today one of the best holiday destinations in the Algarve.The proud Portuguese city of Lagos has cobbled streets, amazing restaurants and a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Lagos blends traditional Portuguese culture with golden beaches and new tourist attractions.

Vila Real is a quiet yet vibrant city in north-eastern Portugal, located at the foothills of the majestic slopes of Serra do Marão. Vila Real was established in 1289 by King Dinis and played a significant role in Portuguese history and has long had a strong association with the Portuguese royal family.  It was the birthplace of Diogo Cão, the first European to cross the Congo River, and António da Silveira Pinto da Fonseca (also known as the Count of Amarante), a powerful member of the Portuguese military who led several protests against the Liberal constitution. During the 16th and 17th centuries, many aristocrats constructed grand palaces in Vila Real, giving the city's literal name, "royal villa".

Évora is the capital of Alentejo’s region. Filled with impressive historical and cultural landmarks, the city is one of the most popular places to visit in Alentejo. The Historic Centre of Évora was elected a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. The city’s roots go as far back as Roman times. Évora still retains ruins from that period, such as from the Temple of Diana. Three centuries later, during the Moorish period, a fortified gate was built to improve the city’s defensive system, as well as a Kasbah. The presence of the Moors can also be felt through the old labyrinthine quarters of the city, which are filled with typical Moorish arches.  Évora is also home to a beautiful Cathedral built during medieval times, in the 13th century. In the 15th century, when Évora became the Portuguese king’s residence, a number of royal buildings started to pop up. St. Claire Convent, the royal church and the convent of São Francisco are some examples of those. The Manueline style of architecture characterises these remarkable buildings.Besides Évoras’s rich monumental heritage, the city is also known for its beautiful whitewashed houses decorated with tiles and wrought-iron balconies, its colourful handicraft stores and the family-run cafés and restaurants, which offer the tastiest gastronomy in the land.

The Lisbon South Bay area comprises three districts: Almada, Seixal and Barreiro. These three are known for their close historic connection to the Tagus River. From the ancient industries in Barreiro that fed the naval expeditions to África and Índia in the 16th century, to the amazing long sandy beaches of Caparica, Lisbon South Bay welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists in summertime and surfers all through the year.  Seixal, the district between Almada and Barreiro, was where Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, built his expedition ships with the help of his brother and father. The Tagus river’s presence greatly affects the region’s economy and the professions that the locals choose. In this sense, this region saw a surge of professions like fishermen, sailors, millers, caulkers, ax carpenters, which, for years, constituted the main way of life of the populations.

Few people know this, but Alcácer do Sal is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded over a thousand years B.C. Laid out over the right bank of the Sado river, it is a historic area in Portugal, best known for its rice fields. Alcácer do Sal is the second-largest municipality in the country, located in the northern part of Alentejo, very close to the Atlantic. For a long time, salt was the main reason for the settlement of peoples in this region. From the Phoenicians' times, through the Roman empire, until the 18th century, salt was transported by galleons from dozens of salt flats. Eventually, salt flats were converted into rice paddies, which started using a network of channels supplied by the Pego do Altar and Santa Susana dams. Today there is still one salt flat operating, the “Salina da Batalha”, which is open for guided tours. Over the Sado valley, on the hilltop, a Moorish castle was built in the 12th century. It was later conquered by King Afonso II, passing into the Portuguese domain. Álcacer is also home to one the most beautiful “Pousadas de Portugal”, has beautiful beaches just a few kilometres away and offers the best wild boar steak in the country, as well as delicious seafood from the Sado river.