Fly & Drive Koningsroute | Portugal

About the destination: Silves is a municipality in the Portuguese Algarve of southern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 37,126, in an area of 680.06 km². The urbanized area includes approximately 11,000 inhabitants. Silves is the former capital of the Algarve and is of great historical importance The region of Silves has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic, as attested by archaeological remains, including several menhirs. The river Arade, which was navigable in historical times, linked the hinterland to the open ocean and allowed the transport of produce and commerce. The town of Silves (Cilpes) was possibly founded during the times of Roman domination, when the region was part of the Lusitania province. It was probably a Lusitanian Castro in the pre-Roman times] however the region was also settled by other Indo-European tribes, just like the Celtici and Cynetes(or Conii). Silves was also part of the Visigothic Kingdom. After 713, when the Moors invaded Iberia, Silves became part of the Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba under the Arabic name of Shilb (شلب). In the 10th century it was one of the most important towns of western Al-Andalus. Silves became an independent taifa in 1027 under the rule of Ibn Mozaine and his son, who was dethroned in 1051 by al-Mu'tadid, the governor of Seville. al-Mu'tamid ibn 'Abbad, the son of al-Mu'tadid and a famous poet, ruled the taifa of Silves until 1091. After the Almoravid conquest the town became Almohad in 1156. In 1189 King Sancho I of Portugal conquered (in the Reconquista) the town with the aid of Northern European crusaders,. Sancho ordered the fortification of the city and built a castle which is today an important monument of Portuguese heritage. At the time he also styled himself "By the Grace of God, King of Portugal and Silves (Dei Gratiæ, Rex Portugalliæ et Silbis). However, he soon lost it again to the Almohads. Periodic raiding expeditions were sent from Al-Andalus to ravage the Iberian Christian kingdoms, bringing back booty and slaves. The governor of Córdoba attacked Silves in 1191, and took 3,000 Christian slaves.[7] Again under Muslim rule, the city would then prosper to the point of being called the Baghdad of the West. The town was finally taken from the last Muslim king Ibn Afan by Paio Peres Correia, Grand-Master of the Order of Santiago in 1242, after the Alentejo and most of the coast had already fallen in 1238. The great mosque was changed into Silves Cathedral (Sé Catedral). Silves declined in importance thereafter and was eclipsed in the region by Faro during the colonial period. In 1491, the town of Silves was given to queen Eleanora by her husband, king John II of Portugal.

About the destination: The medieval university town of Evora rises proudly from an endless plain punctuated by tough cork and olive trees. Coveted by a succession of empires, its labyrinthine streets shelter everything from Roman temple to a Renaissance palace. But above all, Evora stands as Portugal’s foremost medieval showpiece, with beautifully preserved, colourful tile facades on ancient whitewashed walls. All tucked away in a tangle of winding streets and topped off by balconies hung with potted plants and caged canaries. You won’t need long to understand why Evora is dubbed “the museum city”. From Praça do Giraldo walk down through the charming tiled houses, to the colossal 12th century Sé, the cathedral. Inside the entrance to the right are beautiful cloisters. From here you can climb the ramparts for an excellent view of the city. Next door is the Museu d’Evora, housed in an old bishop’s palace. Across the museum is Evora’s most famous monument, the 2nd century Roman Temple of Diana. Facing the temple is the church of São João Evangelista, the town’s best concealed treasure. One of Portugal’s most beautifully preserved medieval towns, Evora is an enchanting place to delve into the past. If you have time to visit only a few places in Portugal, make Evora one of them.

About the destination: Castelo de Vide is a Portuguese village in the District of Portalegre, Alentejo region and intermunicipal community of Alto Alentejo, with about 3800 inhabitants. It is the seat of a municipality with 264.83 km² of area and 3872 inhabitants (2001), subdivided into 4 parishes. The municipality limits to the northeast with Spain, to the west with the municipality of Marvão, to the south with Portalegre, to the southwest with Crato and to the west and northwest with Nisa.

