When you are looking to take on the challenge of the Camino de Santiago, the Camino Portugues or Portuguese Way is an excellent choice for those wishing to grow spiritually and take on the physical challenge of the pilgrimage against a stunning rural backdrop.

There are many camino routes to choose from on the Camino de Santiago and all will deliver an experience you will never forget. The Camino Portugues is one of those routes and offers travellers the essence of the pilgrimage, with a wide range of landscapes and scenery and the chance to try amazing new local gastronomy along the way.

Completing this route will leave you with a sense of fresh perspective on the world, and break from the rat race and an opportunity to truly reflect and experience new things.

Start your journey in the amazing city of Lisbon

Lisbon is already on the bucket list for many in it’s own right, as one of the the stunning great capitals of Europe. Beautiful architecture lines cobbled streets and the influence of trade through the years due to its location where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic Ocean, is easy to see. It is for good reason it is nicknamed the ‘City of Light’.

It is also the start point for the Camino Portugues, and while you are there it is highly recommended to visit the quaint squares and the castle of São Jorge or the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower.

Planning the stages of the journey is key to a successful journey

When planning your journey you will need to make sure that you have considered how far you will walk each day when leaving Lisbon, where you will stop for both food and overnight, and the practicalities of moving luggage from one stop to the next.

This is why many people turn to santiagoways, local regional experts in the Camino de Santiago that are familiar with each stage, have direct long standing relationships with the guest houses along the way, and intimate knowledge of the best places to try local cuisine. They can even offer support in provision of a 24 hour helpline, transfer of luggage and of course help with any language barriers in the booking process. You can build the exact itinerary for you and your group.

A route that takes you through beautiful rural landscapes

This route is fantastic for both the landscape and the historical towns and villages along the way. For example the stunning Arab city of Santarém, or Coimbra, home to another UNESCO World Heritage Site the University – one of the oldest universities in the world.

The route also travels through Porto, the birthplace of Port wine before crossing the border in Galicia, Spain. You go from impressive Atlantic coastlines to green rolling hills and fairytale forests, passing through rural villages. Stop to see the many baroque churches and other historic architecture.

Crossing into Spain you will need to cross the famous International Bridge across the Miño River. It forms the start of the final leg of the Camino de Santiago, passing through forests and traditional farmlands arriving at the Galician coastal city of Arcade, famous for its famous annual oyster festival.

A great achievement when you arrive at your final destination

When you finally reach the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the feeling can be euphoric. You will have challenged yourself in every way possible, and you can deserve to feel a sense of achievement in that.

You will be able to take part in the Pilgrim’s Mass at the Cathedral, and those pilgrims who receive the compostela the day before can have their countries of origin and start point announced during the mass. You will also be able to receive the ‘Compostela’ as proof of your great journey. So what are you waiting for, it’s time to get planning your trip and do a little soul searching along the way.

Even though Prague’s underground is exceedingly vast, only a small part of it is accessible to the public. But still, it’s definitely worth a visit. Here we will introduce you to four interesting places under the surface of this Czech metropolis that you too can see for yourself. 

Catacombs under a church 

The catacombs under the Church of Our Lady Victorious and The Infant Jesus of Prague at Malá Strana once hid more than three hundred buried brothers of the order, nuns and noblemen. Their bodies were naturally mummified thanks to the church’s good air circulation. The catacombs were built in 1630 by the Order of the Barefoot Carmelites. 67 metres of extensive crypts can be found under the church. Later the catacombs interconnected with adjacent hallways and other spaces, where even ordinary parishioners were later buried. Today only several mummies in new coffins made from zinc can be found here. The entrance to the catacombs can be found behind the alter and there are places here that are not officially open to the public. But, of course, sometimes, after a reverent discussion with the nuns, entrance is granted to one or two lucky individuals. 

