A Total Immersion In Portuguese Culture: from Porto to Lisbon

Sharpen your eyes and get ready to unearth all the details of the 20000 azulejos on Porto's most famous wall. I know you have a car but the first stop today is the São Bento train station in Almeida Garret Square.
São Bento Station is open daily from 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM and, as it is still a working station, admission is free. Precisely because of this, however, it is full of people
I recommend visiting it as soon as you wake up so you avoid the crowds and can admire the beauty of its every detail more calmly.
Rising from the ashes of a Benedictine monastery destroyed by fire in 1783, the São Bento station was inaugurated as such in 1916 and took on the appearance for which it is now famous only after 11 years of meticulous work by artist Jorge Colaço, who covered the building's interior walls with 20 thousand tiles painted strictly by hand only in blue and white. The colorful frieze that runs throughout the atrium tells the story of means of transportation in chronological order, from the earliest days to the appearance of the train.At the bottom, large historiated panels depict scenes from the history of Portugal, while other smaller panels show scenes from the life of the region for a total of 550 meters of wall space.
Did you know that in 2017 N&M Lighting Design Studio was commissioned to create a new energy-efficient lighting system that would also improve light levels for passengers and highlight the beauty of this iconic monument? With a careful study to avoid wrong reflections on the tiles, aid passengers and train staff in visibility inside the building, and emphasize the architectural structure of the station, the company pursued a design of different lighting combinations that could blend technical and aesthetic qualities. Schréder's luminaires also reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions by about 75 percent for both the concourse and platforms.

Are you a Harry Potter lover? Then whip out your wand because you're about to enter the Diagon Alley bookstore! And yes, I'm not kidding, the bookstore you are going to visit today was a source of great inspiration for JK Rowling, the writer of the most beloved saga of all time. She used to frequent it in the 1990s when she taught English in the city of Porto .
Built in 1869 by architect Francisco Xavier Esteves, the original name was Livraria Internacional de Ernesto Chardron. Later, the bookstore changed hands passing to the Lello brothers, and was then renamed on January 13, 1906 to its present name.
Classified in 2013 as a Monument of Public Interest by the Director General of Cultural Heritage, the bookstore features a neo-Gothic style with touches of Art Deco and is world-famous for its marvelous glass skylight, consisting of a panel with a sign written in Latin: "Decus in Labore" (dignity at work), and for its imposing red staircase in the shape of an 8 that dominates the center of the building.
Let's play a game. Take some time to observe all the architectural details of the place and then tell me if you were able to notice that...
(Continue reading only after you have observed) The staircase is not built of wood but has a concrete structure, and the ceiling appears to be made of carved wood but is actually nothing more than painted plaster. Also, on the base of the steps is the signature of engineer Francisco Xavier Esteves. Have you seen it?
Did you also know that in 2021 from Jan. 13 to June 1 in partnership with Pantone the famous red stairs were painted yellow and gray, the elected colors of the year, to give a message of strength and hope?
Renowned for architectural virtuosity, the real treasures, however, are on paper! The library houses as many as 143 authors of all genres, nationalities and years for a total of more than 650 titles available in different languages and stores its most precious jewels in a room called Gemma dedicated to rare books, manuscripts, first editions, luxury items. Humble examples are the first edition of Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov ( on sale for €5000.00), Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland (€9500.00), the first edition The Whale, by Herman Melville, which belonged to Jim Morrison; a copy of The Little Prince signed by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and a rare copy of the first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
If you wish, you can also join a guided tour that allows you to learn in depth about the history of this fascinating library: There are different kinds: some are free and others charge a fee; some are Harry Potter-themed and some are interactive and include other attractions.
Take a look here and choose the one you like best.
The library is open daily from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM except on holidays (Dec. 25, Jan. 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, and June 24). Admission costs only a few euros and, for reading enthusiasts, is also valid as a discount code to buy a great book why not to be enjoyed also in the magical atmosphere that the bookstore offers.
Do not arrive without a ticket, buy it on the official website

After grinding out a few miles through the Portuguese moors glimpsing several breathtaking natural landscapes from the window, it's time to walk around a bit. Leave the car here and let's explore Coimbra, a delightful little gem of Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the country's oldest university.
Type: CCS 1 station, 1 plug Power: 50 kW

