Tag: Portugal

Spain & Portugal
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The Perfect Spain & Portugal Tour Itinerary: What to See & Do

on April 1, 2026

From vibrant cities filled with culture to sun-soaked coastlines and dramatic countryside views, Spain and Portugal offer the perfect blend of history, cuisine, and unforgettable experiences. Gate 1’s 15 Day Classic Spain & Portugal tour takes you through iconic destinations like Lisbon, Seville, and Barcelona, while also uncovering hidden gems like Ronda and the scenic Costa del Sol. Whether you’re drawn to rich history, stunning architecture, or relaxing seaside escapes, this journey promises a captivating adventure through the heart of the Iberian Peninsula.

Discover the Charm of Lisbon

Begin your tour in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Located in western Portugal, Lisbon serves as the country’s chief port, largest city, and commercial, political, and tourist center. The city has been modernized over the years, yet it still retains the feel of a 19th century city. Travelers will quickly notice it’s full of charming balconies and vistas, highlighting its unique character. Some of the most striking views can be seen from the miradouros, the terraces maintained by the municipality on seven of its hillsides.

Lisbon Portugal

On Gate 1’s 15 Day Classic Spain & Portugal tour, travelers will start with a stop at the top of Edward VII’s Park to enjoy a magnificent view over the hills of Lisbon and the River Tagus. Next, view the treasured 16th century Belem Tower and visit Jeronimos Monastery, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery is a masterpiece of Portuguese Manueline architecture. Afterwards, enjoy the elegant Liberdade Avenue. Afternoon is at leisure, with the option to join a tour to quaint Sintra, the “Glorious Eden” of Lord Byron, and ancient summer retreat of the royal court, highlighted by lavish romantic castles and stunning monuments. Visit the Sintra Royal Palace, a 15th-century royal residence, containing one of the largest tile collections in Portugal. Then enjoy some free time in the Village Historical Center before returning to Lisbon.

Experience the Passion of Seville

After visiting Lisbon, travelers will head south to Seville. Cross the region of Alentejo, with its rolling hills, vineyards, and cork oak trees. Reach the Spanish border and enter the region of Andalucia. Continue your drive through picturesque Andalucia to Seville.

Seville Spain

The next day, travelers will begin their Seville city tour at the beautiful Plaza de España and the fragrant gardens of Maria Luisa Park before taking a walking tour in the quaint Barrio Santa Cruz, the former Jewish Quarter of the city with its winding cobblestone streets. Continue with a visit to the Cathedral of Seville, legendary burial site of Christopher Columbus. When you have a free afternoon, consider taking a side-trip to Cordoba, founded by the Romans. Visit the Mezquita de Cordoba, one of the largest mosques in the world, transformed into a soaring cathedral in the 16th century. A walking tour of the city reveals the ancient Jewish Quarter with its labyrinth of winding narrow streets, picturesque squares, and view of the 14th century Synagogue on Calle de los Judios.

Enjoy the Dramatic Views of Ronda & Costa del Sol

After spending time in Seville, Gate 1’s 15 Day Classic Spain & Portugal tour will have travelers explore both Ronda and Costa del Sol. Ronda is a city that uniquely sits cliffside, it’s also considered the birthplace of modern bullfighting. Travelers will tour Spain’s oldest bullring, the Plaza de Toros. Here, you can see the historic stables and museums along with displays of famous Matadors before leaving.

Ronda Spain

Then make your way to a modern-day paradise, Costa del Sol. A city that features 159 kilometers of coastlines, 125+ beaches, and over 320 sunny days a year. Spend a full day in Costa del Sol to discovering all the delights of this resort area. While you’re in this region you might want to take the opportunity to join a day trip to Malaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. Here you can visit the Picasso Museum with over 285 works donated by members of Picasso’s family. View the Paseo de la Alameda, Paseo del Parque & the Barrio de la Malagueta. A walking tour through this historic town is accented by views of the Malaga Cathedral. Then, head over to Cathedral Square before returning to your hotel.

Costa del Sol

Take an Unforgettable Excursion to Gibraltar

After enjoying time in Costa del Sol, travelers will depart the southern coast and journey to Moorish Granada. Your visit is highlighted by a tour of the 13th century Alhambra, one of Spain’s most celebrated monuments, perched atop Assabica Hill overlooking the entire city. This imposing hilltop fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a fine example of Moorish art and architecture. During the reign of the Moors, the Alhambra served as the residence of the royal family. Walk along the lanes of the Generalife Gardens with its beautifully designed courtyards, waterfalls and ponds and views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Finish the night with dinner at a local restaurant.

