Portugal has 25 sites or features classified as World Heritage

There is a strong bond between Portuguese culture and the country's geographical location and history. Portugal is Europe's oldest nation and its Atlantic coastline provided the springboard for the Discoveries.

Portugal's cultural heritage as well as the friendly, welcoming nature of the Portuguese themselves have been marked by African, American and Asian influences and also by the peoples who lived here before the country was founded.

World Heritage

Portugal has?25 sites or features?classified as World Heritage, including monuments, historic city centres, landscapes and intangible heritage. In the "related items" below, you will find details of each.

It is worth noting that prior to Sintra's classification there was no such category as?Cultural Landscape; Unesco created it specifically for this exuberant natural landscape where the mountain and nature park are dotted with palaces and farms bursting with history and culture.

Tiles

Tiles are a constant feature in Portuguese architecture. There is no other country where you will see them used to such an extent to adorn the interiors and exteriors of houses, churches, palaces and other buildings. Of Muslim origin, the production of tiles in Portugal began in the late 15th century but reached its peak in the 18th century, with blue and white tiles.?

You can learn about the history of tiles at the?National Tile Museum?in Lisbon, but to appreciate fine examples of this very characteristic Portuguese decorative art, all you need to do is travel around the country by train, visit its cities or simply use the Lisbon Underground (Metro).

At a time when Gothic cathedrals were being built all across Europe, Portugal introduced a style in its architecture and sculpture that featured elements inspired by the sea and by symbols of royal power, such as armillary spheres. This architectural style would become known as Manueline, the name taken from the fact that it began during the reign of D. Manuel I (1495-1521). This was the time when the Portuguese Discoveries were at their height and the best-known examples of the style are the?Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, the Batalha Monastery and the Convent of Christ. However, Manueline style buildings and decorative features can be found throughout the country in churches, palaces, pillories and even in civil architecture.

Baroque is synonymous with the splendour and ostentation which were especially a feature the reign of D. Jo?o V (1707-1750), when gold and precious stones were being imported from Brazil and port wine exports began. This was a period marked by great works, such as the?Convent of Mafra, the?"Aqueduct of Free Waters"?in Lisbon and the?University of Coimbra Library. However, examples such as churches decorated with gilt carvings and tiles can be found throughout the country. Particularly worthy of note in the north, is the work of the Italian artist and architect Niccoló Nasoni, who designed the?Clérigos Tower and Church?in Porto and?Mateus Palace?in Vila Real. But there are other examples too, such as the extravagant collection at the?National Coach Museum?in Lisbon.

Villages and Cities

Portugal is renowned for its heritage and architecture. In addition to the World Heritage cities, many others also stand out, including?Viana do Castelo, Braga, Caminha, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima?and?Amarante, in the north,?Viseu?in the centre, as well as?Santarém?and?Setúbal, closer to Lisbon,?Tavira?and?Silves?in Algarve, and?Funchal?and?Ponta Delgada?in Madeira and the Azores, respectively.

While the?Romanesque?in the north clearly demonstrates that this was the birthplace of Portugal, the Border Castles and the?Historical Villages,?in central Portugal, also bear witness to almost nine centuries of history. So too do the?Schist Villages?and the many walled villages and towns, of which?óbidos, Marv?o?and?Monsaraz?are just a few examples. In the Alentejo, we find marble and single-storey, whitewashed houses. Like those in the Algarve, with a roof terrace.

There are many contemporary architects who have taken Portugal's name to the highest heights, including two Pritzker prize winners:?álvaro Siza Vieira, who won the award in 1992 and the 2011 winner,?Eduardo Souto de Moura

Sacred Sites

All across mainland Portugal and the islands, there are many sacred sites worth visiting, but the high point among them all is?Fátima, with the worship of Our Lady. Out of all the sites which could be listed, the cathedrals are especially worthy of note, wherever in the country they happen to be. Almost all date back to the time when Portugal was founded but followed subsequent artistic movements. Other than the best-known and most-visited, it is worth mentioning the rural expression of the religious buildings known as?"Impérios"?and which are connected to the Divine Spirit festivities in the Azores and to the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres festivities on the island of S?o Miguel.

Few sacred sites from Moorish times have survived to the present day but the town-museum of?Mértola, in the Alentejo, is an exception that is worth visiting.?

Fortunately, we do have plenty of sites from another religion,?Judaism, with mediaeval signs scattered throughout the country, such as the ancient?synagogue in Tomar, and especially next to the border with Spain, in?Belmonte, Guarda, Trancoso?and?Castelo de Vide.

by World Heritage (ourhomeportugal.com)