Wonders of Portugal

Your tour begins with a pick-up at Marques de Pombal Square in Lisbon, at 8:30 hrs. We recommend to arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the indicated time. We then head towards the majestic and romantic Palace of Pena, an astonishing fairytale castle located on one of the highest peaks of the Sintra hills. At the end of the morning, there is free time to wander the streets of Sintra, a UNESCO classified Cultural Site, that enchanted kings and inspired poets. Enjoy some of the handicraft shops and tearooms serving delicious local sweets, including “queijadas” and “travesseiros”. Then, we leave for Colares, a demarcated region recognized for its quality tables wines. We continue onwards until Cabo da Roca, the westerly point of continental Europe, passing the beach of Guincho until Hell’s Mouth and admiring the sea-framed landscapes until Cascais. Enjoy a brief visit to this charming coastal town. We return to Lisbon along the Estoril Coast praising the panoramic views of the Casino and its gardens.

Overnight in Lisbon area hotel on selected board basis.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Leaving Lisbon, we first head north with our first stop in Obidos, a small town surrounded by medieval walls. Admire its traditional whitewashed houses and wrought iron balconies, its handicrafts and the famous Pousada do Castelo. Then, we head towards Alcobaca to visit the Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, both the longest and the first church built entirely in the gothic style in Portugal, hosting the tombs of D. Pedro and D. Ines de Castro. Our lunch is served in Nazare, the most typical and colourful of Portuguese fishing village. Then, we travel to Sitio, a place with beautiful views over the beach and the ocean. In the afternoon, we visit the wonderful Batalha Monastery Church – UNESCO World Heritage Site, a masterpiece in the gothic style, with particularly stained-glass windows. We arrive at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, a centre of Christian faith and world pilgrimage site. We visit the Basilica, housing the tombs of Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, and the Chapel of Apparitions at the heart of the shrine. If possible we can even attend mass. We return to Lisbon through a rich agricultural region. 

Overnight in Lisbon area hotel on selected board basis. 

Leave the hotel and spend the day discovering the town of Evora, a mosaic of culture, history and traditions. Leaving Lisbon, we cross the bridge over the river Tagus and head through a beautiful and bucolic landscape of olive trees, cork oak trees and vineyards before arriving at Evora – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the narrow streets of this whitewashed town, we walk back through time visiting some of Evora’s most important monuments: the Roman Temple, the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, St. Francis Church with its “Chapel of Bones” and the University. At the market, we see and feel the richness of the products used in preparing one of the most elaborate and appreciated gastronomies of Portugal. Throughout the visit, we will be able to explore the region’s wealth of history, gastronomy and its arts and crafts, indulge in some wine tasting.