High quality holiday attractions and car rental providers in Portugal: Set deep in southern Portugal’s sun baked Alentejo province is Évora, one of the country’s most enchanting cities. The Romans established themselves here in 57 BC, but it was under Moorish rule that the town began to take shape, its maze of narrow lanes and alleys typical of Islamic urban design. Christian reconquest saw the construction of the Sé, Évora’s impressive cathedral and one of several stunning visitor attractions in the old town. Consecrated in 1204, this celebrated religious building melds the Romanesque with the Gothic and the Baroque, and after admiring the interior, visitors can nip up to the roof, which offers fantastic views over the vicinity. Nearby is Évora’s most iconic monument, the Roman Temple. Erected in the 2nd or 3rd century AD, this is the most impressive Roman building in the country. In fact, Évora’s historic legacy is such that UNESCO has declared the destination a World Heritage Site. If you are searching for a vehicle to travel between Portugal’s travel destinations you can see even more info on car rental in Ponta Delgada Portugal
The Portuguese city of Guimarães is the cultural and historical center of the country, and its main symbol is the medieval Guimarães Castle, which has become a historical landmark in Portugal. Today the castle has been restored and has hardly retained its original appearance. The fortress on the site of the castle, the hill of Monte Largo, was first erected in the 7th century. The modern look of the castle acquired much later – in the 12th century. Until the end of the 9th century, the area was under Arab rule and was called Vimaranesh. Later, when the Portuguese conquered the land, Count Diogo Fernandes became the owner of the fortress. At that time, a monastery was founded at the foot of the hill, a solitary donjon was erected and surrounded by a protective wall, and a small settlement sprang up around the cloister. The fortress gradually strengthened, grew and expanded.
Top rated vacation attractions and rent a car services in Portugal: The Capela dos Ossos would appear to come straight out of a Halloween movie, but, in reality, it was a simple solution by 16th century monks on what to do about too many cemeteries taking up space in Evora. They moved the human remains to a special chapel, known as Bone Chapel, where the bones decorate the interior of the chapel. The chapel is part of the Gothic Church of St. Francis. It’s estimated that 5,000 skeletons, including skulls, adorn the chapel walls and ceiling.
The Universidade de Coimbra is Portugal’s oldest seat of learning, founded in 1290 by King Dinis. Acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the historic buildings of the Velha Universidade, or old Coimbra University, surround a beautiful colonnaded central square, the Paço das Escolas. The Alta and Sofia wings of the university – a former royal residence – reward visitors with a number of star features, including the astonishing Biblioteca Joanina, a sumptuously decorated library installed in 1717 by King João V. A tour also takes in the dazzlingly ornate 16th-century Capela de São Miguel. Those with a head for heights can climb the landmark 18th-century clock tower for a grand perspective over Coimbra, one of the country’s most attractive cities.
Vacation attractions and car rental services in Portugal from CarRentalinPortugal.com: The castle itself attracts many tourists with its crenellated walls, preserved from the Middle Ages to the present day in remarkably good condition. The castle as we see it today was built in the 13th century and before that, during the Roman Empire, there were public baths and a square which played the role of political center of the settlement. After the fall of the Roman Empire, when the Visigoths came to power, a fortress was built on this site, around which the settlement was formed, the future city of Obidos. In the 8th century the fortress fell into the hands of the Muslims, and it was only in the 13th century that King Afonso of Portugal recaptured the edifice. Later, for several centuries, the fortress was a favorite place for royal festivities and celebrations.
Nestling in the lap of a wooded mountain range, Sintra’s stunning location is reason enough to visit this charming, verdant town. Indeed, UNESCO acknowledges the destination as a World Heritage cultural landscape such is its beauty and the significance of the collection of historic visitor attractions clustered in and around the old town, Sintra Velha. A favorite summer retreat for the kings and queens of Portugal and an alluring destination for numerous writers and poets, including Lord Byron and William Beckford, Sintra exudes romance. The old town is a maze of cobbled lanes lined with handsome town houses painted in pastel hues of pink, mustard, and lilac. The narrow streets surround a pretty central square that’s dominated by the wonderful Palácio Nacional de Sintra. Easily recognized by its huge conical chimneys, Sintra’s National Palace dates from the late 14th century and is the oldest surviving palace in Portugal. Regally furnished, the building is set over several floors, many conveying a unique theme and decorated accordingly. A highlight is the magnificent Sala dos Brasões, a glittering domed hall embellished with the coats of arms of 72 noble Portuguese families. See extra details at carrentalinportugal.com.