I was pleasantly surprised, the first time I visited Santa Comba Dão, by the town’s obvious sense of civic pride. Many of the places where you can get your N2 passport stamped are tourist information centres so ask for extra information about what to see nearby. The surrounding countryside is lovely if you want to stretch your legs by following this trail for a while. Out of season, it’s lovely just to walk beside the river. As you work your way through this guide you’ll see that I’ve picked out some of the nicer accommodations in the towns and villages along the route – these range from guest houses and farm stays to boutique hotels and resorts. Ponte Romana ...…Situated in the historical district, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Chaves Castle, Roman Baths and Palace of Justice, and Ponte Trajano. Stop at KM 696 to see the sweeping views from the highest point at 589 metres altitude. Hotel Vila Aljustrel is a good option if you want to spend a night here and perhaps explore some of the nearby walking trails. I was impressed by the Museu de Lamego, which is housed in the former Bishop’s Palace and has some wonderful azulejos (hand-painted tiles) and other notable art works. My favourite treatment at Portuguese termas (spas) is the Duche de Jacto, which is where you get hosed down like a prisoner with warm water for a deep tissue massage. Otherwise, pop into the tourist information centre in Vila Real to see some examples. Read more about schist villages in Portugal. If you want to spend the night in Góis, Casa Carvalhal has lovely views and a pool. plan for cross-border conurbations. Visiting the towns named at the top of the page for each district could take you 30 kms or more off track, e.g. Visit the Costume Museum, housed in a small palace, to get an insight into the history of cork production in the Algarve. The park, and its charming 17th century Carvalha bridge are the main reasons for stopping in Sertã outside of the beer festival. In the summer, the area beside the old bridge is transformed with an outdoor café and imported sand to make a little island plus a walkway across the weir, aka Peneda river beach. Portugal – Cuisine and Culture from Porto to Lisbon, How I spent two months camping in Spain for €19. See all my practical tips for planning a road trip in Portugal. Chanfana is a goat and red wine casserole, slow cooked in a wood oven inside a traditional black pottery dish. Or, if you crave 5-star luxury, pampering and a selection of pools, you’ll find Lago Montargil Villas overlooking the reservoir in another few kilometres. My top hotel choices in Viseu would be the Pousada de Viseu, not just for the historical building but also the free parking, or Casa da Sé, although you’ll have to find street parking nearby if you stay here. You’d need to book a treatment in advance. Ponte Romana ...WWW…, "Good location for walking around Chaves. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I found the best way to navigate with GPS is to watch the screen so you can see where you are, and how to stay on the N2. My advice is to stay on the IP3 until Junction 11 for Porto da Raiva to avoid being directed down weird and pointless backroads that are not even the original N2 but have been signposted as such. For accommodation, garden lovers may wish to consider Casa Aloes, a gorgeous cottage which is owned by Quinta das Mil Flores (Farm of a thousand flowers). I live not far from the most westerly point on this road, which is about a third of the way down, and over my 13 years of living and travelling in Portugal I’ve driven along all of the Nacional 2, albeit over the space of several trips. There’s an easy 11 km circular walking trail if you fancy a short hike past some watermills. Chaves in the north or Faro in the south. You’re now in the cork oak zone of the Alentejo region so if you stop in Ponte de Sor, look out for the mural referring to this crucial part of the local economy. Vila Nova de Poiares is the home of chanfana, a rich traditional Portuguese dish that you really ought to try, unless you don’t eat meat. There are lots of picnic tables in the surrounding woods, too. For a luxury rural stay, where you can drink wine, gaze at stars and relax in the spa, L’AND Vineyards is just 3 km from the centre. Admire the views from the hilltop sanctuary of Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Castelo (Hermitage of Our Lady of the Castle). "…""Good location for walking around Chaves. There are some other marked hiking trails around the village if you have plenty of time to explore – pick up leaflets from the tourist information centre. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés in Viseu, as well as hotels, so it could be a good place to stop for the night. Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates. Great travel deals for Portugal and beyond, Exclusive Portugal Itineraries By Julie Dawn Fox, 2-Week Portugal Discovery Tour By Julie Dawn Fox, 4 Days In The Algarve Itinerary (from Lisbon), 3-Days Taste Of The Alentejo Itinerary (From Lisbon), 3-Day Taste Of The Minho Tour (From Porto), 3-Day Historical Villages Of Portugal Itinerary (From Coimbra), practical tips for this amazing Portugal road trip, see this article about current travel restrictions and safety precautions in Portugal, ruins of 12th century Pena de Aguiar Castle, sleeping in a wine barrel at Quinta da Pacheca, Read more about schist villages in Portugal, Read more about Mértola, including accommodation options, other accommodation options in and around São Brás de Alportel, Read about things to do in Faro plus where to stay, See all my practical tips for planning a road trip in Portugal, things to be aware of when driving in Portugal, Portugal Road Trip Essentials: Know Before You Go. If you need to take a break at a scenic spot, head for the lakeside Zona da Lazer at the Odivelas reservoir. It’s definitely worth stopping here to take a stroll around the ruins of the castle and walled citadel, which date from the 13th and 17th centuries. We’ve