First of all, there’s the sea. The Portuguese have enjoyed a long love affair with the ocean. After all, it was this that allowed Portuguese explorers to embark on their famous Discoveries. But it also conjures feelings of nostalgia, loss, the sorrow of unrequited love, and the distinctly Portuguese feeling of saudade.

With its promise of new arrivals, the sea has also taught Portugal the art of hospitality. Visitors to the idyllic town of Bussaco, to the beautiful palaces, country estates and manor houses, such as the Solar da Rede, by the banks of the river Douro, can all expect a warm welcome.

The light and colours of Portugal also inspire romance. There is the shimmering half-light of the sea, the light that filters through the trees in Sintra, and a variety of shades that have inspired poets, painters and lovers.

This romance can be felt throughout the country: in a narrow street in Alfama, in Lisbon, in the Ribeira district by the riverside in Porto, or on the plains spreading out before your eyes from the window of a Pousada in the Alentejo.

So come to Portugal and experience the romance for yourself.