An epic road trip through Portugal in a 1974 Classic Mini, a rare Mini Authi
We started our adventurous journey in the Netherlands, driving through Belgium, France and Spain to Portugal. On our classic car road trip, we visited several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and historic locations across these countries.
On our way south towards Portugal, we drove through the green, mountainous landscape of northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela and Cape Finisterre. We visited several fascinating monuments, including the Vizcaya Bridge, Palaeolithic cave art sites, the pre-Romanesque churches of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias, and the dramatic, unique red-earth landscape of Las Médulas.
Near the Spanish town of Tui, we crossed the border from Spain into Portugal. Our first stop in Portugal was Guimarães, widely known as the birthplace of the nation. From Guimarães, we went on a day trip to Braga and the Citânia de Briteiros. We attended the IMM (International Mini Meeting) in Praia de Mira on the Costa de Prata (the Silver Coast), about 100 km south of Porto. From Praia de Mira, we went on a day trip to Coimbra. After attending the IMM, we continued our road trip to Nazaré to visit the nearby famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the monasteries of Alcobaça, Batalha and Tomar.
From Nazaré, we drove along the Atlantic coast to Lisbon and Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. We continued our Portuguese road trip towards the east to visit the fortified cities of Évora and Elvas. The garrison border town of Elvas was our last stop in Portugal; nearby, we crossed the border back into Spain. Following the Autovía Ruta de la Plata (the Silver Route), we drove to Salamanca and then on to Estella – a small pilgrimage town near Puente la Reina and Pamplona, the birthplace of our Mini Authi, situated in northern Spain.
In France, on our way home to the Netherlands, we visited the charming, medieval village of Saint Émilion and several Romanesque churches, including the Saint-Hilaire Church in Melle. We paid a visit to Chartres and Amiens, both of which are famous for their cathedrals. The last stop on this classic car road trip was the town of Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent the final months of his tragic life. After 25 days, we completed this Iberian adventure, and after 8,016 km on the road, we arrived home safely.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our own 1974 Mini Authi somewhere in France. We started our road trip in the Netherlands, drove through Belgium, France and Spain to Portugal in our Classic Mini. During our journey, we visited several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other fascinating monuments across these countries.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our own 1974 Mini Authi somewhere in France. We started our road trip in the Netherlands, drove through Belgium, France and Spain to Portugal in our Classic Mini. During our journey, we visited several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other fascinating monuments across these countries.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our 1974 Mini Authi on the north coast of Spain. On our journey in our iconic Classic Mini, we drove along several sections of the Route of Santiago de Compostela, one of the most famous Christian pilgrimage routes in Europe. The pilgrimage route leads to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Many pilgrims even travel a bit further to Cape Finisterre on the Atlantic coast.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our own Classic Mini parked next to San Miguel de Lillo. This extraordinary historic building is an Asturian pre-Romanesque church near Oviedo, a city in Northern Spain. The church was completed in 842 and consecrated in 848. Half of the building collapsed a long time ago. It was originally connected to the palatial complex that also included the nearby Santa Maria del Naranco.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our own Mini Authi in front of Santa María del Naranco, one of the Asturian pre-Romanesque churches. This building is situated on the slopes of Mount Naranco, about three kilometres from Oviedo in Spain. Santa María del Naranco was built as a royal palace in 848 and consecrated into a church at the end of the 12th or 13th century. For its time, the building had an unusually high vault.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: From Oviedo, we drove in our Mini Authi through Las Médulas, a dramatic and unique landscape of imposing red sandstone rock formations in Spain. This amazing landscape was shaped by a Roman gold mining system in the first century BCE. Nowadays, the red mountains of Las Médulas are covered by wildflowers, oak and sweet chestnut trees. However, it is illegal to pick or gather these sweet chestnuts.
