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Lisbon To Porto Tour

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Must Visit City
Lisbon
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Lisbon to Porto 7 nights DAY 01 Welcome to Portugal, Lisbon! Arrival at Lisbon Airport and private transfer to the hotel with English speaking driver Check-in and time to rest freshen up Private Half-Day City Tour of Lisbon . .
Country: Portugal
City: Lisbon
Duration: 8 Day(s) - 7 Night(s)
Tour Category: Classic Tours
Departure Date: Thu 01 Jan '99
Package Itinerary

Lisbon to Porto

7 nights

DAY 01 – Welcome to Portugal, Lisbon!

Arrival at Lisbon Airport and private transfer to the hotel with English speaking driver

Check-in and time to rest & freshen up

Private Half-Day City Tour of Lisbon in the afternoon w/ driver and guide

LISBON, THE CITY OF THE DISCOVERIES

Of all Lisbon, Belém most clearly evokes the era of the Discoveries and Portugal´s maritime expansion. It was from Belém that caravels would depart and arrive throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. King Manuel, I ordered the construction of the Monastery of Jerónimos (Hieronymos) and the Tower of Belém as symbols of the wealth and splendor of the times.

Classified as World Heritage, they are among the very best examples of the "Manueline" architectural style; a Portuguese interpretation of the gothic.

No visit to Lisbon is complete without trying Belém Pastries. These are the famous cream cakes made from puff pastry filled with milk, cream, vanilla, and... nobody quite knows. That is just how it is. The recipe for Belém Pastries is one of the best-kept secrets in Portuguese gastronomy.

After visiting Belém, head off to the old quarters of Alfama and visit the Castle of St George from where one can admire one of the best views over Lisbon. Walking through the old quarters until downtown and the through the shopping district of Chiado.

Return to the hotel and time free at leisure

Dinner with Fado Show at a local restaurant (including transfers to and from Restaurant)

Fado, an urban popular song of Portugal

Fado is a performance genre incorporating music and poetry widely practiced by various communities in Lisbon. Fado songs are usually performed by a solo singer, male or female, traditionally accompanied by a wire-strung acoustic guitar and the Portuguese Guitarra – a pear-shaped cittern with twelve wire strings, unique to Portugal, which also has an extensive solo repertoire (...)

Overnight in Lisbon

DAY 02 – Lisbon

Breakfast at the Hotel

Private Full-Day Tour to Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Cascais, and Estoril w/ driver and guide

THE ENCHANTED VILLAGE OF SINTRA

Located right on the central-western Portuguese coast, just a short drive from Lisbon. Sintra, UNESCO World Heritage since 1995, is steeped in history and offers some of the most exquisite natural and architectural sites in the country. Here, at the northern-most extent of the protected Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, history, archaeology, architecture, and natural beauty combine to create a compelling and enduring centerpiece that has enjoyed centuries of popularity.

Some time at leisure will be given for the guests to explore the beautiful village with its narrow streets and beautiful parks, and to do some shopping! Do not forget to taste the typical regional pastries, the “Travesseiros de Sintra” or the famous “Queijadas”.

On the way back to the hotel, there is still time for a visit to Cabo da Roca which is, as described by the famous Portuguese poet Luís de Camões, the place "where the land ends and the sea begins". It is the westernmost point of mainland Portugal and continental Europe.

Return to the hotel and rest of the day free at leisure

Overnight in Lisbon

DAY 03 – Lisbon

Breakfast at the Hotel

Private Full Day Tour to Evora, Arraiolos and Estremoz

EVORA

Topped by an imposing cathedral, Évora is laid out over a gently sloping hill rising out of the huge Alentejo plain. It guards its historic center with a vast outer wall and represents a valuable cultural legacy that UNESCO has classified as World Heritage.

The city, with its narrow streets of Moorish origin contrasting with squares where the light floods in, holds two millennia of history. Conquered in 59 B.C. by the Romans, they named it "Liberalitas Julia".

