r/Portugaldigitalguides

An enigmatic structure. Doors and windows that make no sense.

Mainstream theory is that Centum Cellas was built by the romans however that is not so as they only used it later on. In the book "A geometria de Centum Cellas" arquitect Manuel João Calais studied the measurements of Centum Cellas and found several geometrical traces that prove it was not built by romans once they had no knowledge of the golden ratio, the "egiptian triangle ratio" and the "Partenon rectangle" that are embebed on this building. Also, he found out that all measures on it are according the duodecimal system instead the roman decimal numerical system. The number and location of doors and windows doesn´t make any sense. No one knows what was the original purpose of the building. It has characteristics of both egyptian and pre-columbian America. It is undoubtedly the most enigmatic building in Portugal and maybe in the european continent !

Near Évora, in the Alentejo, there is a prehistoric monument called Cromeleque dos Almendres.

It is made up of 95 granite stones, arranged in small groups that form a large megalithic complex. Some of the stones still have simple carved marks on them.

What makes the place special is not just the number of stones, but also its age. The monument dates back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, which means people were building here thousands of years ago.

Many of the stones are still believed to stand in their original position.

A little further away, there is also a separate menhir, around 4 metres high.

The whole setting adds to the feeling of the place. It stands in the quiet countryside outside Évora, and the monument feels simple, open and mysterious at the same time.

It is one of those places that reminds you how deep Portugal’s history really goes. Long before castles, churches or Roman ruins, people were already marking the landscape here with stone.

Planning a trip to Portugal? 🇵🇹

I create digital travel guides for Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and Madeira, with the places I genuinely recommend, including local restaurants, viewpoints, beaches, historic places and practical tips.

Each guide also includes curated Google Maps lists organised by category, so you can save the places directly to your phone and use them while travelling.

I also have a separate pack with 29 curated Google Maps lists covering Portugal, including castles, viewpoints, beaches, river beaches, palaces, monasteries and other places worth saving.

👉 www.portugaldigitalguides.com

In the middle of Praça do Comércio stands the equestrian statue of King José I, one of Lisbon’s most recognisable monuments.

But there is much more behind this statue than a king on a horse.

1. The statue is connected to the reconstruction of Lisbon

King José I was on the throne when the 1755 earthquake destroyed much of Lisbon.

The city was rebuilt under the direction of the Marquis of Pombal, and the new Praça do Comércio became one of the symbols of the rebuilt city.

The statue of José I was placed at its centre.

2. The king survived the earthquake

José I and the royal family were at their country residence in Belém when the earthquake struck on 1 November 1755.

The Royal Palace in what is now Praça do Comércio was destroyed, but the king survived.

3. The earthquake changed where the king wanted to live

After the disaster, José I became afraid of living in traditional stone buildings.

He chose the relatively less affected area of Ajuda and had a wooden royal residence known as the Real Barraca built there.

He continued living there for the rest of his life.

4. The statue was inaugurated 20 years after the earthquake

The monument was inaugurated on 6 June 1775, the king’s birthday.

It was designed by Joaquim Machado de Castro and cast in bronze by Bartolomeu da Costa.

It was also the first public sculpture in Lisbon.

5. Look at the pedestal

On the side facing the river, you can see a medallion of the Marquis of Pombal, the man who directed the reconstruction of Lisbon after the earthquake.

But the medallion was not always there.

After José I died in 1777, it was removed and replaced. The original medallion was only returned to the monument in 1833.

Next time you visit Praça do Comércio, look beyond the king. The pedestal tells another part of Lisbon’s story.

Want to discover more places and stories like this in Portugal? 🇵🇹

I put my favourite places, restaurants, viewpoints and hidden gems into my Portugal travel guides and Google Maps lists.

👉 www.portugaldigitalguides.com⁠

Every autumn, a forest above Manteigas, in Serra da Estrela, completely changes colour.

The green leaves turn yellow, orange and gold, and the paths become covered with fallen leaves.

This is the PR13 MTG, Rota das Faias, one of my favourite walks to save for autumn in Portugal.

The route is circular and around 5.4 km long, usually taking about 3 hours if you walk at a relaxed pace and stop along the way.

The highlight is the São Lourenço beech forest.

Interestingly, these trees are not part of an ancient natural forest. The beech trees were planted by the Forestry Services in the early 20th century and today they create one of the most beautiful autumn landscapes in Serra da Estrela.

The trail also gives you views over Manteigas and the Zêzere Glacial Valley, so it is not only about walking through the forest.

Autumn is the time I would choose to do it, especially when the leaves start changing colour around late October and November.

Planning a trip around Portugal? 🇵🇹

I created a pack with 29 curated Google Maps lists covering Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Madeira and destinations across Portugal.

Restaurants, beaches, river beaches, viewpoints, castles, hidden gems, palaces and monasteries are already organised in Google Maps, so you can simply save the lists and use them while travelling.

👉 www.portugaldigitalguides.com

There is a popular saying in Portugal that we have 365 ways to cook bacalhau (salt cod), one for every day of the year. Whether anyone has ever counted them or not, the saying makes sense. Bacalhau is part of Portuguese food, and Bacalhau à Brás is probably one of the best-known ways to eat it.

The dish is believed to have originated in Bairro Alto, where a tavern owner called Brás created a simple combination of shredded salt cod, onion, thin fried potatoes and eggs. It is usually finished with parsley and black olives.

The ingredients are simple, but getting the texture right is important. A good Bacalhau à Brás should be creamy and soft, with the egg still slightly loose, enough cod to give the dish flavour and potatoes that have not completely disappeared into the mixture. When it is overcooked, it quickly becomes dry and heavy.

It is one of those Portuguese dishes that does not look particularly impressive on the plate, but when it is well made, it is incredibly comforting.

If you want to try it in Lisbon, I would keep these four places on your list: Varina da Madragoa, Laurentina, O Rei do Bacalhau, Cacué in Picoas and Restaurante Ideal in Anjos. The last one is more of a neighbourhood restaurant where dishes can change, so it is worth checking before making a special trip.

If this is your first time in Portugal, Bacalhau à Brás is definitely one of the traditional dishes I would try.

Planning a trip to Portugal? 🇵🇹

I create digital travel guides for Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and Madeira, based on the places I genuinely recommend.

Every guide includes Google Maps lists organised by category, so you can save the places directly to your phone and use them while travelling. I always include a list of local restaurants, because finding good Portuguese food away from the most obvious tourist places is one of the things I consider most important when visiting Portugal.

I also have a separate pack with 29 curated Google Maps lists covering Portugal.

👉 www.portugaldigitalguides.com