Classic Car Road Trip in a 1974 Mini Authi: On our way to Portugal, we drove through northern Spain to visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Botafumeiro of this renowned cathedral is the largest censer in the world, weighing 53 kg and measuring 1.50 metres in height. It is a famous and popular symbol of this sanctuary. This majestic building has been an important Christian pilgrimage site for centuries and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Classic Car Road Trip: Before crossing the border to Portugal, we travelled in our Mini Authi to the end of the Route of Santiago de Compostela: Cape Finisterre in Spain. This granite cape is a peninsula situated on the Atlantic coast, about 90 kilometres from Santiago de Compostela. This magical place is the final destination for many pilgrims on the Route of Santiago de Compostela and on their pilgrimage to the tomb of the apostle James.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our iconic Classic Mini Authi next to the zero-kilometre signpost of the Route of Santiago de Compostela at Cape Finisterre in Spain. This signpost marks the very end of this renowned pilgrimage route. Cape Finisterre, meaning 'The End of the World', is a unique and mystical place. For us, it was not the end of onze journey yet, as we were driving on to the IMM in Portugal.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our 1974 Mini Authi in front of Bom Jesus do Monte. After crossing the border from Spain into Portugal, we drove to this sanctuary. It is situated on a hilltop in the small town of Tenões, just outside the Portuguese city of Braga. Bom Jesus do Monte is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Portugal, with an imposing Baroque stairway leading up to the pilgrimage church at the top of Mount Espinho.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: We travelled in our lavender blue Mini Authi to the 40th IMM (International Mini Meeting). This 40th edition was held in Praia de Mira, Portugal, and was organised by the Clube Mini de Portugal. From all over Europe, hundreds of proud Mini owners drove in their Classic Minis or New MINIs to this charming fishing village on the west coast of Portugal. This annual event started in Germany in 1978.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: From the IMM campsite in Praia de Mira, we went on a day trip to Coimbra. This historic city is known for its university – the oldest in the country and one of the oldest continually operating universities in the world. This renowned instituion was founded in 1290. The buildings of the old university complex are well worth a visit. We found the Chapel of St. Michael and the Joanina Library particularly impressive.
Classic Car Road Trip in a 1974 Classic Mini: During a short drive near the IMM in Praia de Mira, we discovered our Authi was leaking brake fluid. With white knuckles, we crawled back to the campsite, carefully using the handbrake to slow down when needed. Fortunately, at the IMM campsite, we managed to buy a replacement brake light switch from a parts specialist. The way a brake system works is beautifully simple on a Classic Mini – and we replaced the switch with the help of Peter, one of our fellow Mini club members.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Praia de Mira. Our lavender blue Classic Mini in front of the tiny fishermen's chapel of Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Our Lady of the Conception) and the imposing statue 'O Pescador', which honours the fishermen of Praia de Mira. This small fishing village is situated on a peaceful stretch of the Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) about 100 km south of Porto. After attending the IMM, we continued our journey south and drove along the coast to Nazaré.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: From Praia de Mira, we continued our road trip to Nazaré. In our Classic Mini, we travelled through woods heavily affected by forest fires. We stayed in Nazaré for a few days to visit the nearby renowned monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha. From Nazaré, we also went on a day trip to visit the Convent of Christ in Tomar. We had also visited Nazaré a few years before. Since then, it had grown from a charming fishing village into a large seaside resort.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The tomb of Inês de Castro features sculptures depicting scenes from her tragic life. Inês was the mistress of Prince Pedro, whose father, King Afonso IV of Portugal, ordered her death. When Pedro became king, he had this splendid tomb built for Inês, along with a matching tomb for himself. The tombs of King Pedro I and Inês are located in the Monastery of Alcobaça. They face each other, so that when the Day of Resurrection arrives, the first thing they see will be the face of their loved one.