It’s no surprise that Portugal - with its blend of natural beauty, rich culture, world-class cuisine and incredible wine - is a favorite among travelers in the know. What is surprising is how little the rest of us know about this small nation with such a big history; and how it’s often overlooked in favor of its larger, more famous neighbor, Spain.

But, Catarina Araújo, the Lisbon-born writer of one of the top Portugal blogs on the net, A Portuguese Affair, is here to change all that.

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Planning a trip to Portugal? Get authentic, on-the-ground advice from our network of local experts. Cerca’s Concierge is open and free for a limited time in Lisbon and Porto!

For this episode’s full show notes, download the free CERCA app, available for iOS. Get maps, photos, and info on the places mentioned. Plus, ad-free listening, bonus content, and early access to other episodes in this guide.

Want more? Visit CercaTravel.com for more news on where Cerca is going and to sign up for special access to new features.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s no surprise that Portugal - with its blend of natural beauty, rich culture, world-class cuisine and incredible wine - is a favorite among travelers in the know. What is surprising is how little the rest of us know about this small nation with such a big history; and how it’s often overlooked in favor of its larger, more famous neighbor, Spain.

But, Catarina Araújo, the Lisbon-born writer of one of the top Portugal blogs on the net, A Portuguese Affair, is here to change all that.

In this Portugal primer, Catarina lets you in on why Portugal makes such an incredible destination, and gives you some key practical tips to help you start crafting the trip of a lifetime.

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Planning a trip to Portugal? Get authentic, on-the-ground advice from our network of local experts.  Cerca’s Concierge is open and free for a limited time in Lisbon and Porto!

For this episode’s full show notes, download the free CERCA app, available for iOS.  Get maps, photos, and info on the places mentioned.  Plus, ad-free listening, bonus content, and early access to other episodes in this guide.

Want more? Visit CercaTravel.com for more news on where Cerca is going and to sign up for special access to new features. 

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CONNECT WITH CATARINA

On the web: aportugueseaffair.com

On Instagram: @aportugueseaffair

On Facebook: /aportugueseaffair

CONNECT WITH CERCA

On the web: cercatravel.com

On instagram: @cerca_travel

On Facebook: /cercaguide

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Portuguese take food very seriously.  In fact, Catarina believes that one could even say it’s the key ingredient to their collective identity (pun totally intended). In Portugal meals are something to be savored not rushed – and certainly not something you do in front of a computer screen. The Portuguese approach to food is not only healthy, but one that values recipes passed down through the generations, the best ingredients, and tradition. 

In this, the first of a two part tour or Portugal through its cuisine, Catarina introduces you to the mouth-watering staples of Portuguese food. From how to savor incredible fresh-baked regional breads like Pão de Mafra and bolo do caco, to why your best bet is to always look for foods marked DOP, this episode will have you daydreaming about delicious meals enjoyed on sun-drenched esplanadas.

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Planning a trip to Portugal? Get authentic, on-the-ground advice from our network of local experts.  Cerca’s Concierge is open and free for a limited time in Lisbon and Porto!

For this episode’s full show notes, download the free CERCA app, available for iOS.  Get maps, photos, and info on the places mentioned.  Plus, ad-free listening, bonus content, and early access to other episodes in this guide.

Want more? Visit CercaTravel.com for more news on where Cerca is going and to sign up for special access to new features. 

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CONNECT WITH CATARINA

On the web: aportugueseaffair.com

On Instagram: @aportugueseaffair

On Facebook: /aportugueseaffair

CONNECT WITH CERCA

On the web: cercatravel.com

On instagram: @cerca_travel

On Facebook: /cercaguide

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you haven’t already guessed, food is important to the Portuguese. Very important. The importance of food in Portuguese culture, family, social life, and tradition isn’t just something connected to holidays or special occasions - this is a year-round love affair. So much so that there is actually a codified “7 Gastronomic wonders of Portugal”!  And trust us, they are, in fact, worthy of such grand treatment.

From some of the best fish and seafood in the world, to a special meal cooked entirely underground, to lanche - a uniquely Portuguese spin on afternoon tea. And Catarina’s favorite meal of the day.  Plus, dessert.  So many delicious desserts!

So join Catarina on the second part of A Portuguese Affair’s gastronomic galavant through Portugal.

Missed part 1? Learn all about the staples of Portuguese cuisine here!

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Planning a trip to Portugal? Get authentic, on-the-ground advice from our network of local experts.  Cerca’s Concierge is open and free for a limited time in Lisbon and Porto!

For this episode’s full show notes, download the free CERCA app, available for iOS.  Get maps, photos, and info on the places mentioned.  Plus, ad-free listening, bonus content, and early access to other episodes in this guide.

Want more? Visit CercaTravel.com for more news on where Cerca is going and to sign up for special access to new features. 

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CONNECT WITH CATARINA

On the web: aportugueseaffair.com

On Instagram: @aportugueseaffair

On Facebook: /aportugueseaffair

CONNECT WITH CERCA

On the web: cercatravel.com

On instagram: @cerca_travel

On Facebook: /cercaguide

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you imagine your time in Portugal, perhaps you see yourself tasting port in dimly lit cellars surrounded by large barrels or sipping red wine over an al fresco meal with a view of the ocean.  Portugal is not lacking in well-known ways to unwind with a drink or two. But the drinks you already know are only half the story.  

