The top 5 cultural holidays in Portugal

1. Portugal’s historic gardens

In Minho, the green, lush north of the country, gardens come into their own. With the expert guidance of the Lisbon-based garden historian and landscape architect Gerald Luckhurst, you will explore woodland follies, see 19th-century camellia topiary, as well as more formal 18th-century gardens like Casa dos Biscainhos, decorated with elaborate fountains, statues and Arab-inspired parterres. Four nights are spent in the medieval town of Guimarães, considered the birthplace of the nation as this is where Afonso Henriques proclaimed himself king in 1139. From here there are side trips to parks, gardens and the country’s most spectacular religious sanctuary, the Baroque Bom Jesus do Monte, set on a forested slope near Braga.
Gardens of Northern Portugal, April 13-18, from £1,580pp, including return flight, transfers and accommodation (020 8742 3355; martinrandall.com).
The Telegraph.