Featured Tour: The Best of Spain and Portugal - 12 Nights
Experience the very best of Spain and Portugal on a fully escorted guided tour through the eyes and expertise of one of the oldest and most reputable tour companies. Read More...
Arts & Culture
Portugal and Spain’s rich past have left them a wealth in art and culture. An astounding number of UNESCO World Heritage sites celebrate both natural and human made wonders while museums display acclaimed collections of works of art. It’s impossible to see or experience it all in one visit. The tourist office of Spain and the tourist office of Portugal is here to help you discover the best places to get Portugal tour deals and Spain tour deals, flight to Portugal and flight to Spain, and Portuguese hotels and Spanish hotels.
The Arts
You do not have to be a lover of the arts to love the art found on the Iberian Peninsula. Influenced over centuries by those who have staked a claim here, it’s as if these countries have staked their own claim to the artistic world.
Some of the world’s most celebrated museums, collections, artists, musicians and dancers are found here and are not to be missed. Stroll along Madrid’s “Paseo del Arte” or “Art Avenue” and spend time enjoying the wonders of the famed “Golden Art Triangle” of museums. Or take in Lisbon’s Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon and the not to be missed Guggenheim Museum in Visit the Bilboa.
This is the land of Picasso and Dalí… the land of the Flamenco and the Fado. Literary works which have given us Don Quixote and Álvaro de Campos comes to life here. The atmosphere which inspired so much creativity is contagious and you will discover it yourself as you explore this beautiful region.
World Heritage
UNESCO recognizes the thousands of years of historical and cultural legacies of the Iberian Peninsula. In fact, the World Heritage sites of Portugal and Spain account for over a fifth of UNESCO’s designated sites in all of Europe.
Among the vast array of cultural and natural locations are prehistoric caves, rare forests, Roman remains, and Jewish and Arabic architecture. Entire city centers in towns such as Toledo, Cordoba Evora and Sintra are recognized for their significance in world history, as are National Parks such as Doñana in Andalusia, Garajonay on the Island of La Gomera and the Laurissilva Forest, on the island of Madeira.
The diversity of these significant locations will leave you wanting to explore further as it presses upon you the importance of protecting and preserving the region’s heritage. And as amazing as these UNESCO sites are, there are even more places under consideration for World Heritage Site designation.
Monuments & History
The history of Portugal and Spain spans thousands of years to prehistoric days and both countries are recognized as some of the oldest cultures in the world.
Its architecture is uniquely distinctive. Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors all left their marks on the region. As a result, the landscape is dotted with fortresses, towers, castles, monasteries, amphitheaters, cathedrals, temples and mosques. Entire towns stand as a testament to their role in their country’s past. You can trace the origins of those who have docked in the harbors of the port cities of Lisbon, Barcelona, Porto Santo, Seville, Cartagena and Averio by simply gazing at their architecture.
Never has so much history been so readily accessible. Many of these intriguing locations are sites you can explore and enjoy on your own. But guided tours are available to give you a more in depth explanation of their historical context.
