Central Portugal

The beach of Baleal sits at the opposite end of the wide bay, around 4km (3 miles) from the town of Peniche. The sandy beach here connects the island of Baleal to the mainland around 100 metres away. Baleal is a great, clean beach popular with families and even more so, surfers. The variety of coastline here means there are waves suitable for all levels of surfer and all weather conditions.

View out over the fishing / holiday village of Nazare, with its magnificent sandy beach. The beach here is popular with both tourists and surfers. It is Portugal's best known big wave spot with waves of up to 30 metres (100 feet) having been surfed here.

The cliffs from which this photo was taken are around 100m (300ft) high. Fortunately there is a funicular train to take you up and down.

Also known as Rainha das Praias (Queen of Beaches) this huge swathe of golden sand lives up to its reputation. The town and beaches at Figueira da Foz are an enormously popular resort with the Portuguese, who flock here in the Summer.

The Roman Bridge in Chaves on the northern border of Portugal. Also known as Trajano bridge it spans the Tamega River with its 12 arches reaching a distance of around 140 metres (450ft).

A considerable feat of engineering by any standard this bridge has its origins nearly 2,000 years ago. It was built in the reign of Emperor Trajan and two of the original bridge columns are still standing.

Brightly coloured houses line one of the city of Aveiro's famed canals. Sometimes referred to as "The Portuguese Venice" these canals also have there own form of gondolas known as moliceiros.

The Berlengas Islands located around 1km off the coast of Peniche.

A protected area and a haven for wildlife they can easily be reached by boat from Peniche

View out over the rooftops of the idyllic mountain village of Monsanto.

Voted the 'most Portuguese village in Portugal' in 1938 Monsanto consists of a huddle of granite cottages amongst gigantic boulders. There is a ruined castle, and next to it, the ruin of an old chapel both of which add to the ambiance of the location.

Photo:Mónica Pinheiro: http://monicasjeans.blogspot.com/

The Bishop's Garden in the town of Castelo Branco near the Spanish border.

The garden was created in the 18th century for the then Bishop of Guarda, Joao de Mendonca. Constructed in the Baroque style it contains statues of allegories, kings and zodiacal signs, arranged around ponds, terraces and staircases.

Looking out over Leiria from the Gothic gallery of Leiria castle. The gallery is actually part of the royal palace constructed within the castle walls by King João I in the 15th century.

The monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Built in the 12th-13th centuries this was the first example of Gothic architecture in Portugal and for many years the largest church.

Within the monastery are the exquisitely carved tombs of King Pedro I and his lover Ines de Castro who was brutally murdered by order of Pedro's father.

Within the complex are arefectory, dormitory, chapter-house, cloisters, and huge kitchen.