History of Portugal
Portugal is found on the Western part of the Iberian Peninsula, that part that has the Atlantic Ocean. History has it that the territory of northern Portugal and Spain were poorly defined years ago, so they had the same cultural aspects but not for so long especially after the emergence of the Castrena culture. The culture was characterized by rounded fortified huts before the Romans colonized the place and divided Spain from Portugal.
History aside, when you visit Portugal you will be after fun filled events and entertainment sports that will complement the historical spots to give you a truly memorable and unique holiday. Climbing picturesque hills by day and bar hopping through vibrant cobbled lanes at night. Legendary cafés and art nouveau shops. World Heritage monuments and singular museum treasures. Fairytale palaces and sandy beaches nearby. Long dinners and an insatiable appetite for nightlife. First things first, before you venture in the outskirts of Portugal, in its capital city Lisbon, there are all kinds of things to do and place to visit.
Museums
The first museum is the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea Museu do Chiado, located in the center of Lisbon and where you get to sample French and Portuguese Art. The museum is always open all days of the week from 2 pm to 6 pm except on Mondays when it is opened at 10 am and closed at 6 pm.
The science museum is in the former Lisbon Polytechnic School where you get to learn about all sciences, thanks to the interactive themes that use Chemistry, Maths and Physics. The science museum is open from Tue to Fri from 10 am to 1 pm and in the afternoons from 2 to 5:30 pm excluding Sundays.
The Museu do Carme is the place to learn about archeology from different historical times. The museum is installed in the monastery ruins.
The other museum worth a visit in Portugal is the National Museum of Ancient Art, located strategically near the Tagus river in the Palace of onde Alvor. This museum exhibits great masterpieces of art from Portuguese sculptors, painters and all works of art of ancient Portuguese during colonization. The museum is always open between 10 am and 6 pm on Wednesdays through to Sundays while on Tuesdays it is open from 2 6 in the afternoon.
Entertainment and recreation
You can relax in the Tapada da Ajuda Park, a 250 acre park that was initially used for hunting but today accommodates different activities such as a children’s park, an Astronomy Observatory, and a recreation area.
The Estufa Fria tropical garden is the place to be if you are looking to learn a thing or two about plants. It has species of plants from all over the world. History has it the plants were brought to Lisbon and adapted to the climatic change.
You can also spend some time at the Botanical Gardens that date back to 1873 and boast of over 18,000 different species of plants including the banana and palm trees. The gardens are open during the summer season from 9 am to 8 pm while during the winter season the gardens are open from 9 am to 6 pm.
By: Macon Gravlee
