Portugal can only be regarded as a relatively unpopular tourist destination in the minds of most Chinese tourists, but for European natives and some particularly senior Chinese donkey friends, Portugal can be counted as the ultimate travel destination, the fundamental reason is that Portugal has a unique climate and geographical environment, up to more than 300 days of sunshine per year, a large number of high-quality Blue Flag beaches, various cuisines and very cost-effective travel costs.
Photo: Aerial view of Lisbon's Belém district Taken by the author
Chinese travelers who are new to Portugal generally go to the capital City of Lisbon (Lisboa), and some may also go to the northern city of Porto, but Portugal's tourism resources are far more than these two large cities. As a Chinese who has lived in Europe and the United States for many years, I am particularly impressed by Portugal and take this opportunity to introduce some of Portugal's high-quality and interesting tourism resources to my friends.
Photo: Night view of the Tower of Belém Taken by the author
Although I have been living in Portugal for many years and have visited many places in Portugal, I recently went to Marvão, a mountain town on the Border between Portugal and Spain.
The small town of Malvão was voted by readers of The Guardian as one of the top 10 best rural destinations in Portugal. Located between Castelo de Vida and Portalegre, Marvão is located at the highest point of the Serra de São Mamede, just a few kilometres from the Spanish border, 240 kilometres from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and 2.5 hours from the A1 and A23 motorways.
Photo: Aerial image of Marwan By the author
Marvão is a picturesque town with typical Alentejo style, consisting of a variety of white houses, narrow cobbled streets, Gothic arches, Manueline-style windows and a magnificent castle. The castle, the town square and even many hotels offer expansive views of the surrounding Alto Alentejo countryside and the Spanish border.
Aerial Video Viewing - Flying Over Marvão, Portugal:
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You can also fly over Marvão, Portugal by clicking on the link below.
Photo: Marvel Castle and its surroundings Photographed by the author
Photo: Beautiful scenery of the plains surrounding Marvão By the author
Photo: Streets and buildings in Marvão
Photo: Architectural details of Marvão The author himself photographed
Wander around the town, meet a beautiful parrot in a coffee shop, and look at that little eye!
Photo: Marwan Parrot The author himself photographed
Special reminder! Be sure to wait until sunset in the small town of Marvão and never leave early.
Marvão is very small, basically 1 to 2 hours to walk around the whole town. If you have enough time and no other special arrangements, it is recommended to sit in any coffee shop in the town and drink coffee while enjoying the view, the locals are very simple and friendly, you can also chat with the locals (The Portuguese are very good at English) and wait for night to fall. Watching the sunset here can be counted as an unforgettable experience, looking at the layers of warm colors of the distant mountains, the feeling of being soaked by the warm twilight, and the full sense of happiness is exciting.
Photo: Sunset in Marvão Taken by the author
Malvão has wonderful colours at sunset. Under the aerial view of the drone, the town lights up at the beginning, immersed in twilight, like a shining jewel, shining brightly...
Photo: Aerial photo of Twilight in Marwan By the author
Travelers who like history can also learn about Marwan's rich history. Geographically, Malvão is a natural military strategic fortress with steep slopes to the north, south and west, and only from the east if you want to walk into the city. As a result, settlements slowly formed in the east, while castles were built at the westernmost point. This town has played an extremely important role in many battles throughout history. Between 1160 and 1166, D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, defeated the Arabs here, ending centuries-long Arab rule. In addition, there are, for example, the wars between King D. Dinis and his brother D. Afonso, the Dynastic Crisis (1383-1385), the Restoration of Independence (1640-1668), the Spanish Victory (1704-1712) and the Peninsular War (1807-1811).
Among all the architectural heritage, in addition to the castle and the city walls, there is the Church of Santa Maria (Igreja Santa Maria), the Church of Santiago (Igreja de Santiago), the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Renaissance (Igreja da Estrela) and the Convento de Nossa Senhora da Estrela (Convento de Nossa Senhora da Estrela) outside the walls.
According to reports, the local November will hold a grand chestnut festival. Portuguese chestnuts are very famous for their sweet taste. The usual way for Portuguese locals to eat it is salt roasted. On the autumn streets of Lisbon, there are often mobile vendors of roasted chestnuts on the streets of Lisbon, which makes the whole city smoky, and newcomers may feel uncomfortable, but the locals are accustomed to it and enjoy it, which may be the so-called fireworks of life. It is said that a metropolis like Shanghai is also slowly reviving night markets, perhaps to make the urban forest more alive.
The Arentejo region, where Marvão is located, is rich in wine, cork oak, olive oil, pigs, cattle and sheep, dairy products and more. When you're in the area, be sure to try Vinho Verde, a portuguese wine.