Get to know the perfect european holiday destination all year round - Saldanha

Baixa is the most central and renowned neighborhood in Lisbon. It was completely rebuilt by the Marquês de Pombal after the 1st November 1755, one of the world’s strongest recorded earthquakes devastated the district and, along with the massive tsunami, killed thousands. Baixa is packed with stores and restaurants and is always busy during the day.This neighborhood houses the capital’s most emblematic squares and streets. The district starts in Restauradores Square (Praça dos Restauradores), continues up Avenida da Liberdade, through Praça Marquês de Pombal (Marquis of Pombal Square) and from this point forward is considered “Modern Lisbon”. Here you will discover some of Lisbon’s major attractions such as Terreiro do Paço square (or Terreiro do Paço), Rossio along with a variety of popular bars and restaurants. Top things to do near Baixa.

The region of Tavira is eastern Algarve’s jewel! The city boasts a rich past, interesting tourist attractions, and beautiful sandy beaches. Tavira is a perfect holiday destination and just as pleasant as the surrounding lively cities. Tavira has a beautiful historic background as it was once an important Moorish trading town and later became a major port, in the 14th century. Along the historic sights, there are plenty of riverside walks, lively streets full of restaurants and cafes and splendid plazas.

Considered the westernmost point of Europe, the Azores is an archipelago of 9 volcanic islands in the blue immensity of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is worldwide recognized for its scenery of natural beauty, blessed with stunning landscapes of lakes, green meadows, volcanos, geysers and hot thermal waters. It is also funnily known for having a massive herd of cows, being commonly said by locals that the Azores have more cows than people. The Azores is also characterized for its picturesque towns, full of colourful character and cobbled squares that bring the Renaissance and Discoveries period back in time. The world’s recognition of the immeasurable value of the Azores dates back decades ago. In 1983, UNESCO named the Historical Centre of Angra do Heroismo, in the island of Terceira, as World Heritage, and, in 2004, the Landscape of Pico Island Vineyard Culture, in the island of Pico. The first references to the island’s settlement date back to the 14th century. Under the command of Prince Henry, the Navigator, the Azores were discovered by the Portuguese, that claimed their rights over it. The active settlement only started later and was shared between the Portuguese and the Flemish over two centuries. It is even said that the particular Azorean accent has its roots in the French language. Fun Fact: the Azores is the only place in Europe that grows green tea!

Vila Real is a quiet yet vibrant city in north-eastern Portugal, located at the foothills of the majestic slopes of Serra do Marão. Vila Real was established in 1289 by King Dinis and played a significant role in Portuguese history and has long had a strong association with the Portuguese royal family.  It was the birthplace of Diogo Cão, the first European to cross the Congo River, and António da Silveira Pinto da Fonseca (also known as the Count of Amarante), a powerful member of the Portuguese military who led several protests against the Liberal constitution. During the 16th and 17th centuries, many aristocrats constructed grand palaces in Vila Real, giving the city's literal name, "royal villa".

The Alentejo is a beautiful rural southern region in Portugal. It is a very diversified area with a rich history, known for its plains, rugged coastline, olive trees, historical fortified towns and intense summer heat. The region extends from the Algarve towards central Portugal and goes from the Atlantic ocean to the Spanish border. On the western coastline, you can find the wildest and finest wide-open beaches in Portugal, much sought-after by surfers. Alongside the beaches, you can find charming fishing towns, offering delicious local seafood. On the other hand, in the interior part of the region, there are picturesque towns rich in history and vast plains. Alentejo is also worldwide known for its music genre, named “Canto Alentejano”. It is a vocal type of music without instrumentation. In 2014, UNESCO recognised it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, after Fado - another Portuguese traditional music genre - had been granted the same status in 2011. UNESCO has also recognised other treasured heritage of Alentejo. Évora and Elvas were both subject to UNESCO’s nominations. As this region was colonised by different peoples throughout history, from the Visigoths and Romans to the Arabs and Knights Templar, there is an incredible diversity of historical and cultural sights. You can either visit the impressive hilltop castles and fortifications, as well as the Roman temples and cathedrals. Alentejo´s history and beautiful nature landscapes make it a fascinating destination to discover.

Beja is located in the southern region of continental Portugal and is believed to have been founded around 400 b.c. by an ancient cell of celts that occupied most territories south of the Tagus river, such as the Alentejo and Setúbal regions. After being a part of the Roman Empire for 600 years and a part of the Arabic Caliphate for 400 years until 1162, the year in which the Christians took the city from Muslim occupation, Beja is now the county’s capital.  The city remained small for the next centuries, although heavily destroyed by the Napoleonic invasions. From the 20th century onwards, some economic development was put in place with the building of new schools, judicial and commercial installations, including the new Beja International Airport in 2011.

The parish of Avenidas Novas presents a configuration of streets that intersect in a perpendicular way, creating square blocks. The main avenues, which gave it its name - New Avenues literally -, start at the stately Avenida da Liberdade and Rotunda do Marquês de Pombal with Parque Eduardo VII and Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, passing by Praça Duque de Saldanha and heading towards Jardim do Campo Grande, along the Avenida da República and its adjacent streets. As the capital expanded, Avenidas Novas became the axis of the city's northward expansion in the 19th century. From a residential area of art nouveau mansions built for the middle-classes, Avenidas Novas turned into one of the main business and commercial centres of Lisbon thanks to the existence of shopping centres galore, and also many established large companies in the different avenues around this area. Despite the absence of historic sites, this area of town nonetheless draws a large number of visitors since it is home to several hotels and one of the city's greatest museums - the must-see Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.

Few people know this, but Alcácer do Sal is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded over a thousand years B.C. Laid out over the right bank of the Sado river, it is a historic area in Portugal, best known for its rice fields. Alcácer do Sal is the second-largest municipality in the country, located in the northern part of Alentejo, very close to the Atlantic. For a long time, salt was the main reason for the settlement of peoples in this region. From the Phoenicians' times, through the Roman empire, until the 18th century, salt was transported by galleons from dozens of salt flats. Eventually, salt flats were converted into rice paddies, which started using a network of channels supplied by the Pego do Altar and Santa Susana dams. Today there is still one salt flat operating, the “Salina da Batalha”, which is open for guided tours. Over the Sado valley, on the hilltop, a Moorish castle was built in the 12th century. It was later conquered by King Afonso II, passing into the Portuguese domain. Álcacer is also home to one the most beautiful “Pousadas de Portugal”, has beautiful beaches just a few kilometres away and offers the best wild boar steak in the country, as well as delicious seafood from the Sado river.