Gibralatar Spain

Visit the Iconic Cities of Madrid & Barcelona

Finally, tour both of Spain’s most popular cities. On Gate 1’s 15 Day Classic Spain & Portugal tour, travelers will first start in Madrid. Madrid has been culturally relevant for centuries as it was founded in the 9th century and is now the capital and largest city of Spain. Known for over 300 sunny days a year, it is Europe’s highest capital (667 meters) and features the world’s oldest restaurant. On Gate 1’s tour, drive along the Gran Via through the Opera District, Plaza de Colon and view the Royal Palace. Pass by Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta de Alcala Gate. The tour will end with a visit to the world-renowned Prado Museum, where you will find works of art by famous artists such as El Greco, Velázquez, and Ribera. Visit what has often been described as the “eighth wonder of the world,” El Escorial, which is arguably Philip II´s most enduring legacy to Spain.

Madrid Spain

The next morning, transfer to Madrid’s train station and board the AVE high-speed train to Barcelona with its unending choice of museums, galleries, and cafes. Upon arrival, embark on an orientation tour of the city and Montjuic Hill, home to the Olympic Complex that has several sports facilities built for the 1992 Summer Olympics. Transfer to your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Perhaps stroll along Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s famous pedestrian walkway with its life-size animators, and stalls. After spending a full day in Barcelona, travelers will begin a drive along the old Harbor to the Plaza de Catalunya, the city’s bustling main square. Afterward, pass the famous works of Gaudi, the master architect, including the iconic symbol of Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia as well as Casa Batllo, seemingly constructed from skulls and bones. Then, spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the many sights Barcelona has to offer.

SagradaFamilia1 Spain

A Journey Through Iberia You’ll Never Forget

From the historic streets of Lisbon to the artistic flair of Barcelona, Gate 1’s 15 Day Classic Spain & Portugal tour showcases the very best of the Iberian Peninsula. Along the way, you’ll experience vibrant cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable moments. Whether it’s your first visit or a return trip, this journey offers the perfect balance of exploration and leisure, leaving you with lasting memories and a deep appreciation for these remarkable destinations. If interested in our full Spain & Portugal itinerary, click here. Click here to see all of Gate 1’s western European tours!

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Lively Lisbon, Portugal

on February 21, 2020

Welcome to the coastal, capital city of Portugal; Lisbon. Lisbon is located towards the middle of the country and sits on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Pastel buildings, numerous museums, Fado music and fascinating history are just a few of the reasons people flock to visit this city. Some must see sites in the city include the Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Castelo de Sao Jorge and Praca do Comercio. There are also numerous beaches close to Lisbon including Estoril and Cascais, if you are looking for some sun and sand!

This week’s #g1photofriday was uploaded by user Cheryll Gumabay using the hashtag #gate1travel. This beautiful view was captured in Lisbon, Portugal. Be sure to tag your photos on social media with #gate1travel or #g1photofriday to be featured. Check out Gate 1 Travel’s Portugal trips here! 

Did you know: Lisbon is the westernmost capital city in Continental Europe?

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Coastal Beauty in Porto, Portugal

on October 11, 2019

Portugal’s second largest city, Porto, is a charming coastal city known for the port wine produced in the Douro Valley. The city is located along the Douro River in the north of the country and has been dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, having one of Europe’s oldest city centers. Some of the must see sites in Porto include the Church of Sao Francisco, Port Wine Cellar, Luis I Brige and the Sao Bento railway.

This week’s #g1photofriday was uploaded by user @danasmitham using the hashtag #gate1travel. This seaside picture was taken in Porto, Lisbon. Be sure to tag your photos on social media with #gate1travel or #g1photofriday to be featured. Check out Gate 1 Travel’s Spain trips here! 

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

The Seductions of Iberia

on October 16, 2018

“Seductive” may well be the best way to describe the rich and vibrant cultures of Spain and Portugal. Sultry music, mouthwatering foods, ruby-red and bubbling wines, and architectural wonders that stir the soul provide a provocative glimpse of the passions of the Iberian people. Join us, and give in to the seduction when you sample these cultural touchstones:

Wines

In terms of acreage, Spain boasts the most vineyards of any nation in the world. It’s only because of its relatively low yield that it falls to third place in actual production. Rioja in northern Spain is best known for its red wines; Rias Baixas in the northwest is beloved for its white, including the fizzy cava. In Spain’s relaxed culture, wine is commonly enjoyed with lunch and dinner.

