Portugal 2018: A road trip through Portugal in a 44 year old classic Mini, a 1974 Mini Authi. We started our road trip in the Netherlands, drove through Belgium, France and Spain to Portugal. On our classic car road trip, we visited several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and historic places in these countries. On our way south towards Portugal, we drove through the northern part of Spain to Santiago de Compostela and Cape Finisterre, we visited interesting monuments, such as the Vizcaya Bridge, prehistoric caves, the pre-Romanesque churches of Oviedo and Asturias, and the dramatic and unique landscape of Las Medulas. Nearby the Spanish town of Tui, we crossed the border from Spain into Portugal. Our first stop in Portugal was Guimarães. From Guimarães, we went on a day trip to Braga and the Citânia de Briteiros. We attended the IMM (International Mini Meeting) at Praia de Mira, situated on the so-called Silver Coast, about 100 km south of Porto. From Praia de Mira, we went on a day trip to Coimbra. After attending the IMM, we continued our road trip to Nazaré to visite the nearby famous monasteries of Alcobaça, Batalha and Tomar. From Nazaré, we drove along the Atlantic Coast to Lisbon and Cape Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. We continued our Portugal road trip towards the east, to visit the fortified cities of Evora and Elvas. On this road trip, Elvas was our last stop in Portugal. Nearby Elvas, we crossed the border from Portugal into Spain. Along the Autovia Ruta de la Plata, we drove to Salamanca and from there to Estella, a small town near Puente la Reina and Pamplona, situated in the north of Spain. In France, on our way home to the Netherlands, we visited Saint Emilion and several Romanesque churches, such as the Saint-Hilaire Church in Melle. We paid a visit to Chartres and Amiens, both cities are famous for their cathedral. The last stop on this classic car road trip was the town of Auvers-sur Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent the final months of his life. After 25 days and 8016 km on the road we completed this road trip and arrived home safely.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our own 1974 Mini Authi somewhere in France. We started our road trip in the Netherlands, drove through Belgium, France and Spain to Portugal in a 44 year old classic Mini. During our road trip, we visited several World Heritage Monuments and other interesting monuments.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our own 1974 Mini Authi somewhere in France. We started our road trip in the Netherlands, drove through Belgium, France and Spain to Portugal in a 44 year old classic Mini. During our road trip, we visited several World Heritage Monuments and other interesting monuments.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our own 1974 Mini Authi on the north coast of Spain. On this road trip with our own classic Mini, we drove along several sections of the Route of Santiago de Compostela, one of the most famous Christian pilgrimage routes in Europe. The pilgrimage route is leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Classic Car Road Trip: Our own classic Mini parked next to the San Miguel de Lillo. The San Miguel de Lillo is an Asturian pre-Romanesque church near Oviedo, a town in northern Spain. The church was consecrated in 814, the church was connected to the palatial complex that also included the nearby Santa Maria del Naranco.
Classic Car Road Trip: Our own Mini Authi in front of the Santa Maria del Naranco, one of the Asturian pre-Romanesque churches. The Santa Maria del Naranco is situated on the slopes of Mount Naranco, about three km from Oviedo in Spain. The Santa Maria del Naranco was built as a royal palace in 848 and consecrated into a church at the end of the 13th century.
Classic Car Road Trip: Driving in our own classic Mini through Las Medulas, an dramatic and unique landscape of imposing red sandstone rock formations in Spain. The landscape of Las Médulas was shaped by a Roman gold mining system in the first century BCE. Nowadays, the red mountains of Las Médulas are covered by wild flowers, oaks and sweet chestnut trees.
Classic Car Road Trip in a Mini Authi: On our way to Portugal, we drove through the north of Spain to Santiago de Compostela. The Botafumeiro of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the largest censer in the world, a famous and popular symbol of the cathedral. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is one of the most important Christian pilgrimage destinations.
Classic Car Road Trip: Our own classic Mini at the end of the Route of Santiago de Compostela, Cape Finisterre in Spain. Cape Finisterre is a peninsula, situated on the Atlantic Coast, about 90 km from Santiago de Compostela. Cape Finisterre is the final destination for many pilgrims on the Route of Santiago the Compostela, the pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle James.
