Travel
Abandoned Portugal: Some Ruins You Shouldn’t Miss
Many beautiful buildings and estates have been left to ruin in Portugal. These dilapidated gems crumble more each day as they wait for some TLC or their ultimate demise, whichever comes first. Here are some we fell in love with.
Abandoned Portugal: Hotel Monte Palace in the Açores
The hotel Monte Palace in the Açores shut its doors in 1986 and has since been looted and abandoned, with a 5-star view of the Lagoa das Sete Cidades and encroaching mounds of moss and hydrangea bushes on all sides. But this isn’t the end of the story.
Driving through Portugal: See it All in 50 Stops (Part 2)
This route won’t necessarily show you everything, but it will surely guide you through way more than just the highlights. Start from the capital or jump in at any point in the loop: here’s an idea of what not to miss in each of these stops, but how long you stay or what you skip is up to you.
Golegã’s National Horse Fair
We caught the Feira Nacional do Cavalo in Golego and were blown away not only by the horses, but by the riding culture atop them.
Fábrica da Pólvora: The Explosive New Art Scene in Oeiras
Who would have thought that eight stops from Lisbon’s Rossio station in Barcarena, there’s a city of artist studios that laughs in the face of the co-working space concept, a green space, a killer buffet-style restaurant, an outdoor amphitheater, and an archeological museum all in the same complex?
Abandoned Portugal: Beja Aquatica
The Beja Aquapark was in operation for only three years and has been closed for the last 25. What is left is easily accessible to curious road-trippers and ruin hunters alike.
Renting a Car in Portugal
Renting cars here is much like anywhere else, with a few peculiarities such as restrictions on taking the car out of Portugal, where exactly you’ll be picking up the car, how the rental companies here handle damage coverage, and a very weird, counter-intuitive, and ridiculously overpriced toll system that you’ll have to plan for before you rent.
Uncover Arrábida’s Royal Secret at Palácio da Comenda
Abandoned to degradation and graffiti, Palácio da Comenda was once known as one of the most regal palaces on the European coast, having hosted Portuguese royalty, French aristocracy, and the First Family of the U.S.
Driving through Portugal: See it All in 50 Stops (Part 1)
This route won’t necessarily show you everything, but it will surely guide you through way more than just the highlights. Start from the capital or jump in at any point in the loop: here’s an idea of what not to miss in each of these stops, but how long you stay or what you skip is up to you.
Macau: Going Both Ways and Coming Out Again
Eighteen years ago, Portugal gave up its role in Macau, leaving practically no political or economic influence and very little saudade among most of the Chinese population.
Abandoned Castle in Alentejo: Montemor-o-Novo
Montemor-o-Novo is situated just an hour outside of Lisbon by car. The town itself is as charming as it is unpretentious, built around a small park at its nucleus and
How to Spend 24 Hours in Athens
Athens might look disorganized but it’s delightfully chaotic. If you’ve only got 24 hours, here’s how you can enjoy the highlights and feel the pulse of the cradle of Western civilization.