About the destination: Guarda is a city and a municipality in Guarda District. Its proximity to the Spanish border means that this whole area of the Beira region is dotted with fortifications and hilltop villages, and Guarda is no exception. Other nearby treasures include the ancient atmosphere of the village of Celorico da Beira, with its impressive castle and nearby solitary standing stone. It is also renowned as the capital of the typical local soft cheese, the queijo da serra. Literally translated as the cheese of the mountains, it is made from the milk of ewes grazed on the slopes of the surrounding hills of the Serra da Estrela.

About the destination: Vila Real is a municipality and simultaneously the capital and largest city of the Vila Real District, northern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 51,850,[1] in an area of 378.80 square kilometres (146.26 sq mi).[2] As of 2001 the city proper had a population of 24,481.[3]

About the destination: Braga is one of the oldest cities in Portugal. The Portuguese called it Roma because it was a center of ecclesiastical power. Portugal's spiritual heart, is a lively little city with an exquisite assortment of baroque churches, a sprawling cathedral and Roman ruins, including one of the country's best-known sights, the Bom Jesus Sanctuary.It hosts traditional religious festivals throughout the year, including Portugal's most colourful Holy Week. Today it is a modern city with a young population, bustling with commerce and industry surrounding a lively and attractive old center with a number of pedestrian streets with cheerful cafes, elegant shops, exquisite restaurants and cool bars full of university students. Even though it is an old city it has a young spirit, so much so that in 2012 it was pronounced the European Youth Capital.

About the destination: Situated on a dramatic valley cut by River Douro, Porto is known for the beauty of its building and the sweet taste of is wine. The hub of the city is Avenida dos Aliados, a wide avenue encircle by Praça General H. Delgado and Praça da Liberdade. Nonetheless, the most alluring part of the city is Ribeira, the river district and a Unesco World Heritage Site, where three of Europe’s most graceful bridges span the gorge. Busy Praça da Liberdade and the adjoining Avenida dos Aliados make up the centre of town, where statues stand in the centre of busy mosaic walkways. Nearby rises Porto’s great cathedral, a colossal, fortified Romanesque structure whose heavy granite foundations, thick walls and tiny windows enclose a gloomy interior. The Ribeira stretches along the river, skirted by a wonderful quay filled with shops and restaurants. Porto’s most characteristic monument, the ornate Torre dos Clérigos, offers a panorama of the city from atop its 240 steps. No visit to Porto would be complete without a stop at some of the many bodegas, wine lodges, where port is stored and bottled. And a visit to the amazing Lello library with its spiral staircase, is a must see as well, even if you are not a Harry Potter’s fan.

About the destination: The area of the town of Óbidos is located on a hilltop, encircled by a fortified wall. Óbidos remains a well-preserved example of medieval architecture; its streets, squares, walls and its castle are a popular tourist destination. The castle now houses a pousada. The municipality is also home to the famous Praia D'el Rey golf complex, one of the top golf resorts in Europe, and Royal Óbidos - Spa & Golf Resort. Each July Óbidos castle hosts a traditional 'Medieval Market'. For two weeks the castle and the surrounding town recreate the spirit of medieval Europe. Flowing banners and heraldic flags set the mood together with hundreds of entertainers and stall holders dressed as merchants, jugglers, jesters, wandering minstrels, soldiers and more. Visitors can shop at the traditional handcrafts fair or watch medieval shows, horse displays and a costumed parade that winds its way through the streets. There are also displays of jousting knights and armed combat. Spit roasted hog, hearty soups, rabbit, lamb, cod, quail, sausages and other grilled meats are just some of the many medieval style meals on offer from dozens of "taverns" and stalls spread throughout the market. Drinking from pewter tankards and eating from wooden trencher all adds to the experience. The town is dominated by an old medieval fortress with a portion of the town located within the castle walls. Clock Tower Mother Church of Saint Mary Municipal Museum, located in the old Council Chamber House

