"Grandola, Vila Morena" remains a symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of music to inspire social change. Every year on April 25th, the song is played throughout Portugal as the country commemorates the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, celebrating the triumph of democracy over dictatorship. Read more →

We all have certain holes in our heads, All in their proper place. If God gave us these holes, Alas, we have to estimate. Read more →

Fado is cathartic, and full of a longing to return to a place and time that never was. But, like anything about Portugal, there is a lot more there that you might think. Fado is often referred to as a Lisbon song, and that is not exactly true. The Fado, the oldest form of popular music still practiced in Europe, reflects the complex soul of the Portuguese. Neither sad nor joyous, the Fado is a song of "fallen souls, lost nights, strange shadows, love, jealousy, ashes and flames." Read more →

Portugal might be a small country, about the size of Maine, but it offers a big variety of food, artistic practices, music, and traditional crafts among many other things. We’ve put together a list of experiences that are bucket-list essentials of a trip to Portugal and that you won't be able to get anywhere else. Read more →

Every Thursday Barcelos becomes a magnet for traders selling everything from jewelry, clothing, tools, and pottery to food and vegetables.  Read more →

6 Pottery Towns in Portugal Read more →

Fado is the most Portuguese of songs, and often the most misunderstood. Visitors think it is a sad song, but that is a half truth. In fact, Fado can be sad and nostalgic, and that is cathartic to the listener. Fado is a purge of strong emotions. And, so in that spirit, we look into the soul of this ancient musical form, and find the 5 most mournful of Fados. Read more →

Portugal is a nostalgic nation. And many fados from the 19th century looked back to a simpler time, when street sellers, know as Pregões, sold everything from fish to bread. Here are two of our favorites - one fondly recalling how black braids became all the rage in Lisbon - and the other a love letter to a lemon seller. Read more →

Portugal has no entrance exam.  But it is sneaking up on 900 years of existence.  Like a good glass of wine there are many flavors, and hues Last year we offered our tongue-in-cheek Portuguese citizenship exam. It gained a few comments, and stumped a few people. As a result, here is the 2nd round of “So you think you know Portugal.” And the questions just got a tad harder. Read more →

Portugal’s climate is largely influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, meaning that the north of the country is cooler and rainier, and moving south along the coast the temperatures get higher. The south is sunny and drier, and the heat can be more intense. The islands, Madeira and the Azores, have year-round Atlantic climates. So, the real thing determining the ideal time to travel to Portugal is the amount of tourists you will encounter, rather than the temperatures you might face Read more →