Hi all,
Portugal has 17 UNESCO world heritage sites and 18 more sites that are on the tentative list awaiting official approval. During our visit we can hit maybe a dozen of them, as well as 2 maybe 3 on the tentative list, but thought we'd check with you who have traveled around Portugal to get your opinions on the absolute must see ones and although we know any UNESCO site is a gift worth learning about, there just isn't enough time to see them all, so if anyone would care to offer which might be the debatable or definitely can pass this time that too would be appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6575 posts
Absolute must is whichever ones you want to visit. I’ve been to eight of them. You can only see so many monasteries on one trip for example, before you stop appreciating them. I don’t plan a trip based on UNESCO status. If one happens to be near where I intend to be, I may stop in it’s of interest to me. By visiting just those sites you’ll be missing many other interesting sites.
Posted by
1 posts
I applaud you, kcglobalworks9, for your stamina in visiting so many of the UNESCO sites in Portugal!!!
I am desperate to find unbiased info on the archeological site, Foz Côa Valley, located on a tributary of the Douro River. We have the opportunity to visit it on a Douro R. Uniworld cruise in April 2024.
I have a recent guidebook by a (second-line) competitor of our beloved Rick Steves and am appalled at the lack of ANY mention of this destination.
Please, if you or any other reader of this forum has opinions/first-hand-knowlege of this site please weigh in.
I've read the TripAdvisor reviews, as well as everything I can find on-line, and am confused as to whether I am up to the arduous terrain involved.
Synopsis of the excursion ends with: "Note: Exploring these sites will require sturdy hiking footwear and considerable physical fitness: You’ll take a four-wheel drive down dirt roads and hike into rocky and hard-to-access locations."
The other option for a tour, Castelo Rodrigo, also is not in the 'other' guidebook.
Many many thanks,
Mary
Posted by
Washington, DC USA
351 posts
Your post made me curious so I looked at the list. Most of the 17 sites already on the UNESCO list are ones included in most guidebooks and are things you are likely to see recommended elsewhere and to find without much extra effort. The Coa Valley prehistoric rock art site, about which I know nothing, is definitely an exception. Others include the Duoro Valley wine region which is a popular day or overnight trip from Porto that I did and enjoyed. Others are the historic centers of various cities -- I was in Porto but not some of the others. 'The Sintra cultural landscape" is listed. Sintra is a very popular day or overnight trip from Lisbon, that I did and recommend. Several are monastaries that are popular tourist destinations; the Convent of Christ in Tomar is one I found especially interesting.
For Portugal, if I had had more time when I was there, or if I return there, many of the sites on the Unesco list are places I might visit without having seen the list. In contrast, I have traveled other places in the world where the world heritage designation made me aware of sites I might not otherwise have heard about, which I appreciate. I have also read about ways the selection of world heritages sites is influenced by various political and economic pressures.