Day 1 - Arrival. Transfer from Lisbon Airport to the
hotel, dinner and overnight in Lisbon.
Day 2 - Morning visit to the
most impressive historical parts of Lisbon, Edward 7th Park, Liberty avenue,
Rossio Square, the Quarter of Alfama with its unique Cathedral that dates
back to the 12th Century, and its narrow streets that remind of the Moorish
occupancy.
Continue on to the most historical quarters
of Lisbon -The Discoveries Quarter of
Belem, from which the Portuguese Caravels
sailed off to the epic maritime discoveries. Once at Belem, visit two of
Lisbon’s jewels and symbols -The Jerónimos Monastery and The Tower of Belem
-whose origins date back to the 16th Century, both considered a World
Heritage, representing the most luxurious and prestigious times of the
Portuguese Monarchy.
Before leaving Belem, a visit to the “Pasteis de
Belém”- a local pastry shop to taste the delicious and traditional “Pastel
de Nata”, served warm with sugar and cinnamon on top. If interested, we can
ask the shop to do a demonstration on how this local favorite is made.
In the afternoon visit to
the Calouste Gulbekian Museum. The Gulbenkian complex features a museum that
houses a magnificent private collection of Persian art, Egyptian sculptures,
and paintings by the Old Masters. The permanent exhibition galleries are
distributed in chronological and geographical order to create two
independent circuits within the overall tour.
The first circuit highlights Oriental and
Classical Art on display in the Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Mesopotamian, Eastern
Islamic, Armenian and Far Easter Art.
The second circuit covers European Art with
sections dedicated to the Art of the book, sculpture, painting and the
decorative Arts, particularly 18th century French art and the work of René
Lalique.
Day 3. After breakfast drive to the Arrábida Natural
Park, a beautiful protected area covered with pines and rich Mediterranean
vegetation. Stop at Azeitão and visit the small hand painted tile factory
and also the region‘s famous wine producer for wine tasting. After lunch (at
leisure) return to Lisbon. Afternoon at leisure. In the evening
transfer to a Fado restaurant where you can enjoy typical Portuguese cuisine
with Fado music, the beautiful longings “Blues” of Portuguese sailor
wives. Overnight in Lisbon
Day 4 -We leave from Lisbon in the direction of the
Sintra mountain range. Visit the charming Sintra National Palace in Moorish
style with its conic chimneys and Manueline style windows as well as tile
panels, OR visit the romantic Pena Palace, the Medieval royal palace of the
Portuguese kings situated in one of the highest peaks of the mountain range.
Take some time to walk around the narrow streets of Sintra, full of small
shops selling Portuguese tiles and ceramics, taste the delicious tarts known
as queijadas; the walk itself is like walking back in time. Lunch at
leisure.
In the afternoon, we leave to
Colares, a region recognized for its table wines. Stop for wine tasting in a
Colares wine cellar, followed by a brief stop at Cabo da Roca, the most
western point in Europe, passing for the beach of Guincho to Boca do Inferno
where you can enjoy the rugged landscape of the Atlantic Coast line. Visit
Cascais where we take a glimpse of the fishing port. Return to Lisbon along
the Estoril Coast where we can have a panoramic view of the Casino and its
gardens. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon
Day 5. Leave
from Lisbon for your first stop, Quinta do Sanguinhal for visit and wine
tasting, then continue to the beautiful medieval walled town of Óbidos,
known by its typical white-washed houses, flowered windows and narrow
streets. In the afternoon, visit Alcobaça and the Church of the 12 th c.
monastery, with the tombs of D. Pedro and Inês de Castro, the Romeo and
Juliet of Portuguese history. Continue on to the fishing port of Nazaré, the
most colorful Portuguese fishing village where you can taste the typical
fish soup specific to the area. If possible, we go to the Sitio overlook to
have a panoramic view of the beach and village. Then continue to Batalha to
visit the factory and also the region‘s famous wine producer for wine
tasting. After lunch (at leisure) return to Lisbon.
Afternoon at leisure. In the evening
transfer to a Fado restaurant where you can enjoy typical Portuguese cuisine
with Fado music, the beautiful longings
“Blues” of Portuguese sailor wives.
Overnight in Lisbon
Day 6. After breakfast, following north in the
direction of Porto we’ll visit on the way: the hand made glass Jasmim
factory and the special town of Coimbra, with its university, one of the
oldest ones in Europe. It has kept its secular academic traditions as seen
in the black-caped students. Visit the famous Library Joanina. Leaving
Coimbra toward Porto town, enjoy the exuberance of the forest of Bussaco and
Aveiro, the Venice of Portugal, city of canals where we’ll have a brief
stop. Continue on to Porto town, located on the right bank of the Douro
river, that crosses the Porto wine region. Dinner and overnight in Porto.
