Castle of Montemor-o-Velho

“A famosa rainha das praias portuguesas. Areal extenso. Imensas áreas desportivas dispersas. Mar perigoso.”

“Well worth the lunch (the prato de dia is €10 for 3 courses + drinks) after a tour of the ruins. Lovely, welcoming staff, good Portuguese inspired food, with a twist. Does have vegetarian options.”

“The name is a homage by the city of Coimbra, his birthplace, to Joaquim Machado de Castro, the most notable representative of 18th century Portuguese sculpture. The bishop's palace, which houses the collections, retains the fine 12th-century cloister, creating the ideal environment for one of the most complete art collections in Portugal. Below the museum, visit one of the most impressive buildings from the Roman era still preserved in Portugal: a huge, monumental series of galleries, on two storeys, which are thought to have been designed to support an enormous square or a forum in the ancient city of Aeminium (Coimbra).”

“Coimbra, a riverfront city in central Portugal, is home to a preserved medieval old town and the historic University of Coimbra. Built on the grounds of a former palace, the university is famed for its baroque library, the Biblioteca Joanina, and its 18th-century bell tower.”

“One of the oldest universities in the world and the oldest in all of Portugal. 16th century campus classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.”