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A Travel Diary

Portugal 2022

Lisbon, Sintra, and the Algarve — Spring 2022

97Photographs

7Days

6Places

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Tiles, towers & the sea

A week across Portugal in early spring — Lisbon's tiled hills and the Manueline stone of Belem, the fairytale palaces of Sintra and the spiral well of the Regaleira, the wild Atlantic coast, the Roman temple and bone chapel of Evora, and finally the Algarve: golden cliffs, hidden beaches, and the glowing sea caves of Benagil. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or open the map.

Day 1

Sun 27 Mar

Lisbon

Lisbon — LisbonLisbon's Rossio square and its bronze fountains.

Day 2

Mon 28 Mar

Lisbon

Lisbon — LisbonThe wrought-iron Santa Justa Lift climbing between the streets.

Lisbon — LisbonRed rooftops tumbling down to the Tagus.

Lisbon — LisbonThe 25th of April Bridge, Lisbon's Golden Gate.

Lisbon — LisbonPeacocks strutting the castle gardens.

Lisbon — LisbonA cold Sagres and a plate of croquettes.

Lisbon — LisbonAlfama's tiled lanes and rattling trams.

Lisbon — LisbonLisbon's Rossio square and its bronze fountains.

Lisbon — LisbonThe wrought-iron Santa Justa Lift climbing between the streets.

Lisbon — LisbonRed rooftops tumbling down to the Tagus.

Lisbon — LisbonThe 25th of April Bridge, Lisbon's Golden Gate.

Lisbon — LisbonPeacocks strutting the castle gardens.

Lisbon — LisbonA cold Sagres and a plate of croquettes.

Lisbon — LisbonAlfama's tiled lanes and rattling trams.

Lisbon — LisbonLisbon's Rossio square and its bronze fountains.

Lisbon — LisbonThe wrought-iron Santa Justa Lift climbing between the streets.

Day 3

Tue 29 Mar

Lisbon · Belem — the tower & the monastery

Lisbon — LisbonRed rooftops tumbling down to the Tagus.

Belem — the tower & the monastery — Belem — the tower & the monasteryThe Belem Tower standing out in the river.

Belem — the tower & the monastery — Belem — the tower & the monasteryManueline stone, carved like rope and coral.

Belem — the tower & the monastery — Belem — the tower & the monasteryThe Jeronimos Monastery, vast and white.

Belem — the tower & the monastery — Belem — the tower & the monasteryVaulted ceilings and a tomb fit for a king.

Belem — the tower & the monastery — Belem — the tower & the monasteryStone lacework five centuries old.

Belem — the tower & the monastery — Belem — the tower & the monasteryThe Belem Tower standing out in the river.

Belem — the tower & the monastery — Belem — the tower & the monasteryManueline stone, carved like rope and coral.

Belem — the tower & the monastery — Belem — the tower & the monasteryThe Jeronimos Monastery, vast and white.

Belem — the tower & the monastery — Belem — the tower & the monasteryVaulted ceilings and a tomb fit for a king.

Day 4

Wed 30 Mar

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraPena Palace, a fairytale in yellow and red.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraMoorish arches and painted towers above the mist.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraThe Quinta da Regaleira and its initiation well.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraSpiral stairs winding down into the earth.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraMossy grottoes and ferny garden paths.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraThe Regaleira's Gothic chapel hidden in the trees.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraPena Palace, a fairytale in yellow and red.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraMoorish arches and painted towers above the mist.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraThe Quinta da Regaleira and its initiation well.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraSpiral stairs winding down into the earth.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraMossy grottoes and ferny garden paths.

Day 5

Thu 31 Mar

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira · The wild Atlantic coast

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraThe Regaleira's Gothic chapel hidden in the trees.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraPena Palace, a fairytale in yellow and red.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraMoorish arches and painted towers above the mist.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraThe Quinta da Regaleira and its initiation well.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraSpiral stairs winding down into the earth.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraMossy grottoes and ferny garden paths.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraThe Regaleira's Gothic chapel hidden in the trees.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraPena Palace, a fairytale in yellow and red.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraMoorish arches and painted towers above the mist.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraThe Quinta da Regaleira and its initiation well.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraSpiral stairs winding down into the earth.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraMossy grottoes and ferny garden paths.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraThe Regaleira's Gothic chapel hidden in the trees.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraPena Palace, a fairytale in yellow and red.

Sintra — Pena Palace & the Regaleira — Sintra — Pena Palace & the RegaleiraMoorish arches and painted towers above the mist.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastThe wild Atlantic coast west of Sintra.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastWaves smashing into the black rocks.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastLong empty beaches under a moody sky.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastA rock arch carved out by the ocean.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastThe wild Atlantic coast west of Sintra.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastWaves smashing into the black rocks.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastLong empty beaches under a moody sky.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastA rock arch carved out by the ocean.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastThe wild Atlantic coast west of Sintra.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastWaves smashing into the black rocks.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastLong empty beaches under a moody sky.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastA rock arch carved out by the ocean.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastThe wild Atlantic coast west of Sintra.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastWaves smashing into the black rocks.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastLong empty beaches under a moody sky.

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastA rock arch carved out by the ocean.

Day 6

Fri 1 Apr

The wild Atlantic coast · Evora

The wild Atlantic coast — The wild Atlantic coastThe wild Atlantic coast west of Sintra.

Evora — EvoraThe Roman Temple of Evora, two thousand years old.

Evora — EvoraThe Chapel of Bones, lined wall to ceiling with the dead.

Evora — EvoraWhitewashed Alentejo and old, old stone.

Day 7

Sat 2 Apr

The Algarve & the sea caves

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThe golden cliffs of the Algarve.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesSea caves and arches along the Lagos coast.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesTurquoise water under honeycomb rock.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThe skylight of the Benagil cave.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesA grotto glowing blue from below.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThreading the caves by boat at Ponta da Piedade.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThe golden cliffs of the Algarve.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesSea caves and arches along the Lagos coast.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesTurquoise water under honeycomb rock.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThe skylight of the Benagil cave.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesA grotto glowing blue from below.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThreading the caves by boat at Ponta da Piedade.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThe golden cliffs of the Algarve.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesSea caves and arches along the Lagos coast.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesTurquoise water under honeycomb rock.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThe skylight of the Benagil cave.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesA grotto glowing blue from below.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThreading the caves by boat at Ponta da Piedade.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThe golden cliffs of the Algarve.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesSea caves and arches along the Lagos coast.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesTurquoise water under honeycomb rock.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThe skylight of the Benagil cave.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesA grotto glowing blue from below.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThreading the caves by boat at Ponta da Piedade.

The Algarve & the sea caves — The Algarve & the sea cavesThe golden cliffs of the Algarve.

Where we wandered