also enjoyed cheap and cheerful meals at Restaurante Ponte Velha on a couple of occasions. Or enjoy a truly rural stay at the nearby Monte das Palmeiras, which also has a pool and farm animals. One of the most attractive towns in Trás-os-Montes, riverside CHAVES lies 12km from the Spanish border, which tells you all you need to know about its erstwhile strategic importance – as do the connotations of its name, which means “keys”. This typical Alentejo village is famous for its cowbells, called chocalhos in Portuguese. The N2 has lots of bends, so be prepared for the journey to take considerably more time than it would on the motorways and main roads. The town of Montemor-o-Novo also has a rather splendid Manueline doorway on the 16th century Igreja da Misericórdia. This award winning adventure trail is actually quite a trek from the N2 – allow at least an hour’s drive each way. If you’d rather take a break at a more scenic spot, drive past Pedrogão Grande then look out for the brown praia fluvial sign on your left, just before the Cabril dam. There’s a rocky area with a cross that offers pretty amazing views or you walk down the hotel drive towards the restaurant for even more impressive ones. The most impressive building in Tondela is probably the Baroque manor house, Solar Santa Ana, that now houses the Museu Terras de Besteiros. Tip: Pay close attention to your navigation system to stay on the N2 as you leave Pedrogão Grande otherwise you’ll end up on the IC8. Keep going all the way to the top (not for the fainthearted or wary driver). If you don’t have time/inclination for the full walk, just follow the route to the riverside park, walk around that and then return to the town centre once you reach the main road again. COMPARE CAR RENTAL PRICES AT RENTALCARS.COM, SEE OTHER ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN VILA REAL, If you're interested in visiting or moving to Portugal, why not get my free insider tips and resources by email? Consider changing the search query. This little spa town is famous for its royal palace, which is now a luxury hotel and was the set for Portugal’s version of Downton Abbey. However, if you simply want to stretch your legs, you can take a walk alongside the Douro River or across the footbridge. As you can imagine, it’s a popular photo spot! It may be possible to fly between Porto and Faro so you could look into that if you need to get back to Porto after driving to the Algarve. Porto is the closest airport to Chaves and tends to have more international flights so this might be the easiest option if you’re coming from overseas – see this article about current travel restrictions and safety precautions in Portugal. Better to dump the car and walk to a nearby winery or use local taxis or a private tour to explore. If you’re luckier than we were, you might see some on display in the streets outside the workshops a couple of kms south of Vila Real. If you’re willing to skip a small section of the N2 in order to visit a beautiful medieval village rising up from the Guadiana River, you could take the N123 to Mértola and then return to the N2 via the N267 to Almodôvar. The gardens have beautiful tile panels. There are other road trips that would suit you better. Vidago Palace has a world-class spa, which makes use of the therapeutic waters that attracted the Portuguese nobility in droves in times gone by. Peso da Régua itself is a functional town and, apart from its riverside location, is not the most attractive in the Douro Valley. Aside from the views, it’s worth getting tourist information at the museum if you’re interested in visiting any of the nearby river beaches or hiking trails. Planning to travel here? If you like caves and are interested in prehistory, plan ahead and time your arrival in the village of Santiago do Escoural so that you can take a guided tour of the nearby caves, which were used as a sacred burial site. It’s also a good idea to check the current status of walks and river beaches. Fascinating read, Julie. If you want to stay overnight in Sertã, the best place is the 4-star Hotel Convento da Sertã, which is a converted convent overlooking the park, although there are several other options. Look out for the sign to the hilltop miradouro (viewpoint) on your left (if driving south) and follow the road up the hill to the church. A short drive uphill from the N2 brings you to a complex which offers 360º views of the surrounding area plus a small museum and picnic area. Additional terms may apply. This museum covers the long history of this area, from the Iron Age to more recent times, including the former tuberculosis sanitoriums in the nearby Caramulo mountains and the traditional black pottery made in nearby Molelos. The 4-star Forte de São Francisco is very conveniently located inside the old fortress. I'd like to receive the free email course. Vila de Rei is another pleasant small town that you might like to stop in for a wander. "WWW…", Situated in Chaves, this villa is within 9 mi (15 km) of Ponte Romana de Trajano, Chaves Castle, and Ponte Trajano. Its 739 kilometres (453 miles) snake through an ever-changing landscape of mountains, plains, forests, cork oak plantations, vineyards, rocky highlands, verdant valleys and vast reservoirs. Also of note is the stunning blue and white painted 16th and 18th century Manueline-Mudejar architecture of the Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Visitação (Hermitage of Our Lady of the Visitiation). Sertã is dear to us because of its beer festival, Provarte, which is held in the very attractive riverside park, Parque Novo (but not in 2020, unfortunately). Built on a tiny island in the 12th century by Gualdim Pais, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, as part of the defence line during Portugal’s Reconquest, Almourol Castle offers great views down the River Tagus and can be reached by boat from the quayside. Start in Praça da República, near the municipal market. Chaves Municipal Stadium is …
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