Jardim da Estrela

The Jardim da Estrela,  was built in the mid- nineteenth century, in front of the Basilica da Estrela in Lisbon, with the donations of a Portuguese from Brazil, Manuel Joaquim Monteiro.

Anyone seeking green respite should head for Jardim da Estrela. This garden is perfect for a stroll, with paths weaving past pine, monkey puzzle and palm trees, rose and cacti beds and the centerpiece – a giant banyan tree. Kids love the duck ponds and animal-themed playground.

The garden was built in the style of English gardens, romantic inspiration. It has 4.6 acres.

The garden has several elements of statuary:

• Source of Life
• Bust of Antero de Quental from 1946-1951 authored by Salvador Barata Feyo (1948)
• Bust of Actor Taborda , made ​​in bronze by Costa Motta (nephew) (1914)
• The King's Daughter Keeping Ducks or keeper of ducks , authored by Costa Motta (nephew) and Francisco Santos (1914), located in the middle of one of the lakes in the garden.
• The Digger, 1913 and authored by Costa Motta (uncle)
• Awakening of 1911-1921 authored by José Simões de Almeida (nephew)

Near one of the entrances leading to the Avenida Pedro Alvares Cabral, there is a sculptural element in wood, called Trunk Carved , made ​​precisely to the bottom of a tree trunk.

The garden is open to the public every day from seven in the morning until midnight.

Check their website @ http://www.jardimestrela.com/ 

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Pastéis de Belém

Sublime, divine traditional pastéis de Belém custard tarts, with the eggiest, lightest, crispiest tarts, served warm with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar. The recipe is secret, but these tarts taste like they've been made by angels. Founded in 1837, the traditional tiled tearoom is pretty.

Recipe:
About 1 1/2 pounds puff pastry dough (home made is what you want)
2 cups whole milk
the peel from one lemon
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ounces (half cup minus 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon) flour
12 ounces (1 and 2/3 cups) sugar
2/3 cup water
7 egg yolks

Preheat your oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll the chilled puff pastry dough out to about 12″ x 12″, cut it in half and put one half back in the refrigerator. Roll the other half very thin, about 1/8″ thick. Using a 4″ cutter, cut out as many circles as you can and lay them into your buttered muffin molds. Repeat with the reminding dough and put the lined molds back into the refrigerator to rest.

Meanwhile make the filling. Combine the flour and a few ounces of the milk in a small bowl and whisk until you have a paste. Bring the remaining milk to a boil and add the cinnamon, lemon peel and vanilla. Add the flour mixture, whisk it all together and take the pan off the heat.

Next, combine the sugar and water in another saucepan and bring to the boil. Cook it to 220 degrees Fahrenheit, then remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool. When it’s cool, add the syrup to the milk mixture and stir to combine. Strain everything through a sieve to remove the solids. Lastly, whisk in the yolks.

Fill each crust about 3/4 of the way full with the custard mixture. Bake until the tarts sport brown spots in the surface, about 20 – 25 minutes. After the allotted time, if the custard looks puffy and the edges of the crust are golden, but you still have none of the classic brown spots on the top, you can finish the tarts under a low broiler. Just be sure to keep a close eye on them!

When done, cool the tarts on a wire rack. Serve the pastéis dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon if desired.

Ref: http://www.joepastry.com/2012/pasteis-de-belemnata-recipe/

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3 of the best: golf courses near Lisbon

Portugal enjoys a sterling reputation as an all year round golfing destination, and the area around Lisbon is no exception. Whether you prefer the sweeping sandy beaches and incomparable sea views of the Estoril Coast, or the historic appeal of the city courses, you are certain to enjoy improving your handicap on holiday here. Here are our top recommendations.

Penha Longa Atlantico 

The jewel in the crown of the Penha Longa Golf Resort is undoubtedly the Atlantico Course. Designed by Roberto Trent Jones Jr, this fabulous fairway nestles in the grounds of a former 14th century monastery near Sintra. The surroundings make it a joy to visit, and it’s easy to see why it enjoys a ranking among the top 30 European mainland courses. The Atlantico course offers 18 challenging holes that require a bold approach and a forceful drive.