In Portugal, fortified port wine is the prize. These typically sweet vintages, grown in the Douro River Valley, are a potent blend of wine and brandy—the latter was added to bottles in the earliest days of wine production to prevent spoilage during long journeys to England and other nations.

UNESCO Treasures

Spaniards and Portuguese cherish their long and rich history. Nowhere is that history better represented than in their combined 59 UNESCO World Heritage Sites—44 in Spain and 15 in Portugal. These cultural treasures, protected by their United Nations status, stand as architectural masterpieces that define their era. In Spain, Discovery Tours travelers visit the hilltop city of Ubeda, Granada’s Moorish fortress of the Alhambra, the Seville Cathedral, and three of Gaudi’s masterworks in Barcelona: Casa Mila, Casa Battlo, and portions of La Sagrada Familia Cathedral. In Portugal, we’ll visit Lisbon’s Jeronimos Monastery and the quaint city of Sintra.

Music

Many associate the Spanish flamenco strictly with the fiery dance. But flamenco also encompasses the music—the song, the specific style of guitar playing, and the hand clapping. The performance art originated in Andalucia, more specifically Seville, among the Romani population in the 18th century. Several of today’s artists are descended from these gypsies and keep their tradition very much alive in dance halls and on the streets of Spain.

In Portugal, a very different style of music fills the clubs, though it is equally sultry and dripping with passion. The style of fado is mournful and full of resignation and longing. In fact, the term is believed to have originated from the Portuguese suadade, or “longing.” Earliest fado—from the 1820s or before—centered on the sea or on the lives of the poor, but today’s songs could be about most any form of loss.

Food

Tapas is perhaps the most familiar form of Spanish cuisine. In Spanish cities, tapas bars seem to dot every corner. These small plates pack big flavor and varied textures, creating a noshing delight made all the more sumptuous by any number of wines. Dishes might be as simple as spicy meatballs, as hearty as croquettes, or as exotic as a fried quail egg over bread with a hot strip of red pepper. Paella is also hugely popular in Spain. Typically prepared in a large pot, the traditional dish has strong Moorish and farm origins and consists of rice, green vegetables, saffron, and rabbit, chicken, or duck. Popular versions are also prepared with prawns and mussels instead of meat.

In Portugal, one of the most prevalent dishes is bacalhau, a dried and salted cod. This plentiful fish has been on European menus for 500 years. Centuries ago, the dish was created out of necessity in order to preserve the fish. Over generations, it has become a staple of the local diet. Many Portuguese even have an affectionate nickname for it—fiel amigo, or faithful friend. Today, it is prepared in hundreds of ways. From seaside to countryside, the Portuguese also love their caldo verde, best prepared fresh off the farm. This simple soup includes potatoes, collard greens or kale, and olive oil and is usually served with slices of chorizo sausage.

Olive Oils

Olive groves blanket the countryside of the entire Iberian Peninsula. But the largest in all of Europe surrounds Ubeda, featured on our Spanish & Portuguese Heritage itinerary. It is impossible to overstate the significance of the olive tree to Iberia and to the Mediterranean culture as a whole. Its oil carries great symbolism for the three major world religions, with the ability to heal, cure, and cleanse. Today’s culinary uses may overshadow its religious meaning, but its history gives us lots to contemplate.

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

Spanish Genius

on October 13, 2018

If Spanish artists have proven one thing over the centuries, it is this: Great art breaks convention. It speaks out against the establishment and turns on its head the mainstream notions of self-expression. Here are six ingenious Spanish artists that define six crucial periods in art history, and six remarkable eras in their country’s past. All these artists—with the exception of Gaudi—are represented in El Prado, Madrid’s repository of art.

Salvador Dali (1904-1989)

Without question, Picasso and Gaudi created works that represented a shift in artistic sensibility. But another artist, Salvador Dali, took that shift into an entirely different direction—surrealism. Dali is most famous for his painting entitled The Persistence of Memory, in which a quartet of pocket watches melts in a cartoonish, lifeless, desert landscape. The work was meant to shake up our ideas of time and space. Interestingly, it may well have been the scientific advancements of his day that inspired Dali’s work; it followed on the heels of Albert Einstein’s theories that suggested the relativity—and the fluidity—of time.

