Michael Portillo’s vibrant exploration of Portugal continues this Saturday on Channel 5. In “Braga and Ponte De Lima,” Portillo trades his familiar Bradshaw’s guide for a journey through the heart of Portuguese culture, music, and cuisine.
The episode finds Portillo immersed in the festivities of the Feiras Novas festival in Ponte de Lima, experiencing an evening of traditional folk music and dancing. This annual event is known to draw up to a million attendees. In stark contrast, he also takes on a physical challenge, climbing the 573 steps to the summit of the Bom Jesus shrine in Braga.
No Portillo adventure would be complete without a culinary experience, and this episode delivers. Portillo joins locals in preparing a traditional Portuguese meal cooked in cast iron pots over an open fire. Naturally, salted cod, Portugal’s national dish, takes center stage. He also has the opportunity to experience the world’s oldest water-powered funicular railway. Tune in to Channel 5 this Saturday, 8 March at 8:15 PM to join the journey.
