 Portugal
Discoveries
A country of contrasts. The ceremonial art of drinking
prized port wine. The soulful sounds of Fado in private
concert. An elegant, forest-secluded palace/hotel, fit
for royalty. Panoramic views. Sintra’s lavishly
decadent architecture…
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| Itinerary Highlights: |
Day 1
Flight to Porto, Portugal.
Days 2-3
Porto—Guimarães
First settled by Roman traders, Porto flourished during
the era of maritime exploration. It became a showcase
of wealth. Guimarães, the birthplace of this nation,
served as home to royalty. During our visit to these cities,
we:
• walk the Praça
de Liberdade, lined with bright flowers and paved with
mosaic tiles, to the São Bento Train Station, famous
for its historic murals made of azulejo tilework.
• tour the Bolsa stock exchange and
its magnificently gilded Arabian Room, in addition to
marveling over the 450 pounds of gold used to build the
14th-century Church of San Francisco.
• enjoy mouthwatering cuisine by the
Douro River. • take part in the pleasures of sipping
ports in one of the famous lodges.
Days 4-5
Porto—Aveiro—Buçaco
From Porto, we head to Aveiro, a town with canals and
colorful boats. Of special interest:
• the barcos moliceiros
— floating folk art. These brightly painted swan-necked
boats glide through the canals.
• a private Fado concert in our secluded
hilltop palace-turned-hotel, which overlooks the Buçaco
forest.
• Coimbra, an historic and lively
university town.
Days 6-7
Buçaco—Conimbriga—Tomar
An opportunity to walk through the Buçaco Forest,
with a variety of paths dedicated to specific botanical,
historic and spirtual landmarks. This part of our tour
shows us the Beiras territory, an unspoiled and scenic
region that also:
• offers a glimpse
of the Romans, who inhabited Conimbriga.
• showcases the medieval ways and
treasures of the Knights Templar.
• celebrates the land’s great
navigators by using ropes, nets and other nautical themes
in its Manueline architecture.
Days 8-9
Fatima—Alcobaça—Óbidos
We travel now into the Estremadura and Ribatejo territories
to see:
• the shrine of
Fátima. Pilgrims journey from many lands to pray
at this site commemorating several miraculous appearances
of the Virgin.
• the Dominican Abbey of Batalha,
where we marvel over a masterpiece of Portuguese gothic
architecture.
• the Alcobaça Monastery. The
tombs of Dom Pedro and Inés de Castro represent
the country’s finest Gothic carvings – and
the tale of furtive love, royal murders, and grim revenge.
• the white walled village of Óbidos,
which King Dinis presented to his bride Isabel of Aragon
in 1282.
Days 10-11
Lisbon—Sintra
The coastline — stretching westward from Lisbon
to the resorts of Estoril and Cascais and north toward
Sintra — displays sophistication, intrigue and historic
significance. The Lisbon coast offers:
• a scenic drive
up winding roads to the Pena Palace, an architectural
fantasy featuring an Arabic minaret, a portal guarded
by gigantic sea monsters, a stained-glass ballroom and
a spectacular view.
• lunch on the Estorial coast and
a stroll into the fashionable bay resort of Cascais.
• a leisurely afternoon at Lisbon’s
Azulejo museum.
Day 12
Return flight home.
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| 2008 Tour Dates: |
15-24 may 2008
09-19 october 2008
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| Land Cost: |
Guaranteed departure*
*With
a minimum group of 4 people.
Cost: 4.085 Euros
Single supplement: 577 Euros
Travelers must purchase air to Oporto and from Lisbon.
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| This tour includes: |
• off-the-beaten-path
places
• deluxe hotels
• gourmet dining
• fine local wines
• landmark sites
•
knowledgeable, regional, English-speaking guides
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| Hotels: |
2 nights:
Hotel Infante de Sagres
— beauty, luxury and tradition in the center
of Porto
2 nights:
Buçaco Palace amid
extensive gardens and forest
2
nights:
Hotel Dos Templários
in Tomar, located on the edge of a green park in
the center of town
2 nights:
(Superior)
Challet Fonte Nova
in Alcobaça, small, charming and family operated
2 nights:
Hotel Avenida Palace
Belle Époque splendor in the heart of Lisbon
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