Portugal has one of the oldest unchanged borders in the world — which is another way of saying it's a very old country. Lonely Planet's Stainer says: "don't miss Lisbon's historic Belém district with its monastery, monuments, and museums; the gorgeous white palace at Sintra; and Braga's spectacular baroque staircase that ferries pilgrims up a mountain."
This year is also an important year in Portuguese religious culture. Brooks explains: "2017 marks the centennial of the Virgin Mary’s apparition to three children in the village of Fatima in 1917. The ancient Portuguese route towards Santiago de Compostela is a worthwhile trek that pilgrims have made for centuries."
