Day 1: Lisbon / Óbidos / Alcobaça / Nazaré / Batalha / Fátima By a landscape full of windmills and fruit trees, we arrive in Óbidos. This beautiful town is surrounded by medieval walls where we can admire the harmony of the architecture, the diversity of the handicrafts and taste the famous ginginha (bitter cherry liqueur). After Óbidos we will visit Alcobaça, which is known for the first and largest gothic church in Portugal. Inside you will find the tombs of D.Pedro and Inês de Castro, known by it’s love story. Onwards, we will have stop in Nazaré, a typical fishing village and seaside resort, with its traditions and legends. We continue to Batalha where we will visit the Monastery of Santa Maria de Victoria, a masterpiece of the gothic in Portugal and also home of the tomb of Henry the Navigator, the promoter of the maritime discoveries. After this, we arrive in Fátima, known for its famous Marian Shrine.
Day 2: Fátima, Coimbra, Aveiro &Oporto Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Coimbra where we will visit its University, one of the oldest in the world. The university has a magnificent baroque library and breathes a unique atmosphere characterised by ancient traditions and customs such as the black cape of the students and the melancholic fado music. Stop at St Clara Church, where lies the tomb of Queen St. Isabel, the protagonist of the "miracle of the roses". In the center you can admire the exclusive ceramic of Coimbra. We continue our trip to Aveiro, city of the canals, known as the "Portuguese Venice", where you shall have time to see the graceful boats "moliceiros" and taste the local sweets "ovos moles". Drive to Oporto. Accommodation in Oporto.
Day 3: Porto Porto, Portugal's 2nd city and world heritage by UNESCO, a living amphitheatre inviting us to make a morning visit which lets us discover the riverside area, the old houses, palaces and churches which are all eternal historical places. Afternoon free. Accommodation in Oporto.
Day 4: Oporto, Guimarães, Braga & Barcelos Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour to the Minho region, the northwest region of Portugal that offers natural green sceneries and the sparkling "green wine". We start our trip in Guimarães, the cradle of the nation and birthplace of the first king of Portugal. We will have a walk along the historic center where you will be plunged back into medieval times. We pay a visit to the Sacred Hill, known for its Castle and Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, which original building dates back to the 15th centuries. We continue our trip to Braga, the "Portuguese Rome", popular for its concentration of religious architecture like the oldest Cathedral of the country and the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary with its famous baroque stairway and gardens. After Braga, we shall continue to Barcelos, a historical city known for its popular handicraft where the Galo de Barcelos (the rooster of Barcelos) legend was born, becoming, the rooster, a Portuguese icon. Return to Porto.
Day 5: Oporto / Amarante / Vila Real / Douro Valley / Lamego / Viseu / Urgeiriça Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Amarante, the pretty town of São Gonçalo, known for love and marriage, were the monastery facing the river houses his tomb and his lively bustling market where you can find fruit, vegetables, chickens, clothes, and an immense variety of other popular items. After this, we will drive to Vila Real. There we will have a visit to the gardens of Mateus' Manor, which façade is still depicted on the well-known Portuguese Rose wine bottles. Then we enter in the Port wine region, travelling through the vineyards and the breathtaking landscapes of the Douro Valley. We continue our trip with a stop in Lamego, overlooked by one of Portugal's most important shrines: N.S. Remédios. The shrine has a magnificent baroque style staircase. Maybe you will try some of the local delicacies such as the local ham or the famous "Bola de Lamego" (a loaf baked in the oven with smoked ham). We continue to the mountainous hinterland to Viseu, center of the Dão Vineyards and a city connected with Portugal´s oldest hero, Viriato, the Lusitanian chief. The city lies in the shadow of its Cathedral and has an old town with narrow streets and doorways,with coats of arms carved in granite. Along the center we find a busy commercial area. Arrival to Urgeiriça.
Dia 6: Urgeiriça / Bussaco / Tomar / Lisboa Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the heart of Portugal, till Bussaco, wel know for the luxuriant forest, made up of a selection of rare trees and plants of exotic beauty. In the forest you will find a royal hunting lodge which used to be a charming and romantic hotel. We continue our trip to Tomar. The development of the city is closely linked to the Order of the Templars, which received these lands in 1159 as a reward for the assistance they gave Dom Afonso Henriques (the fist King of Portugal) in the Christian reconquest of the territory. It was Dom Gualdim Pais, the first Grand Master of the Order in Portugal, who founded the castle and the remarkable Convent of christ inside. Enlarged and altered over the centuries, this retains the influences of various architectural styles; it is the centrepiece of the city and classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. We follow the journey till Lisbon where we will end this 6-day tour.
Price per Person
· Accommodation in a Double Room: 781€
·
Departure Dates 2012: 16 June, 14 July, 18 August, 01 September, 22 September and 20 October
The Price includes:
· Accommodation with breakfast buffet in the following hotels, or similar: Hotel Santa Maria (4*, Fátima), Hotel Ipanema (4*, Oporto), Hotel da Urgeiriça (4*, Canas do Senhorim)
· Modern and comfortable car, mini-bus or coach
· Guide during the entire tour
· Entrance to following monuments: Batalha Monastery (Batalha), Coimbra University (Coimbra), Palacio da Bolsa (Porto), St. Francisco Church (Porto), Gardens of Palacio Mateus (Vila Real), Convento do Cristo (Tomar).
Options:
· Single Supplement: 139€
The Price does not include:
· Flights to and from Portugal
· Personal expenses
· Other expenses not mentioned
· Bagage service in the hotels
Meals (Lunches and Dinners)
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