The Wanderer's Gallery | Jacaranda Trees in Lisbon

Lisbon Chronicles | Largo do Carmo

Largo do Carmo is a lovely square in Chiado neighborhood, covered with café terraces and frequently animated with live music and street performers. If you are lucky to visit it during Spring, you may have the chance to find the jacaranda trees all covered with purple flowers, but the square is great all over the year and a must go on this part of Lisbon.

Surrounded by some historical buildings, one of the most impressive is Carmo Convent, built in the 14th century. The church ruins and Carmo Archaeological Museum are one of the main interest points on the square and one that I really recommend you to visit (you can know more about it here).

In front of the convent, there is the Chafariz do Carmo, built in the 18th century and supplied by the Águas Livres Aqueduct. On the right side of the convent you can find Quartel do Carmo. This barracks which belong to the Guarda nacional Republicana (the Republican National Guard), played a very important role in 1974's April Revolution. Largo do Carmo was, therefore, one of the main sceneries of the revolution, as the place where the existing government surrendered to the revolutionary military movement. To perpetuate this moment, there is an inscription on the floor of the square dedicated to Salgueiro Maia (one of the Captains that lead the revolution).

On the left side of the convent, you can find the old Valadares palace. This palace stands on the site where the first Portuguese university was founded, in the time of King D. Dinis, before being transferred to Coimbra.  Between the Carmo Convent and the Valadares Palace you can find the access to Santa Justa Elevator, which connects Largo do Carmo to Baixa Pombalina (Downtown), in particular to Rua do Ouro (you can know more about it here). You can also access Terraços do Carmo from there, and enjoy a great view of Lisbon while sipping a drink on one of the bars.

To get there you can take a taxi, go up, from downtown, in Santa Justa Elevator or take the subway, exiting at Baixa - Chiado Station.

Wine Chronicles | Wine Tasting at Fernão Pó Winery (Palmela)

The wine region of Setúbal's peninsula (Portugal) is close to Lisbon and presents great wines from well established producers, with variety of wine tourism activities. I've recently visited some wineries in Palmela area. Fernão Pó was one of them and today I'm bringing to you some more information on it (and on its wines).

Fernão Pó is a family winery, resulting from the joining of two families related to winemaking for generations. Since its founding in the '50s, the winery has grown keeping its roots in the local winemaking tradition. João, one of the owners, reminds the visitors that then, wine was inseparable from food and sold at the cellar door. Buyers stock up for the whole year and became friends.

Today, Fernão Pó Winery seeks to combine the best of tradition with modern technology, while strongly committed to social and environmental principles, such as adherence to the Wine in Moderation and the Business and Biodiversity programs, in addition to producing grapes with environmental certification.

The grape varieties cultivated on the estate were carefully chosen, in search of genuine profiled, complex gourmet wines. On the 150 acres of the family vineyards stand out 84 acres of Castelão, the flagship grape of the region. But also spicy Cabernet Sauvignon, which ripens perfectly here. And also Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Merlot, Tannat and Alicante Bouschet. White grape varieties include local Fernão Pires, Syria, Verdelho, Viozinho and Moscatel.

At Fernão Pó, you can schedule a guided visit to the winery and wine tasting. On my visit, we were invited to a tasting of 3 of their wines that were paired with Tibornas (a Portuguese traditional recipe resembling Bruschettas) and with crackers with the winery's special wine jams. The tasting started with a glass of  ASF White DOC Palmela (Viosinho), a Silver Medal at Mundus Vini 2015, followed by Fernão Pó Reserva Red (Merlot) and finished with ASF Red Doc Palmela (Castelão (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat), a gold medalist at Mundus Vini 2015. Fernão Pó Winery takes very seriously the strong bond between wine and gastronomy, and at the tasting you'll receive sound advice on pairing their wines with specific foods. In general I'm partial for white wine and my favorite was the fresh ASF White DOC Palmela.

Apart from the visits and wine tasting at the cellar, Fernão Pó holds a regular calendar of wine tourism activities all year long. You can find all the activities and events, with prices, in a brochure available at the winery website (find link bellow). Next month (July 4th) will be held a lunch on the vineyards with a typical Portuguese Sardinhada (Grilled Sardines). The program includes a guided visit to the vineyards and to the cellars, lunch including typical products from the region and a wine tasting oriented by the estate winemaker. Looks like a great opportunity to to taste some nice Portuguese food and have a glass (or two) of wine.

Fernão Pó Winery
CCI 2402 Fernando Pó
2965-545 Águas de Moura
Portugal

Phone: +351 917 500 198
Email: enoturismo@fernaopo.pt

The Wanderer's Gallery | Lisbon in June

Portuguese Chronicles | Castelo de Palmela

Standing strong on the top of the hill, Palmela's castle overlooks the plains, rivers and ocean bellow for more than one thousand years. Less than a hour away from Lisbon by car, Palmela and its castle are perfect for a day trip from the Portuguese capital. The visit to the castle will take you around one hour and a half, and can make a really great program, complementing it with a walk around the town, a wine tasting, a drive trough Serra da Arrábida hills or an afternoon on one of the amazing beaches nearby.

The castle fortress was built by the Moors and, after centuries of islamic dominion was conquered by the Christians in the 12th century. In that century the castle was donated to the military Order of Santiago (Order of St. James of the Sword). This fortress became the headquarters for those Christian knights, that have been major actors of the conquest of the South territory of Portugal.

Now is possible to visit the castle and church and occasionally there are historical reenactments and medieval fairs in the castle grounds. There is a restaurant in the castle terrace and an hotel if you choose to stay in the region. But if you only have time for a visit, the overwhelming 360º view is absolutely worthwhile the trip.

Castelo de Palmela 
Open daily
Free entrance

Until next year May!

I have the feeling that this monthly post its happening faster and faster every month. Summer is almost here and we are about to have half of the year gone by. But let us focus on May. Have been to many interesting places, that I have (or will) shared with you. The blog is going fine with an increased number of readers, and for that I must thank you all. Although our follow on social media has not increased as much as I would love to (me and my ambitious goals!), the fidelity and engagement of our followers is always more positive than fast growing numbers.

Looking back on May its easy to find out my foodie side. With several brunch suggestions, an afternoon tea (on Tea for Two series) and a new restaurant  review on our Food Chronicles series, all in one month it's difficult to disguise. You can also argue that I'm partial on a good wine. Well, I am! Visits to some great wineries and a few more posts on the wine tourism series make that irrefutable.

But I also love the simple beauty of nature and the splendor of Spring. When you live in the city, the best place to find it is on the nearest garden, so this May I didn't forget to give you my suggestions on my favorite gardens in Lisbon.

Wellness is also an area that is dear to me and this month I've experienced and presented you an outstanding Spa in the city (Lisbon). Stay tuned on this series, for I'll be bringing more in the months to come.

I'm grateful for what May has brought and looking forward for what June can bring. Until the next monthly wrap-up, leave you with the nine photos that are the Top 9 for May on our Instagram account. You can follow us there for daily photos and tips.