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: Our Mini Authi in the town of Batalha in front of its renowned monastery. In 1385, the town was the setting for the most important battle (batalha) in the history of Portugal: a war against the Kingdom of Castile to ensure the independence of the Kingdom of Portugal. The Monastery of Batalha was built to commemorate the Portuguese victory over the Castilians. The construction started in 1388 and lasted for two centuries.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The imposing sculpted lavabo of the Monastery of Batalha dates from 1450. This Gothic fountain features a main basin and two smaller tiered bowls above it, and was used for the ceremonial washing of hands. For centuries, the monastery church served as the Portuguese monarchy's main church. This monastery is widely considered one of the most outstanding buildings of the Flamboyant Gothic and Manueline styles in Portugal.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Our Mini Authi in front of the inspection building of the Pegões Aqueduct, the largest and most impressive aqueduct in Portugal. This magnificent aqueduct was built between 1593 and 1613 to supply fresh water to the renowned Convent of Christ in Tomar. The two-storey building was used to purify the water before it was transported to the convent. This historic structure is known locally as the Aqueduto dos Pegões.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: The Aqueduto dos Pegões (Pegões Aqueduct) viewed from the inspection building. A small flight of stairs led us onto the structure itself, where this imposing construction stretches out for six kilometres. Consisting of 180 arches and reaching a maximum height of thirty metres, the aqueduct transported water from several natural springs near the village of Pegões to the Convent of Christ in Tomar.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal in our Authi: After visiting the monasteries of Alcobaça, Batalha and Tomar, we continued our road trip south to visit Óbidos. The town's hilltop castle has now been transformed into a luxury hotel, a so-called pousada. The historic town of Óbidos is still surrounded by its medieval fortifications, and during this long road trip, it was truly a unique experience to stretch our legs atop these walls. They provide amazing views over the town and its surroundings.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: In our iconic Mini Authi, we drove to the Lighthouse of Cabo Carvoeiro near Peniche. This dramatic cape is situated on the western edge of the rocky Peniche peninsula. The Atlantic coast here is notorious for its heavy winter storms, making it one of the most difficult places for ships to navigate in the coastal waters of Portugal. It is also a beautiful place to take a break during a long road trip and spot birds. The lighthouse started its operation in 1790.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: From Peniche, we continued our journey to the Palace of Pena. This palace is situated on a hilltop in the Serra de Sintra. King Ferdinand II of Portugal was deeply impressed by the spectacular landscape of the Serra de Sintra (Sintra Mountains) and transformed a ruined monastery into a romantic palace. It was built in a remarkable blend of Egyptian, Gothic, Mudéjar and Renaissance styles. Pena Palace is now considered one of the most important expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. To visit this palace, we had to leave the Mini in the car park and undertake a steep climb uphill.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: From our Guincho campsite near Lisbon, where our tent pegs had barely any grip in the loose sand under the pine trees, we explored the capital for a few days. From there, we drove about 40 km to Cabo da Roca in our Classic Mini Authi and arrived just before sunset. This cape was the perfect place to be for an unforgettable sunset over the westernmost point of mainland Europe. This narrow granite cliff also offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Sintra Mountains.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: We watched a breathtaking sunset at Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca). An inscription on the monumental obelisk mentions the altitude, latitude and longitude of this cape, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. This monument – topped with a huge cross – also features an engraved quote by the 16th-century Portuguese poet Luís de Camões: 'Where the land ends and the sea begins...'
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: From our campsite on idyllic Guincho beach, we drove in our Classic Mini to the Belém District of Lisbon to visit the Monastery of the Hieronymites. Built in the 16th century, it is one of the most flamboyant religious buildings in Portugal. The renowned Portuguese seafarer and explorer Vasco da Gama is buried here. His exquisitely sculpted tomb stands in the nave of the monastery church. This monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the nearby Tower of Belém.
