Portugal, Land of Explorers

S1, E5: Poets present Portugal as a broad strip of land whose estuary is its smile. But behind that welcoming air stands a formidable conqueror. For several centuries, Portugal was the land of Great Discoveries. Explorers and navigators left from its ports, which were mirrors of the country’s maritime power. Gold, spices, and cultures were exchanged on the banks of the Tagus, at the mouth of the Doura, and facing the ocean. Portugal retained an authentic charm, nourished by many influences and journeys, as it shaped its own identity: Azulejos, blue and white porcelain tiles sketched with stories, adorn Gothic and Baroque buildings, while the Manueline style, rich with seashells and other marine ornaments, defines the country’s great avenues. Portugal’s character, forged by wars and the dictatorship, reveals itself today through a colorful culture beloved by visitors from around the world. We will cross Portugal from south to north and back again, like explorers reliving the great moments from its history. Lisbon will be our port of departure and arrival, as it was for the great navigators. The capital holds both a tower and a monastery, emblems of the country’s golden age, that pay tribute to the Great Explorers. From Lisbon we will travel first to the royal building of Mafra before heading north to the vineyards of the Alto Douro. We will follow the Douro downstream to Porto, and then our journey will take us back south almost to Lisbon, facing the Atlantic atop the palaces of Sintra.