Classic Car Road Trip: Our own classic Mini next to the zero kilometre signpost of the Route of Santiago de Compostela at Cape Finisterre in Spain, this signpost is the very end of the famous pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Cape Finisterre, meaning 'The End of the World', is a mystical place. The Route of Santiago de Compostela is also known as the Way of St James.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The 1974 Mini Authi in front of Bom Jesus do Monte. Bom Jesus do Monte is a sanctuary, situated on a hilltop in the small town of Tenões, just outsite the city of Braga in Portugal. Bom Jesus do Monte is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Portugal. A Baroque stairway leads up the hill to the church.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: Our own Mini Authi at the 40th IMM )International Mini Meeting). In 2018, the 40th edition of the IMM was held in Praia de Mira in Portugal. The IMM 2018 was organised by the Clube Mini de Portugal. From all over Europe, hundreds of Mini owners drove in their classic Mini or New MINI to Praia de Mira, a fishing village on the west coast of Portugal.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: From Praia de Mira we went on a day trip to Coimbra. Coimbra is known for its university, the oldest in the country and one of the oldest continually operating universities in the world. The University of Coimbra was founded in 1290. The buildings of the old university are worth a visit, especially the Chapel of St. Michael and the Joanina Library.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: Praia de Mira, our own lavender blue classic Mini in front of the tiny fishermen's chapel of Our Lady of Conception and the statue 'O Pescador', the statue honours the fishermen of Praia de Mira. Praia de Mira is a small fishing village, situated on a peaceful strectch of the Costa de Prata, the Silver Coast, about 100 km south of Porto.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: From Praia de Mira, we continued our road trip to Nazaré. In our own classic Mini, we were driving through woods affected by forest fires. We stayed in Nazaré for a few days to visite the nearby famous monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha. From Nazaré, we also went on a day trip to visit the Convent of Christ in Tomar.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The tomb of Inês de Castro, the sculptures depict scenes of her tragic life. Inês was the mistress of Prince Pedro, his father King Afonso IV of Portugal ordered her death. When Pedro became king, he had built this splendid tomb for Inês and a matching tomb for himself. The tombs of King Pedro I and Inês are located in the Monastery of Alcobaça.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The classic Mini in the town of Batalha in front the Monastery of Batalha. In 1385, the town was the setting for the most important battle (batalha) of Portugal, a battle against the Kingdom of Castile to ensure the independence of the Kingdom of Portugal. The Monastery of Batalha was built to commemorate the Portuguese victory over the Castilians.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The lavabo of the Monastery of Batalha dates from 1450. The construction of the Monastery of Batalha started in 1388, it lasted two centuries. The monastery church was the Portuguese monarchy's main church for centuries. The Monastery of Batalha is one of the most beautiful buildings of the Flamboyant Gothic and Manueline styles in Portugal.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The Mini Authi in front of the inspection building of the Pegões Aqueduct, the largest and most impressive aqueduct in Portugal. The Pegões Aqueduct was built between 1593 and 1613 to feed the Convent of Christ in Tomar with water. The inspection building was used to purify the water before it was transported to the Convent of Christ.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The Pegões Aqueduct seen from the inspection building of the aqueduct. The Pegões Aqueduct is about six kilometres long and consists of 180 arches, it has a maximum heigth of thirty metres. The aquaduct transported water from several natural springs near the village of Pegões to the Convent of Christ in Tomar.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal in our own Mini Authi: After visiting the monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha, we drove further south to visit Óbidos. Nowadays, the Castle of Óbidos is a luxury hotel, a so-called pousada. The town of Óbidos is surrounded by medieval walls, it is an unique experience to walk on the walls, they provide beautiful views of Óbidos and its surroundings.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: In the Mini Authi, we drove to the Lighthouse of Cabo Carvoeiro near Peniche. Cabo Carvoeiro is situated on the Atlantic coast in Portugal and notorious for its heavy winter storms. The cape is situated on the western edge of the rocky Peniche peninsula, one of the most difficult places for ships to navigate in the coastal waters of Portugal.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The Pena National Palace, built on the ruins of a monastery. King Ferdinand II of Portugal transformed a ruined monastery into a romantic palace. Pena Palace is situated on top of a hill above the Town of Sintra. Pena Palace is considered one of the most important expressions of the 19th century Romanticism in the world.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The Mini Authi at Cabo da Roca, Cape Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. The cape is located on the Atlantic Coast in Portugal, about 40 km from Lisbon. The cape is a narrow granite cliff and offers breathtaking views over the Atlantic Ocean and the Sintra Mountains. Cabo da Roca is the place to be for an unforgettable sunset.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: An amazing sunset at Cabo da Roca. An inscription on the obelisk mentions the altitude, the latitude and the longitude of Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. There is also a poetry quote engraved on the obelisk, a poetry quote by the 16th century Portuguese poet Luis de Camões: 'Where the land ends and the sea begins.....'
