From Madrid to Lisbon, a tale of two capital cities

Two unique stores on El Rastro, the funky and authentic Portobello of Madrid. In the L. A. Studio, original vintage furniture and special designs, a place appreciated by trendsetters, decorators and film makers such as Pedro Almodóvar. Photography lovers agree, Fotocasión is the place.

Outside of the walls, don't miss the plateresque chapel and the restored bell tower of the church of San Juan or the Plaza Mayor. Within the walls, entering through the Arco de la Estrella, a series of three squares full of monuments: Santa María, San Jorge and San Mateo, the highest in the city. Along the way you will see many fortresses, closed to the outside and opening onto a patio. A typical typology of Cáceres that has been recreated in Atrio.

When the time comes to return to the hotel, nothing could be better than a little dip in the twin pools on the terrace, with the burning red city at your feet.

With the monuments illuminated. From the roof terrace or taking a little solitary walk around the old city, before sleeping sweetly.

At kilometer 590 on the highway, take the turn off for the EX 382 into the meadows where the Iberian pig is raised. When you arrive at Montánchez, go to Casa Bautista to learn about the world of this unique animal, to taste and buy the authentic high-quality ham. A product as fine as caviar. Visits upon request, between 5 and 10 people, guided by experts of the D.O Dehesa de Extremadura

In the archeological complex of Merida : the theater where the Festival of Classical Theater takes place. The National Museum of Roman Art of Rafael Moneo, Pritzker Prize, and the temple of Diana and its surroundings, a work of the young and award-winning architect José María Sánchez García.

To get acquainted with Monsaraz, already 18 kilometers into Portugal. Within its walls, an Alentejo village which maintains intact its medieval layout, with its whitewashed houses, its large noble manors, and its castle with splendid views. Nearby, in Reguengos it is worth buying the handmade carpets. And a little further on, surrounded by vineyards, Heredade do Esporao is a large wine cellar where you can buy its excellent wines, cheeses and local oils. With guided tours, wine tasting and a good restaurant

The reason why so many glazed ceramic tiles–azulejos–can be found in the many churches, monasteries and palaces of évora is because the Alentejo region was one of the first to import them to Portugal. The influence of neighboring Andalusia quickly led the city to ‘reinvent' its own style of tiles. To appreciate the unbound creativity of local artisans, visit the old university, which features hundreds of colorful, illustrative tiles, making it a veritable museum.

In the heart of the Alfama working district the Lisboetas come to listen to fado singers. A song which expresses the feeling of saudade, Fado is the heart of the town itself. Popularised by the tremendous Amália Rodrigues, it is as much a song of love as a devastating cry. A concert at the Clube de Fado, in the Parreirinha de Alfama restaurant or at the Alfama Port will be a memory you take and keep with you for the rest of your like.

Punching your ticket on Tram no 28 is synonymous with escape! Recognisable by its yellow colour and wooden seats, the most popular tram in town takes passengers between Campo Ourique and Martim Moniz. A slow, ambulant picture postcard, striking and Romanesque, between tight turns and steep slopes. On the way, we discover the Basilica and the Jardim da Estrela, the Baixa, the Alfama and the Lisbon Cathedral, ‘la Sé'…