The Wonders of Portugal

Day 1: LISBON > SINTRA > CABO DA ROCA > CASCAIS

This morning you will be picked up at a centrally located hotel in Lisbon. We set off for the majestic and romantic Palace of Pena, an astonishing fairy-tale 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 Landscape). We leave for Colares, a demarcated region recognized for its quality table wines, continuing onwards until Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point in continental Europe, passing the beach of Guincho until Hell’s Mouth and always enjoying the seaframed landscapes until Cascais and a brief visit to this coastal town. We return to Lisbon along the Estoril Coast with panoramic views of the Casino and its gardens. Meals: L. Accommodation at the Olissippo Marquês de Sá, Lisbon, or similar.

Day 2: OBIDOS > ALCOBACA > NAZARE > BATALHA > FATIMA

Leaving Lisbon, we first head north with our first stop in Óbidos, a small town surrounded by medieval walls, with its traditional whitewashed houses and wrought-iron balconies, its handicrafts and the famous Pousada do Castelo. Then we head on to Alcobaça to visit the Monastery Church (UNESCO World Heritage Site), both the longest and the first church built entirely in the Gothic style in Portugal, Our lunch is served in Nazaré, the most typical and colorful Portuguese fishing villages. Whenever possible, we continue onto Sítio with its beautiful views over the beach and the ocean beyond. In the afternoon, we visit the wonderful Batalha Monastery Church (UNESCO World Heritage Site), a masterpiece in the Gothic style, with particularly beautiful stained-glass windows. Then, we arrive at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, a center of the Christian faith and world pilgrimage site. To visit: the Basilica, housing the tombs of Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta, and the Chapel of Apparitions at the heart of the shrine. When possible, there is time to attend mass. We return to Lisbon through a rich agricultural region. Meals: B, L. Accommodation at the Olissippo Marquês de Sá, Lisbon, or similar.

Day 3: EVORA > MONSARAZ > LISBON

After breakfast, depart to the town of Évora, 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 Évora – UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the narrow streets of this whitewashed town, we walk back through time visiting some of Évora’s most important monuments: the Roman Temple, the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, Saint Francis Church with its “Chapel of Bones” and the University. At the market, we see and feel the richness of the products applied in preparing one of the most elaborate and bestappreciated gastronomies of Portugal. Throughout the visit, we also get to admire the diversity and authenticity of local handicrafts with cork, ceramic, and copper objects. Time for lunch. In the afternoon, we depart for Azeitão where we visit one of the oldest and most important wine cellars in Portugal and end the visit with a tasting of the traditional Moscatel de Setúbal before arriving in Lisbon in the late afternoon. End of services. Meals: B, L.