Christmas in Portugal
Small in size, the westernmost state of the Old World, Portugal is so significant in terms of the number of attractions, interesting places, delicious dishes and natural features that it is quite capable of claiming the role of the main tourist destination of winter holidays. The idea of spending Christmas in Portugal is interesting and unusual, but quite feasible, given the pleasant prices for hotels and the legendary hospitality of the locals.
Christmas at the castle
The rich historical heritage is in a hurry to prove itself already at the reception at the hotel. There are dozens of hotels in the country, which are equipped in ancient castles. Living in them is unusually romantic, and with the onset of Christmas, each hotel turns into a fabulous palace.
A tour of the country should be started from the capital. Lisbon is spread over seven hills, and its streets are a series of descents and steep ascents. The walls of the houses are decorated with handmade tiles, each of which is a real masterpiece, and therefore it is impossible to find the same. The main architectural attraction of the capital of Portugal is the Castle of St. George, built in the 12th century. He was the only one who survived the devastating earthquake that covered the country almost three centuries ago..
Christmas in Portugal is a glorious culinary tradition, according to which the hostesses prepare several special dishes. Dinner begins with bakalau - salted cod that symbolizes abundance and prosperity in the land of fishermen. At Christmas in Portugal, it is served boiled with potatoes and cabbage.
Modern trends allow you to replace cod with pork or octopus, but the true spirit of Christmas can be felt only by tasting Bakalau. For dessert, a cake of kings is served, which looks like a crown or wreath and is decorated with candied fruits, nuts and caramel.
The next day, the Portuguese go to visit their parents and friends, and tourists go to see the sights and taste the most important drink that came from the land of great sailors. Real port is prepared here, and therefore another attribute of the holiday is a bottle of golden and aromatic wine from the city of Porto..
Avenida dos Alyados is a street in Porto where the main wine cellars of the country are located. In the suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia, the Port Museum is opened, whose exposition becomes an indispensable item on the list of places worth visiting for Christmas in Portugal.
