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Sites to See…Portugal’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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ILC-blog-Sites-to-See-Portugals-UNESCO-World-Heritage-SitesPortugal has 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with most of them located on the mainland and 3 located on the islands of Madeira and the Azores. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) administers the World Heritage Programme that designates and catalogs places that are of significant cultural or natural importance.

To help you plan your itinerary for your next trip to Portugal, the following is a list of the World Heritage Sites located in Portugal:

Lisbon and environs

  • Monastery dos Jerónimos and Tower of Belém (Lisbon) – for more information on Jerónimos, click here, for more information on Belém, click here
  • Cultural Landscape of Sintra – for more information, click here
  • Monastery of Alcobaça – for more information, click here
  • Monastery of Batalha – for more information, click here
  • Convent of Christ in Tomar – for more information, click here
  • University of Coimbra –  for more information, click here

Alentejo region

  • Historic Center of Évora – for more information, click here
  • Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications

Porto and environs

  • Historic Center of Porto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar – for more information, click here
  • Historic Center of Guimarães – for more information, click here
  • Alto Douro Wine Region
  • Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde
  • Sanctuary of Bom Jesús do Monte in Braga – for more information, click here

Madeira and the Azores

  • Laurisilva of Madeira
  • Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores
  • Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture (Azores)

For more information on Portugal’s World Heritage Sites, click here.

Photo Credit: © Posto de Turismo de Alcobaça (Tourism Office of Alcobaça). Photo of Monastery of Alcobaça

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Sample Itineraries: Lisbon & the Alentejo Region (Portugal)

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First time visitors to Portugal looking for an easy itinerary that combines the history and sites of a cosmopolitan city like Lisbon, with the more laid back and rustic sites of the quaint heartland of Portugal will enjoy this itinerary.

You will begin in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, which is located at the mouth of the Tagus River. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the oldest in Western Europe. It has a rich history and offers visitors everything from historic castles, cathedrals and monasteries, to museums, to the largest indoor aquarium in all of Europe. And when the sun goes down, you can enjoy the other attractions that can be found by exploring the many popular neighborhoods known for their vibrant shopping, dining, and nightlife scene.

After spending a few days in the big city, you can take off on a road trip across the center of Portugal to explore the Alentejo region. The region is known for its vast rolling hills, cork production, and marble quarries, and will give you a glimpse into the Portugal of yesterday, as it remains fairly unchanged to this day.

The road trip begins in Estremoz, the easternmost city of the itinerary. Estremoz is the largest of the marble towns that dot the region, and is known for the charming clay figurines that are still handcrafted locally. The next stop is Arraiolos, a charming town nestled in the hills that is world renowned for the wool rugs that are still hand woven by local women using a needlepoint stich that is applied on canvas. After you have picked out your favorite rug and loaded up the car, a 30 minute drive will take you to Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Évora is known for having the best preserved Roman monuments on the Iberian Peninsula, along with a 12th C. cathedral, and a 14th C. aqueduct.

The drive back to Lisbon will only take about an hour and fifteen minutes. On your final night in this charming city, be sure to enjoy a fine meal at one of its many fine restaurants, and then stop by the Antiga Confeitaria de Belém for one last delicious Pastéis de Belém custard pastry before you fly home.

  • Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon in the morning; sightseeing in the afternoon
  • Day 2: Sightseeing in Lisbon
  • Day 3: Sightseeing in Lisbon
  • Day 4: Leave in the morning and drive to Estremoz (170 km); sightseeing in Estremoz
  • Day 5: After breakfast drive to Arraiolos (44 km); sightseeing in Arraiolos
  • Day 6: After breakfast drive to Évora (23 km); sightseeing in Évora
  • Day 7: Sightseeing in Évora in the morning, drive back to Lisbon in the afternoon (130 km)
  • Day 8: Depart Lisbon to return home

Information on what to see and do, and where to eat in these cities can be found on our website. Simply search by city.

Book a private tour! You may want to consider booking a private tour with an English-speaking guide. Private tours are a great way to make the best use of the limited time you have in each city. Your English-speaking local guide will make sure you don’t miss any must-see sights, and will provide you with the history and insights behind the places you will visit. For more information on all of our Portugal tours, click here.

Photo credit: © Turismo de Lisboa • All rights reserved.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Next Stop…Arraiolos, Portugal

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Arraiolos is a charming town nestled in the hills of Portugal’s Alentejo region, located only 1 hour and 15 minutes from Lisbon. Driving through the open, rolling plains to Arraiolos makes for a great day trip for visitors who want to get out of the city and experience a traditional town in the country’s heartland.

The history of Arraiolos can be traced back to the 2nd C. BC, and the remains of the 14th C. castle and 16th C. church can still be visited today. But most visitors to Arraiolos come to visit the stores and workshops that sell the famous hand woven wool rugs that the town is best known for. The history of rug making in Arraiolos dates back to the 13th C., when it is believed that Moors introduced the craft of rug making to the local residents. The rugs continue to be completely hand made today by local women using a needlepoint stitch that is applied on a sturdy canvas. The original designs were inspired by traditional Persian rug designs, and over the years the styles have evolved to include figures and animals, as well as more contemporary designs. Don’t worry if you fall in love with one of the rugs, as local merchants can either fold the rug down to a manageable size, or ship it home to you to avoid the hassle of having to carry it back. For more information on the town, click here.

If you decide to spend the night you can stay at the Pousada Convento Arraiolos, a 16th C. former palace located just outside of town. For more information and reservations, click here.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.