Not our name, but our passion
Pedro Álvares Cabral; c. 1467 or 1468 – c. 1520 was a Portuguese nobleman, military commander, navigator and explorer regarded as the European discoverer of Brazil. In 1500 Cabral conducted the first substantial exploration of the northeast coast of South America and claimed it for Portugal. This statue dedicated to him is located in Lisbon.
The Estrela Basilica or the Royal Basilica and Convent of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a minor basilica and ancient carmelite convent in Lisbon, Portugal. Ordered built by Queen Maria I of Portugal as the fulfillment of a vow, the Basilica is not only a product of the Queen’s particularly fervent devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but remains the most important architectural endeavor of her reign. The Estrela Basilica was the first church in the world dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
When we first arrived in Portugal one of the first things we did was try one of the famous pastels de nada. Unfortunately we were in Coimbra and not Lisbon so we ordered the pastels there and wrote a taste test blog on our experience. You can read that blog here. After reading the blog please ignore it! You have not tasted the real pastel until you try the original at Pastéis de Belém in the Belém district of Lisbon.
In 1837 the restaurant began making the original Pastéis de Belém, following an ancient recipe from the Jerónimos Monastery. The same recipe is recreated every day, by hand, using only traditional methods.
These original tarts were unbelievable. The crust and the filling were exceptional, crunchy flaky crust filled with some of the best tasting sweet custard cream you will ever have. Alex and I both absolutely loved them in every way.
If you are in Portugal take the extra effort to sample these tarts here it is well worth the effort.
Standing alone in a striking position on the breakwater on the bank of the Tagus, in Lisbon the Monument to the Discoveries evokes the Portuguese overseas expansion, recalls the country’s glorious past and symbolizes the enormity of the work carried out by the Infante, the driving force behind the Discoveries. A stylized caravel seems to be setting out to sea, with Henry the Navigator in its prow. On the two lateral ramps ascending to the symbolic figure of the Prince are some of the significant characters of the Portuguese overseas expansion and cultural names from the age of the Discoveries, 32 in total, all portrayed with symbols that allude to their identity: navigators, cartographers, warriors, colonizers, missionaries, chroniclers and artists.
The Praça do Comércio (English: Commerce Square) is located in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Situated near the Tagus river, the square is still commonly known as Terreiro do Paço (English: Palace Yard), because it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira (Royal Ribeira Palace) until it was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake. After the earthquake, the square was completely remodeled as part of the rebuilding of the Pombaline Downtown, ordered by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, who was the Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal from 1750 to 1777, during the reign of Dom José I, King of Portugal.