About the destination: Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills due to its location, the city spreads across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tajo. Romantic and cosmopolitan, the city presents its typical red roofs to the visitors that want to get to know its every inch. Lisbon surprises with its natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere. The Portuguese capital offers lots of museums, libraries, a huge port, churches and palaces and stunning views of the Rio Tajo Lisbon was considered a poor and chaotic city. Currently it has experienced a resurgence in the style of the XIV and XV centuries, when it was part of that vast empire stretching from Brazil to India. The reason for this was the World Expo held in 1998, a new bridge over the Tagus was built and the network of underground of the city was remodeled. The resurgence of the city then continued to host several matches during Euro in 2004, also held there the Delivery Music Awards (MTV) in 2005. Many of its most beautiful buildings date from the XIV and XV centuries, especially the ones located in the Belem district. There are also many buildings from the XVIII century, which are located mostly in the Baixa area of central Lisbon and were reconstructed almost completely after a devastating earthquake that hit the town in 1755. The historic center of the city, standing on Las Siete Colinas, presents steep streets and picturesque alleys. On the west side of the city, there is Monsanto Forest Park, Lisbon’s lung, with an area of 10 km and one of the largest in Europe. The capital’s majestic port has 3 docks commonly used for several cruises and it is, currently, the busiest port in the European Atlantic coast. Lisbon is a city with centuries of history and with an ambitious attitude, marrying the historic with the modern, the traditional with the cutting edge. Strolling through the old quarters one can hear the traditional Fado sung and played in small restaurants in town. In the hilltop district of Bairro Alto, dozens of restaurants and bars line the narrow streets, with jazz, reggae, electronica filling the air and revelers partying until dawn. Nightclubs scattered all over town make fine use of old spaces, whether on riverside docks or tucked away in 18th-century mansions. Lisbon presents itself to the world as a cosmopolitan and lively city, with alternative for every taste, especially in the summer months when its many bars, terraces and restaurants are crammed with people.

About the destination: Lagos is a city at the mouth of Bensafrim River and along the Atlantic Ocean, in the Barlavento region of the Algarve, and is one of the most visited cities in Algarve and Portugal. Lagos has always had a seafaring connection, originally visited by Phoenicians and Carthaginians. The famous Avenida dos Descobrimentos finish in the very modern Lagos Marina. There is a footbridge over the Bensafrim where you get a lovely view of the town. In other hand, Lagos is full of beaches, as Meia Praia is one of the largest open bays in Europe, and nice bars and restaurants.

About the destination: The Algarve’s capital and largest city, Faro is the starting point for many northern Europeans’ holidays in the sun. Yet tourists have not overrun Faro, it’s a large city, and its marvellous beach, floating on an islet outside the town, help the jaded forget their lot. Despite being just the arrival point for many holidaymakers, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it's an enticing city-break destination in its own right. Faro's Old Town is a little gem. It's small, quiet and wonderfully atmospheric. The Cidade Vella is crammed with tourists and locals visiting the handicraft markets or just wandering around looking at the old buildings, many of which show signs of the city’s Moorish ancestry. Leading into Faro’s Old Town stands the Arco da Vila, a gate originally constructed as an arched gateway with a bell tower atop and a statue of the city’s patron saint, St Thomas Aquina. In the centre there is a beautiful square, Largo da Sé that used to be the Roman Forum. It's lined with orange trees and it is flanked by Faro’s Cathedral, the Bishops Palace and a 16th Century convent that is now the Faro Museum of Archaeology. Se Catedral, Faro’s Cathedral, dominates the Old Town. The original Gothic church was built in the 13th century, but was severely damaged during an earthquake. Only the tower and a doorway remains from that era and the temple presents today elements of different styles like Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. From the tower you can enjoy panoramic views of Faro and the coastline. Faro has a beautiful marina which lies just to the north of the Old Town and is probably the busiest part of the city. The city of Faro is a busy cosmopolitan centre, offering plenty of things to do, whether it's a wander around the shops, relaxing at one of the many pavement cafés, or visiting some of the historic places of interest, this city has much to tempt you off the beach.