3 Best Sights in Estremadura and the Ribatejo, Portugal

Alpiarça is a pleasant little town 7 km (4 miles) northeast of Almeirim on the N118. Here you'll have the chance to see how a wealthy country gentleman lived at the beginning of the 20th century. The Casa dos Patudos, now a museum, was the estate of José Relvas, a diplomat and prosperous local farmer. This unusual three-story manor house with its zebra-stripe spire is surrounded by gardens and vineyards and is filled with an impressive assemblage of ceramics, paintings, and furnishings—including Portugal's foremost collection of Arraiolos carpets.

These are the cottages, in the nearby hamlet of Aljustrel, where the three shepherd children who saw the Virgin Mary were born. To reach them, from Fátima's Rotunda Sul (south roundabout) take the N360 to Aljustrel for just over 1 km (½ mile) and turn right onto Rua de Aljustrel (signposted "Museu"). At the next major junction, the two houses of the little shepherds are along the street to the left, along with the Casa-Museu de Aljustrel (closed Monday), a small museum that aims to give visitors some idea of what life was like in those times. It also displays some the children's own personal items.

Marinha Grande, 11 km (7 miles) west of Leiria, is known for its fine-quality lead crystal, which has been produced in the region since the 17th century. The palatial 18th-century former home of William Stephens, the Englishman who re-established Portugal's Royal Glass Factory, now houses a museum showcasing glass and crystal from several periods and factories. There is a shop in the reception area.