One of the oldest nations in Europe, Portugal has a rich history which can still be explored in the intriguing towns and churches that are dotted across its varied landscape. The north has lush valleys, vineyards, Baroque mansions, and spectacular scenery in the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Geres. The Beiras region presents a white-sand coastline along the Atlantic, forest-clad mountains - and includes the ancient university town of Coimbra. Lisbon, the capital since 1255, is a city of fado music and seafaring history, and features winding medieval streets and buildings of crumbling grandeur.