This paper aims to discuss the influence of travel literature and, specifically, of the Fernao Mendes' acclaimed masterpiece, Pilgrimage, on the diary writings by Miguel Torga. Furthermore, it wishes to stress the importance travelling had on the way Torga developed and understood the concept of homeland. The structure of the paper pursues therefore two principal objectives; while it aims to contextualize Torga's diary writing, it describes and illustrates his great passion for exploring interesting places and his search for examples of famous historical and present deeds, with the basis on the analysis of the selected diary entries.