Portugal Less Traveled

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Portugal Less Traveled

Beyond the Tourist Trail | Historic Villages & Traditions | Nature, Adventure, Food & Culture | Wellness | Explore the Beira Region & Serra da Estrela

12/07/2026

One of the biggest mysteries in Portuguese archeology stands in one of our favorite regions: Beira Baixa. Located in the historic village of Belmonte, we speak of the two-story tower of Centum Cellas. A 1st-century ruin, it’s believed to have been a Roman villa or farm estate belonging to Lucius Caecilius and his family, who farmed and mined for tin in the area. A regular on National Geographic Portugal, the magnificent structure has been for centuries the inspiration for local lore and legends. Currently, it’s in the running to be one of the new additions to the seven wonders of Portugal 7Maravilhas®

Visit.Belmonte
7 Maravilhas
�Contact us to learn more about how you can explore this region with us.

24/06/2026

This month we visited one of our favorite villages in the heart of Portugal, Penamacor, to check out Festa Montanha, a three-day festival organized by Colectivo Montanha. The festival showcases primarily original music and poetry, but also other art forms with support for local artisans. The line-up included up-and-coming artists from Portugal as well as other nationalities. In addition to entertainment for all ages, beautiful handcrafted decor, eclectic foods and good vibes, the sweeping panoramic views of Beira Baixa’s rolling hills from the top of Penamacor were a magical and memorable backdrop. Rich with medieval architecture and a breathtaking landscape, it’s no wonder major acts (domestic and international) have made it their stage for events. Interested in visiting this ancient village and getting up-close with its community, contact us on our website (link in bio).

14/06/2026

Meet the Team: This week, we’re introducing co-founder number two, Carla Andresson. Carla has raised three children and a Yorkshire Terrier named Roxy on Portugal’s Silver Coast, where she runs a home rental and property management business. A talented home cook with a certification in cake design, Carla is on a constant quest to taste the next best thing. Most recently, she has developed an interest in a vegan lifestyle. A nature lover with a firm grasp on holistic medicine, Carla is a self-proclaimed expert on sunsets! She’s also obsessed with crispy homemade french fries, which she has learned to share with the hubby–an act of true love in her book. In addition to traveling and tasting for tours, Carla untangles all the red tape at Portugal Less Traveled. Visit our website for more information (link in bio).

14/05/2026

Meet the Team: We kick it off with Sonia Andresson Nolasco, co-founder of Portugal Less Traveled and the wordsmith on the team. Author of Porto: Stories from Portugal’s Historic Bolhão Market, Sonia has spent several years writing about Portuguese culture and cuisine. Before moving to Portugal from the U.S., Sonia worked as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and blogs–and later in communications as a director for marketing agencies. She lives in the heart of Lisbon (her birth city) with her husband, 9-year-old daughter and their cat Mister Pickles. Some of Sonia’s fav things to do in Portugal are hanging at Fado houses in Lisbon, taking the train to Beira Baixa, eating grilled fish in Setúbal and caracóis (snails) everywhere! Since 2020, she’s been guiding food tours in the Lisbon area, while working with the rest of her team to bring you Portugal Less Traveled. Visit our website for more information (link in bio).

08/05/2026

We’d like to thank everyone that has been following our page, shared it with others and reached out to book or partner with us. We’d also like to highlight the team behind Portugal Less Traveled, which makes our mission possible. If you haven’t had a chance to visit our portugallesstraveled.com site to learn more about us, we’re going to spend a few weeks introducing you to our crew: Sonia, Carla, Savannah, Julia, Lynne and Jessica.

24/04/2026

No two people are alike, which is why we’re excited to offer two distinct cheese workshop experiences. Deep in the heart of Serra da Estrela, our cheesemaker (a one woman show) awaits at her doorstep to welcome you in. It’s our raw and real homestyle workshop! Or, we can head to a quaint factory where we gear up to work alongside artisan cheesemakers that churn out batches of buttery cheese every day in a bucolic stone building. Which one fits your personality? Contact us to discuss, and we’ll customize your unique mountain tour.

12/04/2026

Baking bread in the village of Videmonte turned out to be more than a workshop—we stepped into Senhor Manel’s world. Inside a stone house that he built, Senhor Manel bakes batches of pão de centeio (rye bread) every day. He taught us how, but most importantly he made us feel the pulse of his life in that village. He waved his hand “vamos,” let’s go as the dough was set aside to leaven. Over cobbled streets, he led us to the river to proudly show us an ancient watermill he’s recovering. Later, he poured us homemade grape liqueur “jeropiga,” dug up herbs from his wild garden and shared the teas he makes with each one. As the day’s spring weather started to cool—a reminder that light snow still blanketed the mountain—the coziness of the ovens coaxed us back inside the stone house. A car came to a halt; it was a chatty couple stopping (a ritual) for freshly baked bread. Suddenly, Senhor Manel’s vibrant wife stormed in with baked goodies and the widest and warmest smile. The conversation dragged on…the sun set… Senhor Manel dumped the first hot loaves into a large basket, split one open and smothered it with globs of butter that melted instantly. We didn’t just bake that afternoon; we broke bread with the people of Videmonte. These intimate experiences are exactly what inspire us! Visit portugallesstraveled.com to learn more about who we are and what we do.

01/04/2026

We spent three enriching days in Serra da Estrela organized by the mountain villages network— Aldeias de Montanha. We rolled up our sleeves to knead dough for fragrant rye bread; squeezed curds and whey for the region’s prized cheese; and learned to hand embroider with sassy grannies. We rested in elegant country houses that welcomed us with thoughtful homecooked meals, while the mountain recharged us each morning with its magnificent views. We walked away inspired to create meaningful tours with the mission of helping to make a difference in the lives of the locals that opened their homes and workshops to us. Serra da Estrela, we’ll be back! For now, a recap.

24/03/2026

Sheep wool is integral to the identity of Serra da Estrela, and a handful of brands that use it have created a name for themselves in the design world. But there’s one that stands out for its hardcore artisanal production—the ancient “Cobertor de Papa” that originated near the city of Guarda. Though it sounds like it, there is no papal influence in the name, rather it’s a nod to the process of soaking the wool in water to the point that it looks like porridge (papa). Made from “churra do campo and mondegueira” wool, the blankets are handwoven on 300-year-old manual looms maintained by the Associação O Genuíno Cobertor de Papa. Originally used for capes and blankets to shelter shepherds, today this wool combo also wraps sneakers, notebooks and other accessories that can help reach a wider audience. We want to help, too, which is why we’re weaving it into our Wool Tours to support the work that is being done to protect this ancestral craft.

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