Postcards from... Booklet 2022

Pestana Palace Hotel in Lisbon, now fully restored to its former glory, a member of "The Leading Hotels of theWorld", incorporates a XIX century palace classified as a National Monument and it is considered one of the best hotels in Lisbon. Pestana Palace hotel looks over an inner private park lush with many subtropical trees and plants and enjoys panoramic views over the Tagus River. The hotel has a health club with gymnasium, indoor & outdoor swimming pools, sauna, and major sport facilities nearby such as 18 hole golf courses. If you fancy a countryside retreat rather than being in the heart of the city then why not experience the Penha Longa Hotel and Golf Resort, an exceptional luxury resort hotel nestled in the beautiful Sintra Mountains near Lisbon. Featuring elegant accommodations, exclusive amenities, championship golf and a lavish spa, this luxury hotel allows guests to enjoy the tranquility of life in the Estoril coastal region whilst still being in close proximity to the main attractions of the Capital. Set in a former stately building dating back to the 18th century, Pousada de Lisboa enjoys a central location on the corner of Lisbon’s historic Palace Square near to the riverfront. The building has been beautifully transformed into a luxury boutique hotel with classically elegant interiors, a domed inner courtyard, and sophisticated, contemporary guest rooms and suites with period touches. A tasty buffet breakfast is served each morning, whilst the trendy new steakhouse restaurant, RIB Beef &Wine is open for lunch and dinner and the bar is ideal for a quiet drink at the end of the day. Located along a quiet street just off Lisbon's main avenue, Avenida da Liberdade, this 1940s Art Deco hotel is the last remaining of its kind in the city, designed by the renowned modernist architect, Cassiano Branco. Its Art Deco features have been meticulously restored back to their former glory, with interiors that reflect the period perfectly alongside a modernist flair. Equipped with a cosy Bibliotheque, perfect for delving into a good book, a relaxing lounge, a lively bar and spacious warm-hued rooms, the Hotel Britania is a popular choice in Lisbon. Pousada de Lisboa Hotel Britania Pestana Palace Hotel Penha Longa Hotel And Golf Resort BehindadiscreetdooronAvenuedaLiberdade,Valverde isahiddengem inone of themost exclusive areasof Lisbon that evokes the airof a stately townhouse with itsperfectlypolisheddesign.Thedeepcolours that shade thewallscontrast with thebright tonesof the fabricsandcushions.Aclevermixof retrodetailsand antiques,vintage furnitureandartprintsextends from theentrance to the rooms. Withhigh ceilings and exposedplumbing, thequasi-industrial ambienceof the restaurant, O Sítio, belies the intimate dining experience. Enjoy an exquisite Portuguesecuisine towhichchefCarlaSousaaddsadelightfulCapeVerdean touch. AvenuedeLiberdade,PrincipeReal HiddenGem ValverdeHotel (Relais & Chateaux) The OnePalácio daAnunciada RuadasPortasdeSantoAntão,nearAlfama Palacewithamodern twist The city’s newest 5-star luxury hotel is a tour de force blending the history of theoriginal16th-centuryoriginalbuildingwithanelegant,contemporary interior design that will offer guests an unforgetable experience. The project was developedbyaward-winningdesigner JaimeBeriestain,whosought theperfect balance between the structure’s tradition of the original Palácio daAnunciada and thecontrast in thedesignandcomfortofeachof its spaces.TheOnePalácio daAnunciadaoffersguests, in addition to its elegant83 rooms andwell-cared for interior spaces, 2500m 2 of gardens, aswell as elegant dining areas in the noble roomsof theoriginalpalace. Custard tartsand rhinospotting inBelém Lisbon’shistotical sites span centuriesofPortugal’sascendancy and subsequent fallas theworld’s leadingmaritimepower. Somemonuments like the rooflessConventodeCarmeloalso bear testament to thedestructionof theearthquakeof1755, whichflattened the city.Perhapsoneof the city’smost iconic places is theTorredeBelémwhichwasbuilt toguard the river entrance intoLisbonharbour.The intricate towerhas stoneworkmotifs recalling theDiscoveries,among them twisted ropeand theCatholicCrossesofChrist,aswellas Lisbon'spatron saintStVincentanda rhinoceros.Whilst in the area itwouldbe churlishnot tovisit the templeof tarts,and savour the city’s favoritedelicacy, custard tart (pasteisdenata), atThePastéisdeBelémbakery. Worldclassgastronomy starts in themarket Rapidlybecomingaphenomenon inkey citiesallover the world,Lisbonwas thefirst city to featureaTimeOutMarket opening in2014.Located ina significant sectionof the