In this episode, Catarina takes you on a tour that begins with the fabulous Port and Vinho Verde you may know and continues on to incredible wines, cocktails, craft beer, and other boozy delights you might never have expected.

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Planning a trip to Portugal? Get authentic, on-the-ground advice from our network of local experts.  Cerca’s Concierge is open and free for a limited time in Lisbon and Porto!

For this episode’s full show notes, download the free CERCA app, available for iOS.  Get maps, photos, and info on the places mentioned.  Plus, ad-free listening, bonus content, and early access to other episodes in this guide.

Want more? Visit CercaTravel.com for more news on where Cerca is going and to sign up for special access to new features. 

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CONNECT WITH CATARINA

On the web: aportugueseaffair.com

On Instagram: @aportugueseaffair

On Facebook: /aportugueseaffair

CONNECT WITH CERCA

On the web: cercatravel.com

On instagram: @cerca_travel

On Facebook: /cercaguide

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

30 minutes outside of Lisbon, situated in the hills of the Serra de Sintra, is a place of majestic forests, magnificent palaces, resplendent villas, and so much more. Sintra has been casting its spell on visitors for centuries. Famous English poet Lord Byron once called it a “glorious Eden,” and said that it was one of the most beautiful villages in the world. And Catarina tends to agree.  In Sintra, you feel transported to another time and place - somewhere that sits between reality and a dream.

In this Episode, Catarina takes you on a guided tour of one of Portugal's most special places, and tells you everything you need to know: about where to stay and eat, what to see and how best to see it - to fall under this magical town’s spell yourself. 

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Planning a trip to Portugal? Get authentic, on-the-ground advice from our network of local experts.  Cerca’s Concierge is open and free for a limited time in Lisbon and Porto!

For this episode’s full show notes, download the free CERCA app, available for iOS.  Get maps, photos, and info on the places mentioned.  Plus, ad-free listening, bonus content, and early access to other episodes in this guide.

Want more? Visit CercaTravel.com for more news on where Cerca is going and to sign up for special access to new features. 

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CONNECT WITH CATARINA

On the web: aportugueseaffair.com

On Instagram: @aportugueseaffair

On Facebook: /aportugueseaffair

CONNECT WITH CERCA

On the web: cercatravel.com

On instagram: @cerca_travel

On Facebook: /cercaguide

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There is history everywhere you look in Downtown Lisbon. Portugal’s capital is an ancient city after all - four centuries older than Rome.  On its streets, entire swaths of history co-exist. Roman ruins from 300AD next to more modern structures from the 1800s. And nineteenth century buildings with basements that hold the ruins of structures from the 1500s. Lisbon was shaped by an almost unimaginable natural disaster - the earthquake, fire, and tsunami of 1775.  But Lisbon bounced back - as it would, repeatedly, over the centuries - each time stronger and better.

Today, Lisbon is in the midst of yet another renaissance. World class food, art, entertainment, culture, plus ancient and proud history, are on display everywhere. From the iconic must-dos like Praça do Comércio, Castelo de São Jorge, and Alfama, to Catarina's hidden gems and secret spots.  Lisbon is the first place Catarina ever loved - and after hearing this episode, you’ll understand why.

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Planning a trip to Portugal? Get authentic, on-the-ground advice from our network of local experts.  Cerca’s Concierge is open and free for a limited time in Lisbon and Porto!

For this episode’s full show notes, download the free CERCA app, available for iOS.  Get maps, photos, and info on the places mentioned.  Plus, ad-free listening, bonus content, and early access to other episodes in this guide.

Want more? Visit CercaTravel.com for more news on where Cerca is going and to sign up for special access to new features. 

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CONNECT WITH CATARINA

On the web: aportugueseaffair.com

On Instagram: @aportugueseaffair

On Facebook: /aportugueseaffair

CONNECT WITH CERCA

On the web: cercatravel.com

On instagram: @cerca_travel

On Facebook: /cercaguide

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Given how much there is to see and do - not to mention taste - in Downtown Lisbon, it’s easy to understand why some people don’t ever venture further afield. But Downtown is only the start of what Portugal’s capital has to offer.  In this Episode, Catarina takes you on a tour of other parts of the city that you won’t want to miss.

You’ll taste world famous tarts, fresh from the oven at Pastéis de Belém, mix with the locals at one of Docas’ hip bars and uncover bits of Lisbon’s secret history, like an Indian rhinoceros immortalized in a carving on one of Lisbon’s most famous landmarks; and an 18th century palace that remains unfinished. So what are you waiting for? Vamos a isto!

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Planning a trip to Portugal? Get authentic, on-the-ground advice from our network of local experts.  Cerca’s Concierge is open and free for a limited time in Lisbon and Porto!

For this episode’s full show notes, download the free CERCA app, available for iOS.  Get maps, photos, and info on the places mentioned.  Plus, ad-free listening, bonus content, and early access to other episodes in this guide.

Want more? Visit CercaTravel.com for more news on where Cerca is going and to sign up for special access to new features. 

---

CONNECT WITH CATARINA

On the web: aportugueseaffair.com

On Instagram: @aportugueseaffair

On Facebook: /aportugueseaffair

CONNECT WITH CERCA

On the web: cercatravel.com

On instagram: @cerca_travel

On Facebook: /cercaguide

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.