Classic Car Road Trip from the Netherlands to Portugal: Before we returned to Guincho, we visited the Tower of Belém in Lisbon. This fortified tower was built in the Portuguese Manueline style between 1515 and 1521 on a small island in the River Tagus and is the symbol of Portugal as a seafaring nation and its maritime discoveries. This monumental tower also served to guard the city from sea-bound attacks. The tower is situated in the Belém district and its official name is the Torre de São Vicente.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: After we paid a visit to Lisbon, we continued our Portugal road trip towards the east to visit the fortified cities of Évora and Elvas. To do this, we had to cross the River Tagus via the famous 25 de Abril Bridge, one of the landmarks of Lisbon. Driving over this suspension bridge during a heavy cloudburst in our Classic Mini was a rather unpleasant experience. This iconic bridge was opened in 1966 and named after the Portuguese dictator António Salazar. However, on 25 April 1974 – the day of the Carnation Revolution – the bridge was promptly renamed the 25 de Abril Bridge with paint by the revolutionaries.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: Between Lisbon and Évora, during a heavy rain shower, the windscreen of our 1974 Classic Mini Authi was hit by a stone. Not until the next morning did the windscreen shatter with a loud bang into a thousand pieces, showering the entire interior with glass. Fortunately, that happened on the campsite and not whilst driving. In Évora, we tracked down a small garage that also dealt in Classic Minis. Miraculously, the owner had just one 1974 Classic Mini windscreen left and it still had the original Portuguese tax disc sticker on it. We were very lucky to have it fitted the same day. Unfortunately, the overzealous mechanic had removed the sticker.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: After our adventure with the shattered windscreen, we stayed for a few days at a campsite in Évora to explore the surrounding Montado. In our Classic Mini Authi, we drove through this scenic landscape past a field of vibrant red poppies in full bloom. The Montado is a savanna-like cork oak woodland, unique to the Alentejo region in the south of Portugal. This breathtaking and characteristic area is renowned for its cork production, olive groves and vineyards.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: Our Classic Mini is parked under cork oaks next to the Anta-Capela de São Brissos, a tiny chapel nestled within the Montado landscape. In the 17th century, a prehistoric dolmen dating from the fourth to third millennium BC was converted into a Catholic chapel: the Dolmen Chapel of Saint Brissos, a local saint. The chapel is situated in the small village of Santiago do Escoural. The imposing landscape, stretching between Lisbon and Évora, is famous not only for its cork oaks, but also for its megalithic monuments.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: From Évora, we drove through the beautiful cork oak forests to the Almendres Cromlech. The last part of the route was over an unpaved road, so with the small wheels of the Classic Mini, we had to watch out for potholes. The Almendres Cromlech is situated in the landscape of the Montado, not far from Évora. The 95 standing stones of this prehistoric monument form two large concentric stone circles and were built over a long period of time. The first stones were erected in 7000 BC. A number of the stones have ancient drawings; their meaning remains a mystery. This impressive megalithic monument is about two thousand years older than Stonehenge.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: After exploring Évora and the surrounding area, we continued our journey to the Portuguese border town of Elvas, near neighbouring Spain. During our visit, we parked our Classic Mini Authi in front of Elvas Castle. This stronghold was built as a medieval military fortification and survived many sieges and battles during its long, tumultuous history. This impressive castle is located at the highest point of the town and provides truly spectacular panoramic views over the town and its surrounding fortresses. These fortifications with their bulwarked walls and surrounding dry moats form the largest of their kind in the world.
Classic Car Road Trip Portugal: Our Classic Mini Authi looks even smaller beside the imposing Amoreira Aqueduct in Elvas. This massive aqueduct was built in the 16th century by the citizens of Elvas to carry fresh water from a spring in Amoreira to the town. The Amoreira Aqueduct features a total of 833 arches, is about 8 kilometres long, and reaches heights of over 30 metres in some places. It was built on the foundations of a Roman aqueduct and still supplies water to the Fonte da Misericórdia, a fountain on the Praça 25 de Abril, a historic square in the centre of this fortified town.
Classic Car Road Trip: At Elvas, we crossed the border into Spain in our Classic Mini. With a stopover in Salamanca, we drove non-stop to Puente la Reina. This medieval pilgrim and wine town is located on the famous pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago, between Estella and Pamplona, and is one of the most important stops on this route. The Romanesque stone bridge was built in the 11th century to allow pilgrims to cross the River Arga safely. Puente la Reina was heavily influenced by the pilgrims who passed through here on their way to the tomb of the Biblical apostle James.