I am sure you will realize right away that you are in a city with a young, dynamic and exciting atmosphere.
You will see lots and lots of young people and hear dozens of different languages spoken. You will also surely meet a lot of guys in black capes walking around the city.... Alas, they are not wizards and you are not on the set of Harry Potter, they are simply students wearing academic traje on a daily basis. A true university tradition in the city.
But enough of that, now look in front of you and be captivated by the Santa Clara Bridge.
It is a road bridge erected over the Mondego River and in the middle of the city of Coimbra. It is located in front of the "Largo da Portagem," the historic square on the banks of the river. Its construction began in 1951 based on the design of engineers Edgar Cardoso, António Franco and Abreu (the same as the San João Bridge and Arrábidaa Porto) and many others and was completed with the inauguration carried out by Council President Antonio de Oliveira Salazar on October 30, 1954.

A swarm of students with black traje and heavy textbooks under their arms will welcome you to their student paradise. To date, the university has an educational offering of as many as eight faculties (Humanities, Law, Medicine, Science and Technology, Pharmacy, Economics, Psychology, and Education) and has 22,000 students each year from all corners of the world. Founded on March 1, 1290 after the issuance in Leira of the decree "Scientiae thesaurus mirabilis" by King Dinis, the University of Coimbra, with its more than 730 years of history, represents the center of knowledge par excellence and the oldest university in Portugal recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in a privileged location in the upper part of the city, overlooking the Mondego River, the University is a complex building, built around a central courtyard in which more than one element stands out for its artistic interest and symbolism.
By purchasing an entrance ticketat the ticket office located at Largo Marques de Pombal, you will be able to admire all its details. Pay attention to the hours: from March to October the university can be visited from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM ( the Science Museum opens at 10:00 AM) while from November to February it is open from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Visiting the tower is only possible between April and October from 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM.
Passing through the 17th-century "Férrea Gate" that gives access to the Royal Palace will begin your visit inside the University. There are several attractions it offers: the clock tower (34 m high and added in the early 1700s, used for astronomical observations, which is why it lacks a roof), the former royal palace, residence of the kings of the first Portuguese dynasty between 1143 and 1383, the botanical garden, the science and natural history museums, but if fleeting time is not your friend I recommend you focus on the two most captivating buildings the Capela São Miguel and the Joanina Library. (For the latter I advise you to pay attention to the entrances that are scheduled at 20minute intervals with a maximum attendance of 60 people.) The Baroque Library built in honor of King John V dates from 1728. Three tiers of oak shelves, decorated with rich carvings and gold paintings make a home for the more than 60,000 volumes representing the best of what was printed throughout Europe between the 15th and 17th centuries, alternating on black, red and green background walls respectively in the building's three rooms. The oak shelves are designed to keep insects away from the manuals, but did you know that for more than two centuries the library was inhabited by colonies of bats to combat pests?

Adjacent to the Joanina Library you will find a little gem: the Chapel of São Miguel dedicated precisely to the Archangel Michael, protector of King Alfonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal The small church was built in 1517 to replace an old private oratory from the 12th century in the University of Coimbra to the design of Marcos Pires, author of the Manueline side portal of naturalist workmanship, who died in 1521 before he could finish the work, which was finished by Diego de Castilho. It is entered through a neoclassical portal executed in 1780. Inside, the walls of the high chancel and tribune feature panels of 18th-century city-made azulejos of Dutch influence. In the nave, on the other hand, the azulejos covering is 17th-century and comes from Lisbon. The ceiling above the high altar holds the insignia of the University represented by a Christian figure and the emblems of the three major faculties ( Theology, Canon and Civil Law, and Medicine). Also on the high altar is a Mannerist altarpiece designed in 1605 by Bernardo Coelho; carver and sculptor Simão da Mota did the carving and gilding work, highlighting paintings on the life of Jesus attributed to Simão Rodrigues and Domingos Vieira Serrão. The top panels depict the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi, while at the bottom you can admire the Resurrection and the Apparition to the Virgin. In the central part of the predella of the altarpiece is a depiction of the "Last Supper," and on the sides are carved the two busts of St. Peter and St. Paul. The Baroque organ dating from 1737 and containing more than 2,000 pipes, enclosed in a wooden box covered with gilded carvings and oriental motifs, will certainly not go unnoticed.

