Chronicles from Alentejo | Malhão Beach (Praia do Malhão)

Last August I've visited some spots on the awesome Southwest coast of Portugal. I've written here about the stone piles of Vila Nova de Milfontes and today bring you Praia do Malhão, a spectacular beach close to that coastal town and about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Lisbon.

We left Lisbon under a sunny, blue sky, to arrive at a misty coast, hardly seeing more than a few meters ahead. If Praia do Malhão is beautiful under the sun, with the filtered light looks almost magical. Eventually, the fog dissipated and the sun started to shine. It was my first time there, but I plan to come back and can't recommend you enough to visit it if you have the chance.

To get there you'll have to drive your car trough a short (kind of...) bumpy dirt track, but then you'll find a large, organized parking lot and nice and easy access to the beach. And what a beach! A large extension of white clean sand, protected by the dunes and shielded by the rock formations. At the low tide, there are small pools on the rocks and with the high tie there can be nice waves for the surfers. If you practice naturism, the north part of the beach is welcoming to that. There is a Surf School, but I didn't spot any restaurant, so you better be prepared with some water and snacks.

All along the beach and over the dunes, you can find some newly built walks with view points to catch the best views of Malhão, and of the coast. I love to photograph the dune vegetation and even spotted a little baby falcon on one of its first flights.

Lisbon Chronicles | Ursa Beach (Praia da Ursa)

Next to Cabo da Roca - a cape close to Lisbon, in the Sintra region - the Ursa beach (Praia da Ursa) is the most western beach in Europe and perhaps one of the most stunning beaches I've ever visited. Clear, bright waters (icy too!), pristine, white sand, just a bunch of people and an awesome landscape make this beach a spectacular place.

But all good things come with a cost. There is no direct access to the beach and you have to go down (and then up) a cliff for hundreds of meters on what can hardly be described a goats path. The next day my legs's muscles hake with all the effort, but the memories I hold from the place make it worthwhile.

You can walk from Cabo da Roca, enjoying the nature and the great views of the coast, and then go down to the beach. Make sure you get some shoes fit for the challenge (I was wearing Havaianas, and it wasn't the best choice, believe me!), and some water and food for the day. If you love photography, don't forget your camera as the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!

Best Things to do in Lisbon | Harvest Time

Harvest time is here. In the vineyards, the grapes are ripe and ready to be picked. Everything is prepared to make the new wine and, not far from Lisbon, you can participate in this amazing moment. Today, on the Best Things to do in Lisbon series I'll bring you some wine tourism experiences that you can enjoy just a few kilometers from Lisbon on the Setúbal's Peninsula Wine Region.

Do you remember the visit I've made last May to Fernando Pó, a wine district near Lisbon? It was an amazing experience and you can read all about it here. The good news is that you can do it this month, during the harvest, and it will include grape picking and winemaking experiences.

It can't get any more convenient than this to any one visiting Lisbon. A train starting from the main Train Station in the city (Oriente) will comfortably take you to Fernando Pó in under an hour, where you will be guided on a visit to its main wineries on a truly amazing gastronomic experience. Next visits on 9, 16 and 23 September.

If you have a more tight budget, there are several wineries in the region that held open days this harvest time, including a guided visit and a wine tasting for free.

If you are planning your visit to Lisbon, maybe you want to consider to save a day to visit Setúbal Península Wine Region, the Arrábida and book one of this wine experiences that will be held from 9 September to 8 October.

You can check the dates and book at the Setúbal's Península Wine Region Route. The first experience is called "De Comboio até às Vindimas" (By Train to the Harvest) and the second "Adegas de Portas Abertas" (Wineries with Open Doors).


More Information and Reservations:
Rota de Vinhos da Península de Setúbal
Phone: (+351) 212 334 398
info@rotavinhospsetubal.com
Please contact Monday to Friday, 10h00-16h30, except holidays.
www.rotavinhospsetubal.com

Chronicles from Alentejo | Piled Stones on the Southwest Coast of Portugal

You probably have heard about Cairns or seen pictures of piled stones featuring improbable balance constructions. The Gaelic term Cairn means a "mound of stones built as a memorial or landmark" and these piles that can easily be found in Celtic territories usually marked a path, indicating the way. Other cultures, like native Americans, used it to sign burying sites. Today you can find it almost anywhere as an expression of Man's willing to create and built, not only useful things but also beautiful features.

Recently I've visited some spots on the Portuguese Southwest Coast and at Vila Nova de Mil Fontes I've found this stone beach covered with hundreds of stone piles. The scenery is awesome and a truly photographers trap. If you're visiting Portugal, go there, take some photos, and build your own pile of stones!