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Portugal
Art and Wine Lovers Tour 14 Days for Groups only14 Days/13 Nights |
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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. 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. 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. 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 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 styleNational
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 Day
15. Breakfast and transfer to the airport
Not
Included:
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