Visit Website - Penha Longa Golf Resort 

Lisbon Sports Club 

One of the oldest courses in Portugal, the Lisbon Sports Club nestles in a picturesque valley about 20km from Lisbon and has throwing down the gauntlet in terms of golfing challenges since 1964. Designed by Hawtree & Sons, the signature holes include the169m Par-3 hole #1 and a grand finish at hole #18, a long Par-4 with a meandering fairway and a well-protected green.

Visit Website - Lisbon Sports Club 

Oitavo Dunes Course

Build by renowned golf course architect Arthur Hills, Oitavo Dunes enjoys an extraordinary setting in a natural park between Sintra and Cascais. Golfers are treated to the panoramic sea views and pine forests that make this part of the world such a delight to visit. Meanwhile the regular appearance of Oitavo Dunes in lists of the world’s best courses makes it a must for any golf aficionado traveling to Portugal.

Visit Website - Oitavo Dunes

Anna Currie is a feature writer for luxury travel website www.mypremiumeurope.com and loves all things related to Portugal, travel and golf.

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Praias de Portugal

7 Maravilhas - Praias de Portugal

21 Finalistas  das Praias

1. Praia de V. N. de Milfontes - Furnas
2. Praia Fluvial de loriga
3. Albufeira do Ermal
4. Ribeira - Albufeira do Azibo
5. Vale do Rossim
6. Costa Nova
7. Praia da Zambujeira do Mar
8. Troia Mar
9. Praia da Arrifana
10. Praia de Odeceixe
11. Praia do Meco
12. Carvlhal
13. Praia da Ilha de Tavira
14. Praia do Porto Santo
15. Canto Marinho
16. Fisgas de Ermelo
17. Lagoa do Fogo
18. Praia de Ribeira d'Ilhas
19. Praia do Guincho
20. Supertubos

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Fado

Fado (Portuguese: destiny, fate) is a type of music which is characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor. It can be traced back to the early 18 century, but is probably with much earlier origins. 

In reality fado is simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain structure. The music is usually linked to the Portuguese word saudade which symbolizes the feeling of loss (a permanent, irreparable loss and its consequent life lasting damage). 

Amália Rodrigues, Carlos do Carmo, Mariza, Mafalda Arnauth, and Cristina Branco are amongst the most famous individuals associated with the genre.

Amália Rodrigues - Fado Português

Mariza Fado

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Praça da Figueira

The Praça da Figueira (English: Square of the Fig Tree) is a large square in the centre of Lisbon, in Portugal. It is part of the Baixa Pombalina, the area of the city reurbanised after the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake.

Praça da Figueira did not exist in the 16th century and most of its area was occupied by the Hospital Real de Todos os Santos (All-Saints Royal Hospital), the most important in the city. In 1755, after the great earthquake which destroyed most of Lisbon, the hospital was greatly damaged and was demolished around 1775.

The large area previously occupied by the hospital in the Baixa was turned into an open market square. Around 1885, a large covered market of 8,000 m² was built. This market existed until 1949, when it was demolished. Since then the square has been an open space.

In 1971 a bronze equestrian statue representing King John I (1357-1433), by sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida, was inaugurated in the square. The monument also carries medallions with the effigies of Nuno Álvares Pereira and João das Regras, two key characters in the 1385 Revolution that brought John I to power.

In 1999/2000, during the last renovation of the square, the statue was relocated from the middle to a corner of the square, in order to make it visible from the Praça do Comércio. The original renovation project also called for the buildings to be completely covered with ceramic tiles (azulejos) by Daciano Costa, which has not been done.

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Estação Marquês de Pombal

Marquês de Pombal ("Rotunda" até 1995) é uma estação dupla do Metro de Lisboa, onde se interligam duas linhas: a Linha Azul e a Linha Amarela. Situa-se no concelho de Lisboa, entre as estações Parque e Avenida (Linha Azul), e Picoas e Rato (Linha Amarela). É uma das onze estações pertencentes à rede original do Metro de Lisboa, inaugurada a 29 de Dezembro de 1959, com a particularidade de ser, à data, a única estação de interface da rede. 

Esta estação está localizada na Praça do Marquês de Pombal. A estação possibilita o acesso ao Parque Eduardo VII e ao topo da Avenida da Liberdade, e é uma das mais movimentadas da cidade. À semelhança das mais recentes estações do Metro de Lisboa, está equipada para poder servir passageiros com deficiências motoras; vários elevadores facilitam o acesso ao cais.

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