Lisbon, Las Palmas, St. Cruz de Tenerife, Mindelo, Maceio, Salvador de Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Santos

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, on the southwest of the country, has been the main gateway for the rest of the planet for more than 19 centuries. Ships captained by Portuguese explorers like Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan, skittered across the globe, hauling treasure home and making Lisbon a global capital. Draped across seven hills, Lisbon was once the center of a vast maritime empire that stretched from the west coast of Africa to the Spice Islands of the East Indies, until 1755, when a violent earthquake destroyed two-thirds of the city, leaving intact only the Alfama, the old Moorish quarter. Today, Lisbon is a stately city of Neoclassical buildings and wide plazas. Eternally linked to the sea, Lisbon's magnificent harbor is spanned by the longest suspension bridge in Europe. Among the city's landmarks are the iconic Castelo de São Jorge, the World Heritage Sites of Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, both built in Lisbon's native Manueline architectural style.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the capital of the island, is set amidst magnificent scenery composed of two bays and their beautiful beaches, in the north-eastern part of the island. Founded in 1478, the town is characterized by an important historical and cultural heritage, which is depicted in the district of Vegueta, the oldest quarter of the town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, where you can see the Cathedral of Santa Ana, Casa Museo de Colón, Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno & Museo Canario.

Tenerife is the largest the seven Canary Islands. It is one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain, with millions of tourists visiting it each year. Its landscape has been sculpted by a series of volcanic eruptions.

Mindelo is located on the volcanic island of São Vicente, in Cape Verde. Mindelo is the cultural capital of the Cape Verde Islands which lie off North Africa's tropical coast. It is a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant night life and Afro-Portuguese influences. On the waterfront, near the fish market, there is a replica of Lisbon’s Belem Tower. The Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora started her career singing in Mindelo.

Maceió is the capital of the coastal state Alagoas, in northeast Brazil. Maceió stands out for its beauty and its remarkable culture and has become a popular tourist destination.

Salvador da Bahia is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil. The Historic Centre of the city is renowned for its Portuguese colonial architecture and it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The beaches are ideal for swimming, sailing, diving, surfing and underwater fishing.

Rio de Janeiro is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil's primary tourist resort. The landmarks of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Christ statue, the spectacular beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema, the sensual rhythm of samba dance, the Carnival and the passionate and friendly people are only some of the reasons that Rio is such a favorite destination.

São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, located in the southeast part of the country. South of the city, lies the Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, a mountain range covered by exhuberant rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the major attractions of São Paulo is the excellent quality of its restaurants and the diverse regional and international cuisine.