Beginning in one of the newest and best design hotels of the Portuguese capital, located in historical Lisbon where the Discovery started, just over the river Tagus and near to the iconic Belém Tower, this stage will lead you to the Vasco da Gama Bridge (built by the time of the Expo ’98 world exhibition) heading south to Almourol, dominated by its medieval castle built in a small islet placed 18 meters above Tagus River.

The road that will take you to the next stop is plenty of curves of all kinds, after which will be possible to visit Lousã, right in the middle of the Route of the Shale Villages (whose houses are built in shale) in the centre of Portugal. Following the road to Arganil is also possible to contemplate an almost lunar landscape plenty of windmills fully integrated in the view, after which the stage ends in the incomparable village of Piodão, also known as the “Crib Village”. This is due to the disposition of its houses (with shale walls and window frames and doors made of wood painted in blue) over the mountain, and to how they look at night when lights are lit, making the all village look like a delightful giant crib.

From castle to castle! First stage of third day will start by taking you along Guadiana River, in the border of Portugal and Spain, through the long and open roads of the plains, with a first stopover at Juromenha whose castle and fortress were of main importance during the wars of Independence and Restoration. Lying on a hill and only 8 km (5 miles) distant – in a straight line - from the Spanish city of Badajoz, Elvas was also of major importance for the territorial defence of Portugal, once being the most fortified city in Europe; but also a must see are its Gothic cathedral (one of the many examples of the Moorish influence in the region) and the 6 km (3,7 miles) long aqueduct that supplies fresh water to the city.

Again the long and open roads, and next on road book is UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only Portuguese town member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network – Évora, a town with a history dating back more than two millennia and full of historical sights, like the roman aqueduct, the roman temple of Diana or the Saint Francis Church and its world known bones chapel (totally covered with human bones), amongst many others. From Évora you’ll head south to the Alqueva dam, named after a small Portuguese village and today the largest artificial lake in Western Europe with no less than 250 km2 (96 sq miles). The day will end at Monsaraz, a medieval town in the right margin of Guadiana River that always occupied an important place in the history of the region, having been occupied by different peoples since the pre-historical record. The castle or the hundreds of megalithic monuments are two of the many attractions as it is the fine and extremely rich cuisine of Alentejo region.

A long stage crossing Portugal from one side to the other, from the border with Spain to the west coast passing by several interesting sites, like the mine of São Domingos where romans mined in tunnels for about 400 years for gold, silver and copper. Mining stopped since romans left until 1855 when it became an open-pit mine – being finally closed in 1996and becoming a famous tourist attraction.

The trip will follow the Portuguese border along some of the most beautiful roads of the country, with magnificent and rare landscapes, and during the journey the Alentejo/Algarve border will be crossed and it will be possible to drive through the almost unknown area of the Portugal’s most touristic region, passing by many “lost villages” – uninhabited places (or almost...) from where young generations left to seek a better life in the coastline and only old people remained. Going along the mountain roads, including the one with as many curves as the days of a year – 360! - will be time to discover a town probably founded during the roman period, and dominated by the muslins after 713 – indeed, Silves and its castle must be paid a visit, after which the shore will be reached.

The night will be passed in the inimitable Sagres, a location inseparable from the Portuguese Age of Discovery due to Prince Henry, The Navigator (1394-1460) who lived and died there and there established the famous nautical school. Sagres Point (a windswept shelf-like promontory only 4 km East and 3 km south of Cape St. Vincent, usually taken as the Southwestern most tip of Europe) and the fortress are other of the main attractions of a village that will remain in the memory of those who visit it also by the incomparable view of the sea that it offers.

Fifth and last day of this unforgettable trip will be totally spent driving along the coastline, sometimes (not few…) in “off-tarmac” roads. This journey offers the perfect opportunity to see the most beautiful beaches of the Portuguese south coast – and, in some cases, some of the less known. Guaranteed names like Zambujeira, Mil Fontes and Cabo Sardão won’t be forgot by those who have the chance to visit these beautiful locations, with their white sands and blue crystal clear waters.

The stage will pass by through beaches of Algarve and Alentejo regions, but also by the very popular ones of the south Lisbon area. In the end, Tagus River will be crossed for the last time until Belém is reached again – after all, like the discoverers 500 years ago, it won’t be easy to find a better place as starting and arrival point for a Portugal’s discovering trip!…