Nazare Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Nazare, Portugal, is a picturesque if somewhat touristy fishing village 80 mi/130 km north of Lisbon. It is worth a visit of at least several hours, and you might prefer to stay overnight. There are Venetian-style fishing boats offshore, an interesting fish auction and one of the cleanest beaches in Europe (local women sift the sand).

The setting is impressive: The lower part is the fishermen's quarter and beach area; the upper part is the sitio—a peninsula with magnificent high cliffs. This is where most of the residents live and can be reached by a funicular car from the beach.

It's fun to spend time at the sitio just people-watching. If you need a destination, visit the Chapel of Memory, erected by a nobleman after a vision of the Virgin Mary warned him he was in danger of going over a cliff in a heavy fog.

Other activities in Nazare include eating lots of seafood, visiting the Sao Miguel Fort and attending the Festival of Nossa Senhora da Nazare Romaria (held in September, it features traditional folk dances). If you're staying in the village overnight, watch the fishermen row out to sea until nothing is visible but their bobbing lanterns.

Another fishing village in the area is Peniche, Portugal's sardine capital. There are several restaurants along the shoreline that grill the fresh catch May-October.

Just south of Nazare is the medieval walled town of Obidos, which has a medieval castle (now a pousada) and lovely whitewashed houses with flower-filled balconies.

Overview

Introduction

Nazareth, in the southern part of Galilee, is famed as Jesus' boyhood home. It contains the beautiful Basilica of the Annunciation, built over the grotto where Mary lived. The grotto is a part of the altar, and on the second-floor addition, the walls are covered with mosaics of the Madonna and Child created by artists from around the world (those of Japan and Cameroon are standouts). Additional mosaics are displayed along the covered walkway outside (don't miss the one from Thailand).

Across a garden from the Basilica is the small St. Joseph's Church, built on the site of Joseph's carpenter shop. It contains paintings of Jesus and his parents. Although there are many other churches in Nazareth, the Gothic-style Basilica known as the Synagogue Church and run by the Greek Catholics is said to be the synagogue where Jesus was taught as an adolescent and where he returned as an adult to read from the Scriptures.