ITINERARY FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 5 DESTINATIONS TO DISCOVER THE PORTUGUESE COBBLESTONE PAVEMENT

We start south, in Quarteira. In this parish in the municipality of Loulé, the main reason is, of course, the sea, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to enjoy the good Algarve weather. In fact, it is precisely on the waterfront, on Avenida Infante Sagres, that we find the largest installation of Portuguese Cobblestone Pavement, inviting for long walks in a street that is closed to traffic.

Closer to Lisbon, in the beginning of the Alentejo province, we have Setúbal. Capital of fried cuttlefish par excellence, it is one of the richest places in terms of examples that dignify the Portuguese Cobblestone Pavement. In its main arteries, such as Avenida Luísa Todi, or Praça do Bocage (where we find the city's coat of arms encrusted in stone), the sidewalk plays the main role, in the style of coastal cities. But also in lesser known spots, such as Avenida Nunes de Carvalho, or Quinta de Beloura, we can appreciate real works of art. In fact, in the latter, there is a pavement completely executed in hexagonal by the pavement maker Luís Pereira.

In Santarém, Ribatejo, its bullfighting and country traditions are illustrated on the cobblestone pavement. Just think of the bullfighter in stone on Avenida José Saramago or the meadows and bulls that you can see on Rua Reitor Pedro Calmon. Another curious fact about localities with train stops are the names of the cities carved in stone — and Santarém does not escape this rule.

Going up a little further, the next stop is Aveiro. From the soft eggs to the ria, also a city by train, which can also be read on the sidewalk. In fact, Aveiro is one of the richest examples in this chapter. For this, they influence, of course, its plan — which makes it easy to travel by bicycle or on foot — as well as the richness of raw materials in the area. The influence of the sea, fishing activities or work in the salt marshes is evident in the ground we walk on in this district capital. Fish and other maritime volumes can be 'sighted' at Praça 14 de Julho, Avenida Lourenço Peixinho, Largo da Praça do Peixe, among many others.

Guimarães is, as they say, the capital of the cradle, the scene of family wars between Dom Afonso Henriques and Dona Teresa, which would later set the tone for the birth of Portugal. As such, it is not surprising that in an area so populated by Portuguese imagination, with an inspiring castle, there are excellent examples of something as Portuguese as the cobblestone pavement. Largo do Toural, Jardim Luís de Camões, or Praça Rodrigues Lobo are business cards that deserve special attention.

In short, excellent suggestions for a family holiday.