Sanctuary of Fatima

The Sanctuary of Fatima is an international monument for the Catholic religion. The Sanctuary was built after the sighting of the Virgin Mary in 1917. The children, Jacinta, Lucia and Francisco, met the Virgin mother 3-times under an acorn tree, where she divulged different secrets of the World to them. Such secrets included; the assassination of the Pope and different natural disasters around the World. Unfortunately, Jacinta and Francisco divulged the secrets that the Virgin mother had told them and both died at young ages of different diseases. Lucia, who later became a Nun for the Catholic Church, recently passed in 2008, never divulging the secrets that the Virgin Mary had told her. It is suspected that the only person she told the secret to was the current Pope.

Estadio de Luz

Home to the most famous Portuguese soccer team, Benfica, Estadio de Luz (Stadium of Lights), is located in the heart of Lisbon, Portugal. Benfica has been marked in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the largest fan base in the world. Benfica is also one of the few European sports teams that are publically traded. The stadium holds over 65,000 fans, which is a huge decline from the original stadium which held over 155,000 fans. The team has won over 32 national championships, making it the most successful team in Futebol in the Country of Portugal. The Benfica mascot is a bald eagle, named Vitoria (Victoria), which is a sign of good fortune for all the fans.

Dia Tudos Santos - All Saints Day

One of the most famous national holidays in Portugal, Dia tudos Santos (All Saints Day), is a big to-do while visiting the country. The holiday occurs November 1^st of every year and is in memory of all the Saints among all those people that have passed on. The ceremony begins with a service offered at the church and is followed by a procession at the cemetery. The procession consists of the church priests, deacons and volunteers walking through the cemetery in prayer of those that have passed on. Those that are commemorating the loss of a loved one, decorate their grave sites with beautiful floral arrangements and lots of candles. At night, when passing by the cemetery, you can see all the lit candles lighting up the night sky. 

Palacio do Gelo

Viseu, Portugal is a major city located on the Beira Alta North-Central part of Portugal. Inside of Viseu, is one of the largest malls in Portugal, Palacio do Gelo (Ice Palace). Palacio do Gelo has been in existence for over 20 years wherein the last 10 years it has been remodeled to what it is today. A 6-story mall with a(n); Ice Skating Rink, Movie Theater, Bowling Alley, Arcade, Olympic Size Swimming Pool and various retail and grocery stores. Inside Palacio do Gelo there is also a bar called “Ice Bar.” The unique thing about this bar is you wear full snow suits and boots inside a bar completely made of ice from the benches, to the stools, to the cups and the walls. 

Quinta dos tres Rios

My father’s hometown, Parada de Gonta, Portugal, has always been a small village with very quaint citizens.  About 5 years ago, a family from England came to Portugal to view properties and land for possible relocation. On their journey, they stopped at Parada to view a land called Quinta dos Tres Rios (Ranch of the Three Rivers).  This land includes lush greenery, the remains of a Fabrica (Factory) that made quilts which was originally built in 1888, olive mill used to make olive oil, and a waterfall which can be seen from the 9 bedroom house.   After 5 years of renovations, they have turned part of the house into a 6 bedroom bed and breakfast where visitors can stay to enjoy the serene landscape and hospitality that Portugal has to offer.