historicMercadodaRibeira, the city’s famousmarketnow shares itshallswith26 restaurants,8bars,adozen shops andahigh-endmusicvenue. Tobeeligible to tradeyour culinarydelightsmeansgaining recognition fromapanelof food criticsensuring that thehallonly features theverybest! TheLisbonCard Make sureyou invest inTheLisbonCard.Thisamazing21euro contactlessdailypass (44euro for72hours) really isyourbest friendas itgivesunlimitedaccess toLisbon'spublic transport system including travel toSintraandCascais,entry to39museums,attractions& UNESCO-listed sitesandyou canevenSkip-the-lineat severalDGPCMuseums. Itevengives youdiscountsatparticipating shops.Tram rideswillbe irresistibleespecially theNo.28 whichpassesa large selectionof the city’smost famous landmarks. There'snodoubt thatBairroAlto isoneofLisbon'smost luxurioushotels.Named after the livelyand fashionableBarrioAltodistrict in theheartofdowntown, the boutiquehotel isoverlooksLuisdeCamões-Lisbon'smainsquare- ina restored 19th century building resplendent in primrose yellow, with wrought iron balconies and stunning views of the River Tagus. The hotel's décor is a juxtaposition of glamorous urban style with traditional architecture and furnishings fromPortugal. ThePickofLisbonHotels Highly recommended5-star luxuryhotelswithverydifferentappeal inprime locations LuisdeCamõesSquare,BairroAlto GlamBoutique Built in the 19th century for a noble Portuguese family, this is Lisbon’smost luxurious and sumptuously furnished hotel. Located in the diplomatic quarter, Lapa,between theBairroAlto andBelemdistricts, thepalace is set inbeautiful landscapedgardenswhich slopepast the largeoutdoorheated swimmingpool, towards theRiverTagusbelow. Thegastronomic ‘Lapa’restaurant serves classic PortugueseandMediterraneandishes inelegantsurroundings,while‘LePavillon’ serves lightdishesby thepool insummerand the‘Tejo’bar terrace isawonderful place to relaxwithadrinkoverlooking the river. Olissippo LapaPalace BairroAltoHotel Tagus To Do’s Whenyou read theseessential facts you reallyhavenosensible reason not toputavisit toLisbononyour citybreakbucket list -unlessyou wantegg (wellcustard)onyour face! BairrodeLapa Fit foranAmbassadour Belem, thecity’sculturalheartandmuseumdistrict.Theelegant residentialneighbourhoodBairrodaLapa ishome to foreign embassies,expensive townhousesandPortugal’s largestmuseum, theNationalMuseumofAncientArt.ThecentraldistrictofBaixa is the traditionalshoppingcentre,whilstBairroAlto is famed for its nightlife. In theeveninghead toabaror restaurantwhere traditional fado isperformed;amusicgenre recognisedby UNESCOandanessentialpartofLisbon’sheritage. Within20and40minutesof thecitycentre,and incorporated into thepublic transport system lie the townsofCascaisandSintra respectively.Historically,Cascaiswas the summer retreatof the Portuguesenobility,and today the town isanelegant fusionof its illustriousheritageand theexpectationsof themodernvisitor.The beachesclose to townaregloriousbutventurenorthwardsand theybecomemore ruggedas thewild terrainof theSerrade Sintra takeshold. Incontrast the townofSintradeepwithin the pinecladhillsof theSerradeSintrahasalwaysbeenapopularand coolingescape from the summerheatwithplentyof interesting buildings includingwhimsicalpalaces,extravagantvillasand the ruinsofa10th-centuryMoorishcastle. With somuchgoing for thiswonderfulcityat thewesternedge of the IberianPeninsula,andwith somanymoreflights becomingavailable fromallacross theUKonemightbe foolish not tovisitnowbeforeLisbonbecomes toonoticeable -Youhave beenwarned! RaduBercan /Shutterstock.com S omecitieshavemanaged to remainbelow the radarwithLisbonbeinga superbexample. Here isahistoriccapitalcitywithadeep sense ofnational identitypepperedwithcolourful low-risebuildingswithbright terracotta tiled roofs thatcascadeoff itsmanyhills towards theAtlantic Oceanemphasising thecountry’socean-faringpast. With itsback to the restof thecontinentget ready fora quaintyetcosmopolitancitybreak thatpromisesa warmMediterranean styleclimate fromearly spring to lateautumnandmildwinters thanks to theGulfStream, aburgeoning restaurantandbarculture,and is just minutes from someofEurope’sbestbeaches. Thecityhasverydistinctneighbourhoods.Themedievalquarter Alfama, isa labyrinthofnarrowcobbled streetsand steepcrooked alleywaysand theplace toeat in localcafés,wanderamongst the antiqueandbric-a-bracemporiaand loseyourself in the twice-weekly fleamarket.ParquedasNacoes is the regenerated industrialzonenow home to the strikingVascodaGamabridgeand thecity’s impressive aquarium,OceanariodeLisboa.TheTowerofBelem, Jeronimos Monastery, thePlanetariumand theunmissableAjudaPalace lies in