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Though Picasso is often associated with the bohemian artistic wave that washed over Paris in the 1920s, he was Spanish through and through. Nowhere is this made plainer than in his masterwork, El Guernica. In this huge canvas—measuring 11.5 feet by 25.5 feet—he depicted the German bombing of the Basque village of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War with horrific images of suffering and terror. More generally, Picasso is known as one of the founders of the Cubist movement, the avant-garde style in which the subjects of paintings were broken apart and reassembled on canvas in an abstract form. It’s considered by many art historians as the most influential artistic movement of the 20th century.

Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926)

A contemporary of Picasso in his later years, Gaudi’s Art Nouveau architectural work enlivens the streets of Barcelona. His most famous work remains unfinished, La Sagrada Familia Cathedral. True to the spirit of the great cathedrals of Europe, its construction has been undertaken by generations of builders—the first stone was laid in 1882 and it is slated for completion in 2026 on the centenary of the artist’s death. Overall, Gaudi’s work defied convention with its curvilinear approach. He achieved a new language of architecture, resulting in a lyrical optimism ripe with color and energy and intense ornamentation. The beauty of his work and its depiction of the Roman Catholic faith have earned him the nickname, “God’s Architect.”

Francisco Goya (1746-1828)

Though Goya was the official painter of the Spanish Royal Crown, he harbored a subversive side. During his service to the king and queen, he painted portraits and undertook other royal projects, but he drew a series of dark and violent sketches that protested the horrors of the Dos de Mayo Uprising (the May 2, 1808 insurrection against French forces) and the subsequent Peninsular War. Later in life, he retired to the Quinta del Sordo just outside Madrid. In this country house, he painted 14 “Black Paintings” directly on its walls. The most famous and disturbing of these is Saturn Devouring His Son, a gruesome work based on the Greek mythological figure who consumed each of his children out of fear that they would overthrow him. Scholars believe these paintings stand as profound outrage toward Spain’s civil conflicts of the day.

Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velasquez (1599-1660)

If it’s an intimate portrayal of the 17th-century court of King Philip IV you’re after, look no further than the works of Velasquez. The baroque-era painter has been called the chronicler of Spain’s Golden Age. He was a true insider, a trusted confidante of the royal family who painted dozens of portraits in the realist fashion. Just four years before his death, he painted Las Meninas (translated as The Maids of Honor). This is the most recognizable of his works, and one of the most analyzed paintings in Western art. In it, the royal child Margaret Theresa is doted upon by an entourage in a large room of the Alcazar of Madrid. Some of them gaze out toward the viewer as if in snapshot, while Velasquez himself stands at an easel gazing at the viewer, as if he is painting this scene by looking into a mirror. In its play on perspective and point of view, it is a brilliant depiction of the philosophy and intent of art that is years ahead of its time.

El Greco (1541-1614)

Though the painter, sculptor and architect Domenikos Theotokopoulos is most closely associated with Spain, he was born in Greece (hence his name, El Greco) and studied his craft in Venice and Rome. It wasn’t until age 36 that he moved to the hillside city of Toledo—at the time Spain’s religious capital—where he was commissioned to paint some of his best-known work. He was most influenced by the Mannerism style of the Renaissance, in which proportions are elongated and “subjects” pose in a highly stylized or exaggerated manner. Many historians, however, say that El Greco’s style is so unique that it cannot be categorized. Much of his work came to adorn the church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo, but his most famous is The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, which portrays a philanthropic local hero being buried by Saint Stephen and Saint Augustine while astonished citizens look on and heavenly images float above.

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

Toro! A Brief History of Bullfighting

on October 11, 2018

To Spaniards, it may well be the greatest show on earth: The matador strides into the ring, dressed in the traditional traje de luces, or suit of light. His sequined buttons and cuffs glint in the Andalucian sun and his black montera hat hovers over his ears like a bull’s horns. Then there’s the cape, la capote, silken and extravagant and blood-red. He stops center ring and raises his arm to the cheering crowd. Then a gate swings open, a bull appears, and one of the oldest contests between man and beast begins.

