Bussaco (Buçaco), Portugal
Page 2
Continued from page 1
 Things to see:
Besides the
Palace Hotel do Bussaco, with its wedding-cake architecture and formal gardens, the Buçaco
Forest offers a variety of monuments and walks. High points include:
Cold Fountain. From a mountain spring, water bounces downhill over 144 steps
in a cool, shaded forest setting. Follow the lakeside path to the Fern Alley. This
will lead you past the Grottoes Gate via groves of cypresses and other exotic trees. At
one point, you can head uphill to a scenic overlook at the Coimbra Gate (see photo) before
heading back to the hotel through the Cedar Alley.
 Way
of the Cross. As you follow the stations of the cross up the hillside, you'll pass a
series of large shrines containing life-size terracotta figures of Christ, his disciples,
and other characters in the Crucifixion story. (See photo.) The hike terminates in the Cruz
Alta, or High Cross, which offers views of the forested mountains and the Palace
Hotel.
Carmelite Monastery. Most of the monastery was torn down during the
construction of the royal summer palace, but a few portions remain--among them, a chapel
(with innumerable photos of the religious faithful hoping for miracles) and several of the
old monks' cells, which are lined with cork for insulation against the winter cold.
Museum of the Peninsular War.
This small museum commemorates the Battle of
Buçaco and other key battles during Napoleon's attempts to conquer Iberia and destroy the
Portuguese alliance with Great Britain, which dates back to 1373.
Next page:
Practical information for Bussaco
| |
|
"Best of the Web"
- Forbes and The Washington Post
Our most popular topics:
Need a car in Europe?
Auto Europe
guarantees the lowest rental
rates for standard cars, sports cars, SUVs, luxury cars,
chauffered sedans, and RVs. Its Web site also has driving information
for 38 countries.
If
you live outside the EU, a
tax-free
Renault or
Peugeot tourist lease can be cheaper than renting.
Minimum driver age is 18, there' s no upper age limit, and rates include
insurance. See:
Short-term car leasing.
Traveling by train?
Rail Europe
has schedules, maps, and guides for 50+ European railroads. (Residents
of North and Central America can buy tickets and rail passes
online.)
From Europe for Cruisers:
Travel and cruise news:
Europe for Visitors Blog
|
|