Day 7. Visit the beautiful
and one of the most ancient cities of Europe with plenty of historic and
cultural memories. Porto is granted the UNESCO World Heritage status. Take a
unique and unforgettable tour through the “Bairro da Sé”, the heart of
ancient PORTO of medieval roots. Following to the Ribeira Quay we’ll take a
short cruise called “Cruise of the bridges”. It will give you the
opportunity to see the old part of Porto, the architectural forms of the
city emerging majestically. It is a dazzling landscape, unique in the world.
End this unforgettable tour in a famous wine cellar with wine tasting, in
the historical heart of VILA NOVA DE GAIA in an atmosphere that will take
you on a journey to the past. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight in
Porto.
Day 8. Sightseeing to the greenest part of Portugal,
the region where Portugal was born.One history to discover, one unique
journey starting by the “birth of the nation”, GUIMARÃES, classified as a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with its Medieval Castle and Palace of the
Duques of Bragança. Lunch in an elegant country house, or in a farm house or
in a rustic cottage with own gastronomy specialties including a selected
house wine. Cooking lesson if required (please check quote). If not,
Continue on to Braga, also known as the “Portuguese Rome” for its
concentration of religious architecture as the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary,
its name means Good Jesus of the mountain. The Sanctuary is a notable
example of pilgrimage site with a monumental, Baroque stairway that climbs
116 meters (381 feet). Overnight in Porto
Day 9. Morning free in Porto.
In the afternoon leave through the inland mountainous Porto wine region, the
Douro Valley, trough a landscape with granite houses and spectacular views
of terraces and slopes of vineyards leading down to the river, to reach the
charming Mesão Frio. Dinner and overnight in Peso da Regua or Pinhão.
Day 10. Day at leisure for
relaxing or walking around in a rural scenic area. Overnight at the same
place as the night before.
Day 11. After breakfast ,
drive through the heart of Portugal passing the highest point of the
country, the Estrela Mountain range in the direction of the beautiful
Castelo de Vide, proud of its Jewish quarter of Medieval whitewashed houses.
Dinner and Overnight in charming Castelo de Vide.
Day 12. After breakfast
departure through alternating green and gold plains to the Medieval mountain
top village of Marvão, one of the Portugal‘s most spectacular fortified
villages overlooked by a magnificiant 13th century castle. Following South
we find Estremoz and its marble quarries of pink marble. If you wish, you
can take a small piece as a souvenir. Continue on to Evora, a living museum
of tradition and history. Dinner at the Mr. Snob restaurant. and overnight
in Evora
Day 13.A morning walking tour
from Giraldo square through the handicraft streets to the remains
of
a Roman Temple and the Cathedral and St
Francis Church with its unique Bones Chapel. In the afternoon visit to the
vineyards, with wine tasting in the Herdade do Esporão, located in the Heart
of Alentejo region, in Reguengos de Monsaraz. Dinner and overnight in Evora.
Day 14. After breakfast, departure back to Lisbon for
a museum tour in
Lisbon: Choices are: Chiado Museum, National Museum
of Ancient Art or the National Coach Museum. Farewell dinner and overnight
in Lisbon.
National Museum of Ancient Art showcases Portuguese
and European paintings and sculpture from the 12th to the 19th centuries,
including some outstanding works like The Temptation of St. Anthony (1510),
by Hieronymus Bosch, or the so called Painéis de São Vicente, of mysterious
origin, as well as ceramics, woven fabrics, furniture and decorative arts
and sacred art from the Medieval to the Baroque period.
Chiado Museum:
The former National Museum of Contemporary
Art, now Museu do Chiado, displays a fine
architecture and exhibits Portuguese works
or art dating from 1850 to 1950, including examples from various styles:
Romanticism, Naturalism, Modernism, Neo-Realism, surrealism and Abstract
style
National Coach Museum: The most important world
collection of coaches, formed by the sumptuous vehicles used by the
Portuguese Royal Family from the 17th to the 19th centuries, harnesses,
uniforms and costumes. Three coaches made for the Portuguese ambassador to
Pope Clement XI deserve special attention.
Day 15. Breakfast and transfer to the airport
Price
on request to: [email protected]
Rates depend on group size and dates, please inquire
Includes:
·
Deluxe Coach
transportation throughout the tour
·
4 star centrally
located hotel accommodation with daily breakfast throughout
·
Daily dinners
·
Services of
accompanying English speaking guide
·
Services of
specialty museum guides
·
Entrance fees
·
Luggage handling (2
suitcases per person)
Excludes: Lunches unless
specified in the itinerary
Tips and personal items
Cooking course on day 8 is optional, euro 95 per person including cooking
lesson with the chef, meals will be served for dinner with selected house
wine,
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