Prehistoric cave paintings depict men facing the bull with lances. Many ancient writings—including the Epic of Gilgamesh—help scholars date bullfighting to the days before Christ. And Romans famously put their gladiators up against fierce creatures for spectacle. Of course, history and fiction alike would have us believe that in Caesar’s day the Coliseum crowds rooted for the beast. Today, they cheer for quite the opposite.

Come the 1600s, bullfights were incorporated into religious festivals and royal weddings. The setting for these contests was the city plaza—much like jousts were performed for king and queen on open fairgrounds—and the “matadors” (who were most often noblemen exhibiting their skills to the monarchy) kept the upper hand by attacking the bull from atop a horse. Once the warrior got off the horse, perhaps in an attempt to exhibit the utmost bravery to the king, bullfighting’s popularity soared. Even commoners wanted some of the thrill of going up against el toro. To contain the chaos, the bullring was born.

Bullfighting is still popular in Spain. And clifftop Ronda is its historic focal point. Here, the oldest bullring in Spain—built in 1784—hosts an annual festival. Ronda is also one of Spain’s most popular cities thanks in large part to Ernest Hemingway, who captured the bullfighting tradition so brilliantly in one of his finest works, The Sun Also Rises. He wrote that it was “a great tragedy—and the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen and takes more guts and skill and guts again than anything possibly could.” Hemingway’s loving portrayal of Spain and the bullfight etched the country into the public’s imagination.

Recently, bullfighting has come under fire from animal rights groups, igniting the debate about whether the tradition is an art or a sport. Supporters say it is of vital importance to the Spanish identity, a fully realized art form that shares the Spanish stage with the country’s most famous painters like Picasso, its fiery dances like the flamenco, and its music like the rich romantic strings of the Spanish guitar. Critics, however, call it a blood sport. They see it as an act of cowardice disguised as pageantry that results in the great suffering of bulls and, in some cases, the horses that share the ring.

No matter your view, bullfighting holds a rich place in Spain’s history and culture. And you will learn much more about it during our Spanish & Portuguese Heritage program.

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

The Courage of Sailors, the Growth of Empires

on October 6, 2018

Historically speaking, the Iberian Peninsula has been the rudder to Europe’s leviathan. In fact, the tiny country of Portugal ruled the first global empire in history, with colonies stretching as far east as today’s China and as far west as Brazil. The Spanish Empire grew to gain an even broader reach—from today’s California in the west to Indonesia in the east—and has left a cultural and linguistic legacy unrivaled by any other country. How did these two nations expand their reach to the farthest reaches of the earth? One word: Spice.

Discovering the Spice Route by Sea

It might be hard to believe in the 21st century that spices could hold such economic power in the world. But in the Middle Ages they were among the most expensive products on the market. More than food enhancers, spices were used as medicines, in religious rituals, as cosmetics and perfumes, and as preservatives. And some of the most desirable ones were imported from Asia and Africa.

But a major historic event in 1453 cut Europeans off from the trade route between Eastern Europe and Asia: The Ottomans defeated the Eastern Roman Empire, effectively bringing an end to a 1,500-year era of rule by Rome. With the rise of the inhospitable Ottomans, land routes became impassable.

As a result, money was to be made in locating sea routes to Asia. Portugal’s explorers headed down Africa’s west coast and by the year 1488, Bartolomeu Dias sailed around the southern tip of the continent. Dias named the point “Cabo das Tormentos,” or Cape of Storms for its rough seas; it wasn’t until later that the cape was renamed the Cape of Good Hope to convey the optimism it inspired in finding a sea route to India.

Ten years later, Vasco da Gama found that very route. He landed at Calicut on the Indian subcontinent in 1498, expanding Portugal’s spice trade to include pepper and cinnamon and other products that were completely new to Europeans. It was a victorious landing for Da Gama…and for world history. His arrival on Indian shores marked the era’s most significant European establishment of trade in Asia and foretold a wave of global multiculturalism. The Middle East and East Asia followed. Soon, Portuguese outposts traced a route from Lisbon all the way to the China coast.

Conflict with Spain

But the 1400s also saw great growth in neighboring Spain, and the scramble to seize spice and trade transformed into a scramble to seize land. As they each sent out their early expeditions, Spain and Portugal inevitably came to blows. Their fighting ended with the Treaty of Alcacovas in 1479. This agreement essentially limited Portugal’s reach to points accessed via a southern route along the African coast, and restricted Spain’s conquest to points west toward what everyone believed would be Asia.

