GOING WHERE OTHERS SELDOM GO
Are you interested in a different style of life? In doing things the herd doesn’t do? Then maybe Europe’s alternative cities are worth a look. It’s the feel of them, the look of them, the fact that mostly their citizens outnumber the tourists in the street, rather than the other way around. It’s the taste of the food, the different dishes, the beers and the wines you’ve never heard of.
If you’re a bit of an ‘outsider’, these are the places for you.
THE OTHER END OF PORTUGAL
That was certainly the case with me back in 2001 when I started to take a particular interest in the ‘non-Algarve’, northern end of Portugal. I was amazed to find that the old capital of Portugal was way up north in a city called Guimarães. In fact, Lisbon only became Portugal’s capital in the 18th century.
THE GREEN COAST
This authentic, ancient northern Portugal soon became my goal. I wanted to be surrounded by the historic buildings and culture of the ‘real’ Portugal, which starts north of Lisbon. The most northerly region, next to Galicia in Spain, is called the ‘Minho’, and its coastline the ‘Costa Verde’ (the Green Coast).
Are you interested in a different style of life? In doing things the herd doesn’t do? Then maybe Europe’s alternative cities are worth a look. It’s the feel of them, the look of them, the fact that mostly their citizens outnumber the tourists in the street, rather than the other way around. It’s the taste of the food, the different dishes, the beers and the wines you’ve never heard of.
If you’re a bit of an ‘outsider’, these are the places for you.
THE OTHER END OF PORTUGAL
That was certainly the case with me back in 2001 when I started to take a particular interest in the ‘non-Algarve’, northern end of Portugal. I was amazed to find that the old capital of Portugal was way up north in a city called Guimarães. In fact, Lisbon only became Portugal’s capital in the 18th century.
THE GREEN COAST
This authentic, ancient northern Portugal soon became my goal. I wanted to be surrounded by the historic buildings and culture of the ‘real’ Portugal, which starts north of Lisbon. The most northerly region, next to Galicia in Spain, is called the ‘Minho’, and its coastline the ‘Costa Verde’ (the Green Coast).
| FINE COUNTRY HOUSE What really swung it was finding the famous old country house and estate called ‘Paço de Calheiros’, an hour north of Porto and positioned splendidly on a south-facing slope of a mountain overlooking Portugal’s oldest town called Ponte de Lima. This is an example of the Portuguese 'Solar' - a rural Bed and Breakfast offering which allows the guest to be almost a member of the host family. |  |
THE COUNT OF CALHEIROS
I stayed here for my first visits to the area and it was the Count of Calheiros, Francisco, who urged me to consider building a house in the immediate area. By lunchtime the same day, I had found a site. In that serendipitous moment, I knew it was the place for me to build my new home.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
These are the key questions you need to be asking yourself:
o How far off the beaten track do I want to be?
o Do I welcome the chance to learn a new language and culture?
o Am I more at home with the familiar or do I want a bit of an adventure?
EUROPE’S SUNBELT
It’s worth checking out that your future property in Europe’s sunbelt (from Portugal in the West to Turkey in the East) is close to one of the continent’s ‘best alternative cities’.
HIDDEN SUNSHINE is proud to point out that several of its properties are one hour away from Portugal’s second city, Porto, which is very definitely on the list. Don’t just take HIDDEN SUNSHINE’s word for it.…
These are the key questions you need to be asking yourself:
o How far off the beaten track do I want to be?
o Do I welcome the chance to learn a new language and culture?
o Am I more at home with the familiar or do I want a bit of an adventure?
EUROPE’S SUNBELT
It’s worth checking out that your future property in Europe’s sunbelt (from Portugal in the West to Turkey in the East) is close to one of the continent’s ‘best alternative cities’.
HIDDEN SUNSHINE is proud to point out that several of its properties are one hour away from Portugal’s second city, Porto, which is very definitely on the list. Don’t just take HIDDEN SUNSHINE’s word for it.…
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