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Experience the warm hospitality of Portugal as you discover its rich vineyards, delicious sweets and unique shopping opportunities.
Food & Wine
Visit Azeitão, an agricultural village known for its muscatel, red wines, olive trees and country estates. Taste the region’s famous pastry, “Tortas de Azeitão.”
Enjoy a wine route throughout the Alentejo regions, or a visit to a local wine producer, where you can indulge in a red wine tasting.
Stop in Lamego for a tasting of Raposeira sparkling wine
Travel to Porto, a UNESCO site that is famous for its Port wine. Tour the Ferreira Cellars, which was founded in 1751. Learn about Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, too. This legendary businesswoman was a well-respected figure in the Douro Valley who contributed significantly to the cultivation of Port wine.
When exploring Lisbon, taste Portugal’s renowned hand-crafted pasty, “pastel de belem.” With its array of replicas, only a select few truly know how to bake this delicious custard tart!
Shopping
Cork – Did you know that Portugal accounts for about 50% of the world’s cork production? Taken from the bark of the cork oak tree, this product has evolved to offer a plethora of unique finds, from purses and jewelry to picture frames and lamps!
Tiles – Be in awe of how azulejos (or glazed tiles) adorn both the interior and exterior of homes, train stations, restaurants and more. Beginning in the 16th century, the tiles were mainly blue and yellow hues depicting religious scenes or floral patterns. Bring a piece home for yourself in the form of individual tiles, vases or decorative plates.
Rooster – In addition to tile and cork, you will notice many shops carrying ceramic roosters, or roosters pictured on towels and aprons, key chains and postcards, etc. The Galo de Barcelos, also known as “The Rooster from Barcelos,” is a national symbol.
Centuries ago, a villager was accused of theft and sentenced to death. The night before his execution, he was given the opportunity to speak to the magistrate. The villager proclaimed his innocence. When asked to prove it, the villager pointed to a plate of cooked fowl and stated that the rooster would crow as a symbol of his innocence. Moments later, the rooster rose from the plate and crowed. The man was freed and the rooster became a symbol of honesty, integrity, trust and honor.
To learn more about Portugal, contact your local travel professional or call major tour operator Collette at 800.340.5158 and visit www.gocollette.com.
February 15, 2023