Spain’s Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella had another conflict to resolve before devoting themselves to discovering new trade routes—the Reconquista, taking back Spain from the Moors. The ten-year Granada War expelled the Moors from Andalucia and from the coveted fortress in Granada known as the Alhambra. With the Reconquista complete, the monarchs’ attention turned toward a Genoese sailor named Cristoforo Colombo.

The Italian had his sights set on finding Cipangu (today’s Japan) via a westward sailing route. He had already sought support from King John II of Portugal, but that monarch showed no interest. Eager to secure a piece of Asia via a route that still respected the terms of the Alcacovas Treaty, Ferdinand and Isabella appointed Columbus viceroy and governor of Cipangu and financed his journey of 1492. Of course, Columbus reached today’s Caribbean islands instead of the Far East, and Spain ended up gaining more wealth and territory than it ever could have imagined.

One World, Two Powers

The race was on for new land and ever greater power. With it, another treaty became necessary to avoid conflict. The 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas divided the entire globe—parts of it that had yet to be discovered or inhabited by Europeans, anyway—between Spain and Portugal. Six years later, some historians believe that the Portuguese king secretly sent Pedro Alvares Cabral westward, in defiance of the treaty. Cabral landed in Brazil and raised his country’s flag on its beaches. At the time, the story circulated that Cabral had been blown off course and stumbled on those shores by accident.

Of course, the treaty had limited practical application. The vast majority of the land under consideration was unknown to Europeans, which only spurred more exploration. Over the next century, the Portuguese sailed east to claim the “spice islands” of Maluku, sources of nutmeg and cloves. Macau also fell under the nation’s rule. For 80 years, Persian Bahrain was also colonized. The Spanish, meanwhile, sailed west to the Americas. Vasco Nunez de Balboa, upon reaching today’s Colombia, headed north in search of the “other sea” he had heard about. At the Isthmus of Panama, he became the first European to lay eyes on the Pacific Ocean from the New World.

Connecting the Global Puzzle Pieces

If this all sounds to you like the explorers of the day devoted their lives to piecing together a huge global puzzle, you would be pretty close to correct. And it was Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese adventurer who had already sailed to India and heard about the “other sea” off the coast of the New World, who wanted to connect the final pieces. King Manuel I of Portugal refused to fund him, so Magellan accepted support from the newly crowned Charles I of Spain. Sailors, navigators cartographers, cosmographers, and merchants from several nations accompanied him on a voyage of true international interest: They intended to reach the spice islands of Maluku by sailing west.

The voyage was a success, though Magellan died in a battle with Philippine islanders. But his fleet reached their destination in 1521, and one of their ships even returned to Spain.

The courageous men who sailed from the shores of Portugal and Spain began the process of mapping the globe for Western eyes and ushering the world from the medieval age to the modern one. And it all started, in part, because of the European love of spices.

Click here to make your own discoveries on our Spanish & Portuguese Heritage program!

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The Window to Lisbon, Portugal

on July 13, 2018

The São Jorge Castle sits in the historic center of the beautiful Lisbon, Portugal. This Moorish castle overlooks the entire city from a hilltop and gives you the extraordinary view seen in the picture. This capital city has a history dating back centuries and includes many excellent places to visit including Belem Tower, a medieval defense tower, Jerónimos Monastery, a World Heritage Gothic Monastery and, of course, São Jorge Castle, where this week’s photo was taken from of the city below!

windowlisbon
This week’s #g1photofriday was uploaded by user @joanies_journeys using the hashtag #gate1travel. This picture perfect view was taken in Lisbon, Portugal from the São Jorge Castle. Be sure to tag your photos on social media with #gate1travel or #g1photofriday to be featured. Check out Gate 1 Travel’s Portugal trips here!

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The Underrated Beauty of Lisbon, Portugal

on March 2, 2018

Lisbon, Portugal has been overlooked in the past due to the popularity of its big neighbor; Spain. There is no better time than now to visit this beautiful country and all it has to offer. Wine, art, culture and seafood are all reasons that Portugal is a must visit for 2018! If that isn’t enough, Portugal also has beautiful weather and uses the Euro!

lisbon
This week’s #g1photofriday was submitted by user @mrs_manuel59 using the hashtag #gate1travel. This colorful view was taken in Lisbon, Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula. Be sure to tag your photos on social media with #gate1travel or #g1photofriday to be featured. Check out Gate 1 Travel’s Portugal trips here!