Category Archives: Portugal

Where is the edge? Outer space perhaps? In ancient times, the edge of the world was the southwestern tip of mainland Europe, Cape St. Vincent in the western Algarve of Portugal. Several civilizations reached the cape. The Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, … Continue reading →

How did a small village outside of Lisbon became a magnet for whimsy and extravagance? The town of Sintra, sprawling just below the tops of the mountains of the same name, is studded with outlandish palaces, fairytale castles, even a … Continue reading →

In elementary school we studied the great European explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries. (Christopher Columbus, for one.) This period is called the Age of Discovery, a time when European royalty sought profitable new trade routes. Due to its … Continue reading →