Classic Car Road Trip: Our Classic Mini at the gates of her birthplace, the former factory of the Authi Car Company in Pamplona (Automoviles de Turismo Hispano Ingleses), Spain, where she left the production line in 1974. This factory was the Spanish partner of the British Motor Corporation BMC, which in 1968 merged with Leyland to become the British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC). After we had fully restored our Authi, she looked brand new again. When a Spanish man complimented us on our beautiful car, and we replied that she had been built in the factory in Pamplona – where they now manufacture Volkswagens – he asked us: 'Oh, have they developed a new model then?'
Classic Car Road Trip in a 1974 Classic Mini Authi: Here we are driving in our Classic Mini through the Paso de dos Hermanas, a spectacular gorge with the River Larraun flowing through it. After our journey through Portugal, we spent a few more days in Spain to visit a number of sights here. From Pamplona, we drove through the impressive Paso de dos Hermanas – which forms part of the River Ebro basin – and then through the Sierra de Urbasa and the Pyrenees to finally cross the border into France near San Sebastián. Driving this breathtaking route was an unforgettable experience.
Classic Car Road Trip in a 1974 Classic Mini: From the Spanish border, we drove to a campsite in Saint-Émilion. From here, we went for a wonderful drive through the landscape of the Saint-Émilion region. This French wine region is located about 50 kilometres from Bordeaux and extends around the medieval town of Saint-Émilion, one of the oldest wine towns in southwest France. This region is famous not only for its wines but also for its Romanesque churches and monasteries. Here we are driving our Authi past one of the two historic Moulins de Cadet, situated amidst the vineyards of the wine estate of the same name.
Classic Car Road Trip in a 1974 Classic Mini: From Saint-Émilion, we drove through a severe cloudburst to Melle. We had already been warned by concerned family in the Netherlands that flooding was expected in the region around Bordeaux; we had therefore left just in time. Melle is home to three Romanesque churches, of which Saint-Hilaire is the most famous due to the vast amount of sculpture that has successfully survived numerous wars and the transition from Romanesque to Gothic. After we had visited this extraordinary church, we travelled through heavy rainfall on to Chartres, where we managed to find just enough dry grass on a soggy campsite to pitch our tent.
Classic Car Road Trip in a Classic Mini: After a night at the campsite in Chartres, we departed for Auvers-sur-Oise. In our Classic Mini Authi we drove past the Auberge Ravoux in this picturesque French village. This inn is also known as the Maison de Van Gogh, as Vincent van Gogh rented a room here in 1890 and died here on 29 July. Vincent spent the final months of his life in Auvers-sur-Oise. Following a gunshot wound, he died at the inn and was buried in the local cemetery. Many visitors to this inn still enjoy a glass here in memory of this great and legendary artist.
Classic Car Road Trip: Auvers-sur-Oise, Wheatfield with Crows. The Vincent van Gogh route in this village leads past the locations where this artist lived, worked and died in 1890. A map indicates the places and subjects featured in his paintings, with a panel displaying the respective artworks at each spot; they have changed very little since 1890. Next to the wheatfield lies the cemetery where Vincent is buried. Here, we experienced a deeply moving moment when a visitor at his grave played a recording of the song 'Starry, starry night' – written by Don McLean as a tribute to Vincent, inspired by Van Gogh's world-famous painting: The Starry Night.
Classic Car Road Trip: From Auvers-sur-Oise, we travelled back to the Netherlands via Amiens. Here, we visited the cathedral – the largest Gothic church in France and also one of the largest in Europe. Just like Chartres Cathedral, Amiens Cathedral is famous for its labyrinth, visible here in the foreground. Pilgrims once – and even today – followed the paths on foot or on their knees to the centre of the labyrinth, praying to find enlightenment or a deeper relationship with God. Amiens marked the final stop on our road trip.
Classic Car Road Trip in a 1974 Classic Mini Authi: Somewhere in the north of France on our way back to the Netherlands. Our epic road trip started in the Netherlands; we travelled through Belgium, France and Spain to Portugal, and then back home again. We had visited Portugal before, but this was the first time in a Classic Mini. After a few weeks, many adventures, and wonderful experiences, this journey came to an end and we arrived home safely. The odometer clocked up a grand total of 8,016 kilometres.