Vyšehradské Casemates 

Under the castle Vyšehrad, one will find casemates dating back to the mid-17th century, which were meant to serve as a hiding place for the garrison to take cover during times of artillery fire (even though the casemates were often not used for this purpose). Originally, they were built in the beginning together with the fortress from 1653 to 1678 and were later expanded by French soldiers. Blueprints to the Vyšehradské Casemates exist showing the fortress’s detailed plans from 1889. According to this military map, Vyšehrad’s underground is allegedly filled with a number of isolated complexes and the space is much more expansive than what you are allowed to see today. Either way, a substantial part of these complexes will have been buried by now. The accessible hallways measure to about 1km and lead to the underground hall, Gorlice, among other places. It is here that you can admire the original statues from Charles Bridge. The entrance can be found at Cihelná brána (the Brickyard Gate), open daily, January through March, November through December from 9:30 to 17:00 and April through October from 9:30 to 18:00. 

Old Town Underground 

Old Town Prague used to sit much lower than it does today; a breath-taking 8-metre difference can be found in some places. Due to flooding, the terrain was artificially raised resulting in many aboveground places becoming underground areas. Today, many of the homes survived the flooding and this transformation. And this is exactly what happened with the Old Town Hall with its underground area where one can see many things such as a Roman hall from the 12th century. It’s open every day and year-round from 9:00 to 19:00. Except for Mondays when open hours start at 11:00. You can also continue your walk through to the cellar’s Gothic sections. When it comes to good food, you will find many options on the Old Time Square. Try the Nuance Restaurant, which is ranked among the best restaurants in Prague 1 with its great combination of price and quality. 

Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague 

During reconstruction of one of the oldest homes in Prague on Haštalská street, address number 1, extensive underground spaces and the remnants of alchemy workshops were discovered after the 2002 flooding. It is here that you can now find an alchemy museum open to the public and you can get a feel for how this underground network used to connect Prague’s historical cellars. These catacombs, some of which have since caved in, lead from the museum to the Old Town Square. They are open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. 

Author of the article: HotelRott.cz – hotel in Prague 1

Throughout history, the United Kingdom has been a major influence on Europe and the rest of the world. During the time of the industrial revolution, England was considered the epicenter of modern human civilization and the most industrialized country in the world. Its capital, London was known the be the center of the human society, with no other city matching its financial power. When it comes to its tourist destination, the UK has no shortage of places to experience, especially considering the country’s impressive history, from the Roman Empire to this day, the UK landscape is filled with gorgeous historical landmarks and almost 2 millennia-old cities such as London and York. A trip to England is a must for everybody to visit during their lifetime.

Bristol – Harbor Festival and the Museum of Art

The first recommendation would be Bristol. Summer is a perfect time to visit Bristol due to it’s the time of weekend Harbor Festival. It is one of the largest public festivals in the UK and people have the opportunity to enjoy dancing and great music. An entire weekend of non-stop fun experiences will be the best way for people to introduce themselves to Bristol. 

Because the country has many an impressive history, the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery should be another stop during your time in the city. The museum is home to Egyptian mummies and some of the best-preserved dinosaurs.

London – Parkland Walk, Hippodrome Casino and The Eye of London

A healthy walk through the Parkland Walk is perfect when looking for some peaceful time when traveling. During summer, the park transforms into a fairytale land and it is a great place to relax for a few hours away from the city center. 

A stop should be at The Hippodrome Casino, is one of the oldest buildings in London and best-known casinos in London. The casino is very well known because of its unique interior, as the casino was first a place where man events were being held during its lifetime, such as horse racing. The casino is home to many table games such as poker, roulette, and blackjack, as well as many varieties of slots to play.

Lastly, there is the Eye of London. An important landmark and at the top there is the best view of the city that one could have. The Eye can capture every visitor’s imagination and its location will offer a great view of the nearby Big Ben.

Edinburgh – Edinburgh Castle and Genting Club

The Edinburgh Castle is an impressive structure dominating the city skyline. People interested in Scottish history will be impressed with the large collection of artifacts inside the castle, such as weapons and clothing.

Genting Casino Fountain Park is a great place to enjoy your evening with some table games. The casino is very active and is known for hosting fantastic poker tournaments for people to participate in. The establishment offers many of the popular games that can also be found on many online casino websites. The reason why the Genting Casino Fountain Park should be on your travel list is the Fahrenheit Restaurant, which offers a free-course-meal while at the same time enjoying the casino games.