International Lodging Corporation

Customized travel services in Spain & Portugal since 1983

Sites to See…Portugal’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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ILC-blog-Sites-to-See-Portugals-UNESCO-World-Heritage-SitesPortugal has 15 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, click here
  • Cultural Landscape of Sintra – for more information, click here
  • Monastery of Alcobaça
  • Monastery of Batalha
  • Convent of Christ in Tomar
  • 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

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 Mosteiro.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Checking In…Tivoli Palácio de Seteais, Sintra (Portugal)

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This elegant 5-star boutique hotel is a former palace that was built in 1793 for the Dutch consul. It is located in the Sintra Mountains just outside of the town center, and a short drive from the historic Pena Palace. The palace has been meticulously restored to highlight the grandeur of its original 18th C. details, including elegant fabrics, and beautiful tapestries and frescos.

  • Address: Rua Barbosa du Bocage, 8
  • Next to Quinta da Regaleira estate
  • 15 minute walk or 5 minutes by taxi (1 km) to town center
  • 10 minutes by taxi to the Pena Palace, the iconic hilltop palace considered one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal
  • 30 minutes by car to Lisbon city center
  • Train Station: 10 minutes by taxi (2.5 km)
  • Airport: 30 minutes by taxi (Lisbon – 30 km)

All rooms with private bath, air conditioning, individual temperature control, telephone, Wi-Fi (extra charge), hair dryer, robes & slippers, flat panel TV, minibar, Nespresso machine, room safe

  • 1 Elevator
  • Wheelchair access to hotel
  • Room Service (24 hours)
  • Bar
  • Seteais Restaurant
  • Meeting Facilities to 100 ~ Audiovisual equipment
  • Business Center has workstation with Internet access
  • Outdoor Swimming Pool
  • 2 Tennis Courts
  • Horseback Riding
  • Reception (24 hours)
  • Laundry & Dry Cleaning Service
  • Parking (complimentary)
  • 30 guest rooms (2 floors)
  • Rooms are distributed in 2 sections: the original Palace wing and the new wing added in 1802
  • Superior Garden View: Room with a Double bed or 2 Twin beds and views of gardens. Rooms with Double bed are located only in the Palace wing; rooms with Twin beds are located in both wings; approx. 21-31 m2 (3 guest maximum)
  • Superior Pool View: Room with a Double bed or 2 Twin beds and views of the pool, located in both wings; approx. 25-32 m2 (3 guest maximum)
  • Superior Valley View: Room with a Double bed or 2 Twin beds and views of the Sintra Mountains, located in the Palace wing; approx. 21-31 m2 (3 guest maximum)
  • Deluxe Valley View: Room with 2 Twin beds and views of the Sintra Mountains, some with balcony, Located in the Palace wing; approx. 25-34 m2 (3 guest maximum)
  • Diplomatic Suite: Large suite located on 1st floor of the Palace wing with excellent views of the pool. The open plan suite has a living room area, bedroom area, and balcony; approx. 47 m2 (3 guest maximum)
  • Hotel offers some: Connecting rooms (Superior Pool View – only 1 pair)
  • Double bed size is 1.4m x 2.0m; hotel does not have Queen or King size beds.

Photo Gallery:

For more information, pricing and reservations, contact us – click here.

On The Menu…Travesseiros de Sintra (Portugal)

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ILC-blog-On-the-Menu-Piriquita-Antiga-Sintra-PortugalThe beautiful town of Sintra, located just 30 minutes from Lisbon, is perhaps best known for the Palácio Nacional de Pena that sits on a hilltop overlooking the city.  It is also well known for the delicious baked treat called Travesseiros de Sintra.

The sweet puff pastries filled with egg yolks, almond cream and sugar take their name from their resemblance to a pillow (“travesseiro” in Portuguese). Piriquita, a local Sintra bakery that was established in 1862, and was already famous for its traditional queijadas (cheesecakes), began producing their version of Travesseiros in the 1940’s. While you can find Travesseiros in bakeries throughout Sintra, many would say that you have to go to Piriquita, which is considered a local landmark, to try the authentic ones. If you’re lucky enough to get a warm Travesseriros served right out of the oven at Piriquita you’ll understand why people wait in line to get this local delicacy.

Piriquita is located in the heart of Sintra – their contact information is:

  • Piriquita – Antiga Fábrica de Queijadas Lda
  • Rua Padarias 1
  • Sintra, Portugal
  • Phone: (21) 923 0626

Photo credit: Piriquita – Antiga Fábrica de Queijadas Lda

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.