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: We drove in our own Mini Authi to the Belém District of Lisbon to visit to the Monastery of the Hieronymites. The Monastery of the Hieronymites was built in the 16th century and is one of the most flamboyant religious buildings in Portugal. The monastery is an UNESCO World Heritage, along with the nearby Tower of Belém.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: The Tower of Belém, a fortified tower located in the Belém District of Lisbon. The Tower of Belém was built in the period 1515-1521 on a small island in the Tagus River. The official name of the tower is the Torre de São Vicente. The Tower of Belém is the symbol of the maritime discoveries of Portugal.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: After we paid a visit to Lisbon, we continued our Portugal road trip towards the east, to visit the fortified cities of Evora and Elvas. In the classic Mini was it a little bit scary to drive across the 25 de Abril Bridge in Lisbon, because we crossed the bridge in heavy rain. The 25 de Abril Bridge spans the Tagus River and is one of the landmarks of Lisbon.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: Between Lisbon and Evora, during a heavy rain shower, the windscreen of the Mini was hit by a stone and cracked into pieces. We discovered a small classic Mini garage in Evora, the owner had only one 1974 classic Mini windscreen. We were very lucky to have installed this windscreen the same day.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: In our own Mini Authi, we drove through the Montado past a field of vibrant red poppies blooming. The Montado is a cork oak woodland with a savanna-like structure. The characteristic Montado is also known for its olive groves and vineyards. The Montado landscape is situated in the south of Portugal, near the town of Evora.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The Mini Authi near the Anta-Capela de São Brissos, located in the landscape of Montado. In the 17th century, a dolmen from the third century was converted into a Catholic chapel, the Anta-Capela de São Brissos. Montado is located between Lisbon and Evora. The landscape of Montado is known for its cork oaks and for its megalithic monuments.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The Almendres Cromlech is situated in the landscape of the Montado near Evora. The 95 standing stones of the Almendres Cromlech form two large stone circles. The stone circles were built over a long period of time, the first stones were erected in 6000 BC. A number of the stones have ancient drawings, their meanings are unknown.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: During our visit to Elvas, we parked the Mini Authi in front of Elvas Castle. The town of Elvas is situated in Portugal near the Spanish border. Elvas Castle is a medieval military fortification. Elvas Castle is situated at the highest point of Elvas and provides spectacular panoramic views over the town and the surrounding fortifications.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: Our own classic Mini looks very tiny next to the 16th century Amoreira Aqueduct in Elvas. The huge aqueduct was built by the citizens of Elvas to carry fresh water from a spring in Amoreira into the town. The Amoreira Aqueduct is about eight km long and thirty metres high, it still delivers water to the fountain in the Largo da Misericórdia.
Classic Car Road Trip: Puente la Reina is a small town on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, located near Estella and Pamplona in Spain. The Romanesque stone bridge of Puente la Reina was built in the 11th century to help pilgrims cross the Arga River. Puente la Reina was strongly influenced by the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.
Classic Car Road Trip: The Mini Authi at the gates of the former plant of the Authi Car Company at Pamplona in Spain. The Authi Car Company was a Spanish partner of the British Motor Corporation, later merged with Leyland to become the British Leyland Motor Corporation. The Mini was manufactured at the Authi (Automoviles de Turismo Hispano Ingleses) plant in 1974.
Classic Car Road Trip in a Mini Authi: On our way home from Portugal to the Netherlands, we spent several days in Spain. In northern Spain, we visited several interesting places. After spending several days in Spain, we continued our road trip northwards to visit the medieval town of Saint-Émilion in France. From Spain into France, we crossed the Pyrenees Mountains.
Classic Car Road Trip: Driving a classic Mini through the landscape of the Saint-Émilion wine region, a part of the Bordeaux wine region. The Saint-Émilion wine region is situated about 50 km from Bordeaux and stretches around the medieval town of Saint-Émilion, one of the oldest wine towns in the southwestern part of France.
Classic Car Road Trip: In the classic Mini we drove past the Auberge Ravoux in Auvers-sur Oise, France. Auberge Ravoux, also known as Maison van Gogh, is the inn where the painter Vincent van Gogh rented a room in 1890. Vincent spent the last months of his life in Auvers-sur Oise, he committed suicide on 27 July 1890, he is buried at the cemetery of Auvers-sur Oise on 30 July.
Classic Car Road Trip: Auvers-sur-Oise, Le Champ de Blé aux Corbeaux. The Vincent van Gogh route leads through Auvers-sur-Oise along the locations where Vincent lived, worked and died in 1890. A map shows the locations featured in the paintings, there is a poster of each painting at the real location. Most of the locations have remained unchanged since 1890.
Classic Car Road Trip: The nave of Amiens Cathedral, in the foreground the labyrinth of the cathedral. Just like Chartres Cathedral, Amiens Cathedral is famous for its labyrinth. Amiens Cathedral is the largest Gothic church and the largest cathedral in France, it is also one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Amiens Cathedral was one of the last stops on our road trip.
Classic Car Road Trip: Somewhere in France on our way back to the Netherlands. Our road trip started in the Netherlands, we drove through Belgium, France and Spain to Portugal, and then back home again. We visited Portugal before, but this was the first time in a classic Mini. After a few weeks and 8016 km on the road we completed the road trip and arrived home safely.
