Vacation destinations and rent a car providers in Portugal right now: The majestic National Palace and Monastery of Mafra looms over the pleasant countryside town of Mafra and represents an outstanding example of grandiose excess. Work began in 1717 on what was originally supposed to be a simple monastery and basilica, commissioned by Dom João V to honor the birth of the king’s first child. But as wealth from Brazil swelled the royal coffers, the project took on a new dimension and eventually, a huge Baroque palace was built, lavishly decorated with exotic furnishings and numerous works of art. A tour allows access to the monastery, palace, church, and basilica. One of the undoubted highlights of the National Palace and Monastery of Mafra is the sumptuous marble floored library, where more than 40,000 rare and precious books line Rococo-style wooden bookcases – one of the most important collections of manuscripts and literature in Europe. If you are searching for a car to travel between Portugal’s vacation attractions you can see even more information at https://www.carrentalinportugal.com/rent-a-car/car-rental-in-faro-portugal/
The city of Alcobaca is known for its important Portuguese landmark, the Abbey of Santa Maria de Alcobaca, founded in the 12th century. Today it is not just an important historical monument, but also the largest church in Portugal. The abbey building is made up of 5 cloisters, a library, 7 bedrooms and an impressive sized kitchen. The finishing of the facade of the temple is a mix of several styles, for the reason that the building was completed in different eras. The Gothic door and the main circular window of the monastery, for example, are parts of the original church, while the flanking bell towers and the Baroque statues of saints were not added until the 17th and 18th centuries. As a whole, the monastery is a monumental architectural structure, 220 meters long, consisting of 3 parts – the Church itself, as well as the North and South wings.
Travel attractions and rent a car services in Portugal today: The Alcobaça Monastery is a Roman Catholic Monastery located in the town of Alcobaça, in central Portugal. It was founded by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques, in 1153, and maintained a close association with the Kings of Portugal throughout its history. The church and monastery were the first Gothic buildings in Portugal, and, together with the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, it is one of the most important of the medieval monasteries in Portugal.
Lisbon is blessed with some truly world-class museums, and one of the finest is the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian. The museum’s collection numbers some 6,000 pieces, all of which belonged to just one man: Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, a wealthy Armenian oil magnate who bequeathed his priceless hoard to the Portuguese nation upon his death in 1955. Quite simply, this is one of the finest collections of art in Europe. The exhibits span more than 4,000 years from classical and oriental Antiquity to European art of the early 20th century. No other museum has such varied pieces of art from so many places in the world, and visitors can spend hours mulling over treasures such as the 11 Roman medallions found in Egypt; 16th-century illustrated manuscripts; masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt, and Turner; Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture; and Art Nouveau jewelry made by Rene Lalique. The museum lies in beautiful lush gardens that are perfect for picnics, especially during the summer months.
Top rated holiday destinations and car rental providers in Portugal: On the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula lies a small country, which today has become one of the most visited in Europe. This is Portugal – a country of numerous fairs, festivals, which keeps centuries-old traditions and culture of its people. Here in rural areas you can still see women carrying shopping baskets on their heads, here is still the best coffee in Europe, and it is served exclusively in cups. The traditional crafts of fishing, textile production and wine-making still flourish here. Don’t know what to see in Portugal? Especially for you we have compiled a list of popular places in this country, which included the most interesting sights of Portugal.
Arguably Portugal’s most popular and family-friendly visitor attraction, Lisbon’s oceanarium is brilliantly conceived to highlight the world’s diverse ocean habitats. This is one of Europe’s best and largest oceanariums, containing a vast array of fish and marine animals. Four separate sea- and landscapes recreate the ecosystems of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Antarctic oceans. A huge central tank, visible from different levels, teems with shark, ray, and many other finned wonders and denizens of the deep. The transparent plexiglass design is such that smaller tropical species housed in separate aquaria set around the main tank appear to be swimming with their larger cousins. Complementing this amazing spectacle are the open-air landscapes, where penguins, sea otters, and other cute and cuddly birds and mammals co-exist in carefree harmony. Discover additional details at carrentalinportugal.com.