Praia de Moledo

Traditions are traditions and spending the last weeks of summer in Praia de Moledo, as a big family, is unwritten law for Luísa. In front of Moledo Beach is a small rocky island that can be visited by boat. On the island is the 'Ínsua Fortress', built in the 15th century as a convent before, in the 17th and 18th centuries undergoing conversion work that transformed it into a coastal defence post.

Sintra, Portugal

This was one of the places where Luísa spent her childhood. Awarded the qualification of Cultural Landscape of World Heritage on 6 December, 1995, Sintra is an immense open book full of images from the past framed in a fascinating nature. One of the most beautiful places to visit is the well known 'Palácio da Pena'. The natural landscape of Sintra gives this mythical place a unique beauty.

Porto City, Portugal

Porto is home to centuries-old architecture, intricately tiled churches and buildings, and some of the best food and drink in Europe. As a bonus, Porto makes a great spot for a beach holiday too. Porto is a vital port of trade between the fertile valleys of Northern Portugal and the rest of the world. The Douro River trickles its way down from the mountains in Spain, and flows through the city and out into the Atlantic, historically playing a vital role in the city's economy and the country's history.

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Luísa Novais Machado