Portugal one of top ten countries to visit in 2010
25 January 2010
Lonely Planet has released its newest edition of Best in Travel. Portugal was named one of the ten hottest countries for this year.
Skirting along the south-western edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the once-great seafaring nation of Portugal today straddles two very different worlds, says Lonely Planet. For purists, this is a land of great tradition, of saints-day festivals where ox-drawn carts still lumber through flower-strewn streets, and ancient vineyards bring sleepy medieval villages to life during the annual harvest.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, something decidedly more modern is transpiring. Old city centres, long ago abandoned by the young and upwardly mobile in favour of the suburbs, are slowly being revitalised. A new wave of boutiques, art galleries and cafes are finding new homes in once crumbling old buildings, and locals are beginning to rediscover the allure of vibrant downtown areas.
Other nine countries on Lonely Place’s list are El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Suriname and USA.