After a nice walk, it's off again! Go!

Beautiful and elegant venue, super large portions and very high quality. The codfish is superlative but the choice is wide: meat, fish, soups and more.
Prices are fair and the staff is extremely friendly. The restaurant is open daily from 12:00 to 3:00 pm and 7:00 to 10:30 pm.

Time to stretch your legs, welcome to Batalha!
A small town of 15,000 inhabitants located in the district of Leira, Batalha is famous to the chronicles for being the scene of the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385 between John I, ruler of Portugal, and John I of Castile. The victory of the Portuguese over the Castilian led not only to the independence of the people from the Spanish kingdom but also to the construction of what is still today the most beautiful monastery in Portugal. King John I in fact, aware of the importance of the battle he was about to face decided to make a vow to Our Lady. When victory was achieved, as a symbol of thanksgiving, he began the construction of the famous monastery, which did not see the light of day until 1517. The 200 years of construction seeps out from all the walls of the monastery, which proudly flaunts a sublime union of the different architectural styles that followed one another in those decades: from English Gothic to Flamboyan, from Renaissance to Manueline styles. Such perfect harmony of styles in union with the magnificence of its native history , led the complex to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The monastery can be visited year-round from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; from April to mid-October, opening is extended until 6:30 p.m.
When you leave the Monastery, look up into the sky: you will find yourself surrounded by very elegant 18th-century buildings, one of which has been converted into a Pousada.

Not a tourist stop, rather an unusual break, but one with a street flavor that exudes reality, denunciation and pure art. Let's make a brief pit stop here in Santarém, a small municipality that thrives on livestock and agriculture, and let our urban spirit take over by being captivated by the many murals that paper the walls of the village. At the point where Rua Alexandre Herculano and Avenida Bernardo Santareno intersect, pause to admire the famous mural honoring António Martinho do Rosário better known as Bernardo Santareno, one of the most celebrated names in 20th-century Portuguese theater.
Do you know what else Santarém is famous for? For the Miracle associated with the procession held annually on the second Sunday in April when the relic of a famous host is carried from a house in the center of town to the church of St. Stephen.
The story behind this tradition is quite evocative. I'll tell you about it now. In Santarém, on Feb. 16, 1247, a woman blinded by jealousy because of her husband's infidelity, on the advice of a sorceress, stole a consecrated host from the church by hiding it in a veil. As she was returning home, the story goes that the particle would begin to bleed and the frightened woman hid it in a drawer where the bleeding would continue accompanied by the emission of light.
The couple immediately informed the parish priest who, in a solemn procession, brought back to the church of St. Stephen the stolen host, which would continue to bleed for three days. Over the centuries the host would repeatedly ooze blood and images of Jesus would be observed on it. The host that is carried in the procession is the relic of the host of 1247, and the house from which it leaves to be brought back to St. Stephen's Church is indeed the house of the newlyweds, which was converted into a chapel in 1684.

"In sunset meditation our soul greets the sun as its last rays already forge new dreams."
Buy a bottle of tinto wine at the bar or restaurant you find near the site, retrieve a blanket, scarf, or jacket to lay on the ground, and enjoy in absolute relaxation a Portuguese lake-view sunset from the scenic Baloiço da Barragem de Magos. We are about to conclude a trip full of the history, culture, nature and flavors of Portugal, and what better way to say goodbye than sipping some good wine and maybe flipping through a few pages of the latest book bought at Lello's bookstore with before yet another spectacle that nature decides to give us?
I will leave you to relax in peace and enjoy the sunset while waiting to get back on the road to Lisbon.
GOOD MEDITATION!

Last recharge break. Leave the machine here and give your body a jolt of energy as well.
Type: CCS 1 station, 1 plug Power: 60 kW

Pizzetta? Sandwich? Coffee? Coffee and treat? You can't help but recharge yourself, too.
Even if you've eaten well and maybe you're still full, I'm sure you'll be able to find space at least for a treat easily too. I always can!!!

The last recharge is finished and you have almost reached the final goal....

Our journey has come to an end. I hope you had a good time and collected unforgettable moments in these two days. See you again!