Lugo, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Lugo, Spain

Weather: Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon, 51/62F.

Route: From Santiago de Compostela 102 km east on N-547 and A-54.

Population: 98,025

Significance: The Romans first came to Lugo in the 1st century BC. There are many archaeological remains from Roman times, the most impressive is the 2 km long city wall, which is the most complete Roman city wall in Europe.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The roman wall surrounding the modern city (from whc.unesco.org)

One of the original gates (from whc.unesco.org)

Santiago de Compostela, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Weather: Cloudy with occasional light rain, 46/59F.

Route: From Oporto 231 km north on A3  and AP-9.

Population: 96,405

Significance: Other than Rome, Santiago de Compostela has been the greatest pilgrimage site in Christianity.  People still walk from as far away as England (with a short boat trip of course) to this town that was founded after a hermit supposedly found the tomb of the apostle Saint James. James became the symbol of the fight against Muslims on the Iberian peninsula and beyond in the middle ages.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The view pilgrims see as they approach Santiago de Compostela (from whc.unesco.org)

The cathedral at night (from whc.unesco.org)

Oporto, Portugal - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Oporto, Portugal

Weather: Cloudy with periods of light rain, 52/62F.

Route: From Coimbra 122 km north on A1.

Population: 215,945

Places to visit: Palacio da Bolsa, Torre dos Clerigos, Porto Cathedral, Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas, Capela das Almas, Parque da Cidade do Porto, Igreja de Sao Francisco, Museu Serralves, Jardins do Palacio de Cristal.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The old town above the Duoro River (from whc.unesco.org)

Church of Ildefonso (from whc.unesco.org)

University of Coimbra, Portugal - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: University of Coimbra, Portugal

Weather: Light rain early, breaks of sun in the afternoon, 52/62F.

Route: From Alcobaca 108 km NNE on A8 and A1.

Population: 143,396

Significance: The university started on in the 13th century, many of the colleges date back to the 16th century. And then in the 1940s a large "University City" was built.  The University is the most influential university in the Portuguese speaking world.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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University buildings above the Mondego River (whc.unesco.org)

The main university building (from whc.unesco.org)

Monasteries of Alcobaca and Batalha, Portugal - UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Place: Monasteries of Alcobaca and Batalha, Portugal

Weather:  Showers and thunderstorms, 52/61F.

Route: From Tomar 65 km west on IC9 and N8.

Significance: Built over 100 years apart, these monasteries are both great symbols of Portugal. The Monastery of Alcobaca was founded by King Alfonso in the 12th century and was built mostly in the 13th century.  The monastery was organized and run by the Cistercians, who took what had been a fallow land after battles with Muslims, and made it into productive farmland. 

Batalha means "battle" in Portuguese. The monastery was built in 1385 to celebrate battle of Aljubarrota, when the Portuguese defended themselves against the Spanish Castilians, who invaded Portugal - hoping to take advantage of a crisis in the line of succession of the Portuguese royalty.

Websites: Alcobaca UNESCO World Heritage Site, Batalha UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Alcobaca:

Batalha:

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The main church at Alcobaca (from whc.unesco.org)

The church at Batalha (from whc.unesco.org)

Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal

Weather: Occasional rain, 51/63F.

Route: From Mafra 152 km NNE on A1.

Significance: Although it became a convent, it was originally a castle built by the Knights Templar. Yes, those Knights Templar. The middle age christian military group discussed in the Dan Brown book, The Da Vinci Code.  It was originally built in 1160 with additions of many styles for the next 400 years.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The main church (from whc.unesco.org)

The Renaissance cloister of John III (from whc.unesco.org)

Royal Palaces of Sintra and Mafra, Portugal - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Royal Palaces of Sintra and Mafra, Portugal

Weather: A mix of clouds and sun in the morning giving way to cloudy skies and light rain in afternoon, 55/66F

Route: From Lisbon 29 km on A37.

Significance: Both of these palaces, 25 km apart, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites on their own. Mafra was built in the early 18th century and Sintra in the middle 19th century.  Mafra is Italian Baroque in design, whereas Sintra is a fantastical mixture of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish, and Renaissance.

Websites: Sintra, Mafra.

Images:

Royal Palace of Sintra (from whc.unesco.org)

Royal Palace of Mafra (from whc.unesco.org)