Portugal

Portugal has become a favorite destination of ours over the past several years. These photos run from the surf at Estoril and the giant waves at Nazaré, to Cabo da Roca, the Peniche fortress, and the Convent of Christ in Tomar. In the cities you will find Lisbon’s Belém Tower and Rua Augusta arch, a Coimbra courtyard, and Porto’s Dom Luís I Bridge at dusk. Down on the Algarve coast, the gallery ends with the sandstone sea stacks of Ponta da Piedade and the stone cairns at Ponta de Sagres. We look forward to returning soon.

Prints and licenses of these photos are available in my Picfair store.

Should we paddle out instead? Two surfers getting ready to drop in at Praia do Tamariz, Estoril, Portugal
AOS DESCOBRIMENTOS PORTUGUESES This statue commemorates the families of the Portuguese explorers who waited for their return.
CABO DA ROCA This lighthouse watches over the westernmost point of the European continent.
PENICHE FORTRESS This fortress in the coastal city of Peniche also served as a prison.
NAZARE LIGHTHOUSE, FROM TOWN Surfers come to Nazare to test themselves on some of the biggest waves in the world
FAMILY DAY ON THE BEACH AT NAZARE The gentler waves on the town beach are more appropriate for family play than the monster waves that break near the iconic lighthouse at Nazare
SOME OF THE BIGGEST WAVES ON EARTH Nazare boasts some of the largest waves in the world. We were there on a 7/10 day and were amazed by the skill of the surfers and their jet ski drivers.
CONVENTO DE CRISTO, CASTELO DE TOMAR Built on what was originally a Knights Templar stronghold, this convent is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
COIMBRA COURTYARD The university city of Coimbra has many wonderful sights. Some of them are not listed in any guidebook, but they are delightful to find.
ARCO DA RUA AUGUSTA This triumphal arch anchors one of the premier shopping streets in the center of Lisbon.
TORRE DE BELÉM Finished in 1519, this tower not only defended the Tagus estuary at Lisbon but served as a point of embarkation for many of the voyages of discovery of the 16th century.
PADRÃO DOS DESCOBRIMENTOS This monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries. Prince Henry the Navigator stands at the apex of the panoply of explorers. (He was also the nephew of my 18th great-grandfather Si
Porto rooftops and the Douro from above
Crystal Palace garden above the Douro, Porto
Green hills along the Douro valley
Dom Luís I Bridge and the Serra do Pilar monastery at dusk, Porto
Sea stacks off Ponta da Piedade, Algarve coast, turquoise water
Sandstone sea stacks off Ponta da Piedade, Algarve coast, and a sailboat
Sandstone cliffs and arches at Ponta da Piedade, Algarve coast
Stone cairns at Ponta de Sagres, Algarve coast