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The Great Lisbon Earthquake
On All Saint’s Day, November 1, 1755, in the morning, when many residents were attending mass, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed half of the buildings and killed a third of the population. It drastically changed Portugal’s role on the world stage because the struggle for survival consumed all resources. The age of exploration ended, giving the rest of Europe a head start in colonizing the new world.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Portugal has a rich heritage of exploration, discovery, and innovation with many World Heritage Sites. When planning a trip, I research the sites on the UNESCO website and build my itinerary around them. These five are my favorites in Portugal.
A World Heritage Designation Can Be a Blessing, or a Curse, NYT 4/25/2023
#1 Belém
The Jerónimos Monastery and Tower
Located just outside Lisbon’s Old Town, Belém is a perfect place to spend a day walking along the waterfront and enjoying a pastel da nata. The massive compound includes the nearby Tower, built to honor the expeditions of Vasco De Gama, whose memorial is within the cathedral. Building began in Belém, along the Tagus River, near Lisbon in 1502 and continued for 100 years.
#2 Tomar
Convent of Christ
You do not want to miss this place. It is enormous, and a lot is going on historically and architecturally, starting with the Knights of the Templar in 1160 and evolving through the next five centuries. The place feels like the scene of a Dan Brown novel.
On the way out of town, make a stop to walk along the aqueduct. Small children and those who are afraid of heights should not do this. Walking on top of the aqueduct will give you butterflies, even if you aren’t afraid of heights, particularly if you do this in the rain as we did.
#3 Sintra
The entire region of Sintra is considered a World Heritage Site and is called the Cultural Landscape. This includes The Royal Palace in the center of the old city, the Pena Palace on top of the hill, the Moorish Castle on a neighboring hill, and the surrounding gardens.
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is a large Moorish and Gothic structure dominating the small downtown. It is covered in tiles and surrounded by formal gardens and fountains overlooking the area.
Pena Palace
Ferdinand II commissioned this architectural trainwreck in 1838. It was built on the site of a monastery destroyed during the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. He and Queen Maria II incorporated many architectural styles and finishes. However, rather than ‘less is more,’ they adopted a ‘more is more’ philosophy.
Moorish Castle
You can view the ruins of the Moorish Castle from Pena Palace.
#4 Porto
The historic city center and the riverfront were undamaged in the 1755 Earthquake. Due to that good fortune, Porto retains the authenticity of an ancient trading city. The roads are narrow and winding, wrapping around churches and buildings added through the centuries.
#5 Douro Wine Region
The wine region is along the river, heading west from Porto. It is beautiful countryside with winding roads that might make you nauseous in the back seat. UNESCO chose the region to celebrate Portugal’s 2000-year history of producing Port wine.
