So it is not surprising that the city boasts Colombo, the largest one in Iberia, which stands just out of the centre, near Benfica’s Stadium of Light. Equally popular is the Vasco da Gama shopping centre at the Parque das Nações – the former Expo site – which has the added attraction of water cascading over its glass roof. The newest shopping centre is the somewhat smaller Armazens do Chiado, whose array of stores and cafés lie behind the façade of a traditional Lisbon shop, rebuilt after the 1988 Chiado fire.What’s the trendy place to escape to for the weekend? The Alentejo coast, between the capital and the Algarve, especially Zambujeira do Mar, a small, clifftop village above a sweeping, wave-battered beach some three hours south of Lisbon. Another popular retreat is Obidos, a perfectly preserved medieval walled town a couple of hours’ north of Lisbon. It is so picturesque that it used to be the traditional wedding gift of the kings of Portugal to their queens, and out of season its narrow streets are empty of summer tour groups.Matthew Hancock is the author of the ‘Mini Rough Guide to Lisbon’.. Meet an Italian in the mountains of Alto Adige and you will be greeted by a friendly “Gruss Gott” instead of “Ciao”. Locals prefer roast pork and sauerkraut to spaghetti, and streets tend to be known by their Germanic name – Freiheitstrasse, say, instead of Corso Liberta.

Welcome to the Italian Tyrol, a semi-autonomous region of splendid Alpine scenery, fairytale castles and onion-domed churches. The most beautiful spot is the spa town of Merano, an hour’s drive from Austria. Meet an Italian in the mountains of Alto Adige and you will be greeted by a friendly “Gruss Gott” instead of “Ciao”. Locals prefer roast pork and sauerkraut to spaghetti, and streets tend to be known by their Germanic name – Freiheitstrasse, say, instead of Corso Liberta. Welcome to the Italian Tyrol, a semi-autonomous region of splendid Alpine scenery, fairytale castles and onion-domed churches.

The most beautiful spot is the spa town of Merano, an hour’s drive from Austria.
Why go?It’s a picture-perfect medieval town of spires and onion domes. You can get there by train, and walk or ride a horse into the hills and vineyards.First impressions of Merano tend to come from the main street, Via Portici, a medieval arcade where dozens of alleys shoot off into a rabbits’ warren of leafy courtyards, cobbled squares, smoky wine bars, known here as “Weinstuben”, craftsmen’s workshops and ancient palaces, whose walls are decorated with Alpine frescoes. Both sides of the arcade are lined with speciality shops, selling everything from Tyrolean hats, embroidered leather jackets and jewellery to smoked ham, dried mushrooms and fiery grappa. The arcade comes out in front of Merano’s 14th-century cathedral.Leading from the town are three routes offering unforgettable trips into the mountains.