Imagine this...
Soft sandy beaches rimmed by dramatic, burnished-gold cliffs, a touch of breeze on your skin, an icy drink in your hand... The palm trees behind you rustle and coral-colored hibiscus flowers and purple wisteria wrap around centuries old stone walls. You spent the morning in the medieval castle, learning to cook the perfect paella, before an afternoon on the beach watching the rainbow colored boats come and go. Soon it will be time to meet your friends at an intimate, gourmet restaurant before heading out to the fado music performance at a funky bar. Where are you?
This is Portugal. Beautiful, blissfully undiscovered destination which offers glorious beaches, fantastic Manueline architecture, mysteries hidden in the pages of its history, superb seafood and amazing wines, elegantly painted ceramic tiles, Moors' castles, convents and monasteries, bewitching grandeur of baroque palaces, fairytale walled towns, warm locals and sunny days with blue skies.
When you add the company of sophisticated, like-minded travelers, luxury accommodations and enthusiastic, knowledgeable guides, you get another perfect Sights and Soul Travels tour.

The ocean has always had a powerful hold on Portugal. The Portuguese spent a long time looking out to the sea, which inspired their voyages during the Age of Discoveries and the accomplishments of Vasco de Gama and Magellan. Stretching along the Atlantic, the Silver Coast of Portugal is the westernmost coast of continental Europe. Stunningly beautiful and sunny, it is also fantastically diverse: from craggy streaked rocks meeting long beaches, lagoons and serene sandy islands to sophisticated resorts, romantic hideaways, wooded hillsides sliding to the ocean and frozen in time, whitewashed villages nodding over the great blue expanse of the Atlantic. Portuguese beaches bring joy to beach walkers, surfers, sun- worshippers, romantics, nature lovers and everyone in between. Today, this seafaring culture still dominates the country's history, cuisine, economy and leisure time.

From the moment you land at the Lisbon airport, you are surrounded by Portugal's favorite decorative art: polished, hand-painted tiles called azulejos after the Arabic al zulaycha, meaning polished stone. These tiles seem to cover everything in sight, from churches and houses to train stations and shop interiors. It was the Moors who introduced the art, having picked it up from the Persians, but the Portuguese liked it so much that they tiled everything that was flat enough and could support this decoration.

Those who don't believe Lisbon is paradise can check with the flamingos. Thousands of them come early every spring and stay for a while right in the Tagus River Estuary. These lovely birds, along with storks and herons, the tropical flowers and exotic trees add yet another dimension to the capital city of Portugal. Lisboa, because of its unique and enticing light, is called the "white city". It is not only monumental and historic but also free-spirited, green and exotic.
Lisbon was was first settled by the Phoenicians and in 60 BC the Romans made it the provincial capital. Over two thousand years the city's rich history was woven with many conquests, tragedies and victories. Today, it is a city as romantic as Paris, as much fun as Madrid and as laid-back as Rome, yet it is small enough to encourage personal exploration. Located on seven hills, the city's architectural beauty and its faded glory are expressed through its Baroque cafes, velvet-lined bars and Art Deco bakeries which add to the charm of Lisbon and make it difficult to leave. The cobbled, narrow streets and sidewalks laid out in dizzying mosaic patterns lead from one unique neighborhood to another until you discover it for yourself and create your own map of the city.
Even with its ancient roots, Lisbon is very much looking into the future. There are many imposing new structures, representative of modern European architecture, but Lisbon has always been fascinated by the Americas. This fascination is echoed by its response to Rio de Janeiro with the statue of Christo Rei dominating the city and its response to San Francisco with its 25 of April Bridge.

Wrapped in splendor and mystique, the Knights Templar had enormous power in medieval Europe. Their connection with Portugal starts in 1140 as they arrive to help expel the Moors. In 1160, Gualdim Pais of Portugal becomes the Grand Master of the Templars and builds an impressive fortress in Tomar. The fortress, known as Convento de Cristo, becomes the Knights' Templar headquarters.