In this period, Évora gained great importance as can be witnessed from the remains of that time: the ruins of a fine temple dated towards the end of the second century, various parts of the wall, and the gateway more recently called Dona Isabel in addition to the remains of thermal baths below what is now the Municipal Council building.

ARRAIOLOS

Arraiolos is a pleasant Alentejo town, whose foundation dates back to the second century BC. The medieval castle was built at the orders of D. Dinis (1279-1325), although the town soon spread beyond its walls. An important part of the town's artistic heritage is the sixteenth-century Salvador church, with some extremely beautiful paintings.

The name of this town is well known internationally thanks to the famous Arraiolos carpets, which are produced here by the local craftsmen and women, having been referred to in documents as long ago as the sixteenth century. Some art historians have devoted themselves to studying and characterizing this art, which has continued to grow in importance over the years.

ESTREMOZ

A white and noble city, Estremoz can be divided into two separate areas that testify to its different stages of development: the group of medieval houses near the castle and, outside the city walls, the modern town.

Estremoz has a rich cultural heritage, in which clearly the major feature is the castle with its medieval walls and the former thirteenth-century citadel.

Estremoz became particularly famous for the quarrying and trading of its high-quality white marble. In fact, the region makes a 90% contribution towards Portugal's being the world's second-largest exporter of marble.

Equally famous are the region's red clays, which gave rise to the traditional figures that are found in all the city's craft shops.

Return to the hotel and rest of the day free at leisure

Overnight in Lisbon

DAY 04 – Lisbon/Alvados

Breakfast at the Hotel

Private Full Day Tour to Obidos, Nazaré & Batalha

THE MEDIEVAL TOWN OF OBIDOS

The delightful town of Óbidos, with white houses adorned with bougainvilleas and honeysuckle, was captured from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, in 1148. D. Dinis later presented it to his wife, Queen Santa Isabel. From then until 1883, the town of Óbidos and the surrounding land were always the property of the queens of Portugal.

Encircled by a ring of medieval walls and crowned by the Moorish castle rebuilt by D. Dinis, Óbidos is one of the most perfect examples of our medieval fortress. It s in olden times, the town is entered through the southern gate of Santa Maria, embellished with eighteenth-century azulejo decoration.

Inside the walls, which at sunset take on a golden coloring, one can sense a cheerful medieval ambiance of winding streets, old whitewashed houses bordered with blue or yellow, Manueline embrasures and windows, reminding us that King D. Manuel I (sixteenth century) carried out major works here, and masses of colorful flowers and plants.

NAZARE AND THE PORTUGUESE TRADITION OF FISHING...

A typical fishing town, where one still sees the fish-sellers and the carapaus (horse mackerel) laid out to dry all over the streets.

The Sitio district, at the town's highest point (accessible by a funicular – can be included), is, without doubt, the best viewpoint in the area. But it is also associated with the cult of Our Lady of Nazaré who, according to the 12th-century legend, was invoked by the alcaide (commander of a fortress or castle) Dom Fuas Roupinho who, while stalking a deer, was about to fall down into an abyss with no possible salvation. As a sign of gratitude for the mercy he received, Dom Fuas Roupinho ordered a small chapel to be built - the Ermida de Memória.

The Nazaré people's connection with the sea is reflected in the local handicrafts, in particular the nets, buoys, baskets, and traditional puppets dressed in the typical costumes of seven skirts, as well as in the cuisine, with its emphasis on fish and shellfish dishes, such as Caldeira das (fish casseroles), soups, açorda (purée of bread, herbs, and garlic) and the dried horse mackerel.

BATALHA

The town of Batalha developed alongside the Monastery of Santa Maria de Vitória, constructed in 1386 to keep a vow by Portuguese King Dom João I to the Virgin Mary that he would build it if Portugal defeated Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota on 14th August 1385. Extravagant celebrations commemorating this victory are held next to the monastery in August of every year.

The Monastery of Batalha, a masterpiece of Portuguese Gothic, is a magnificent piece of architecture that combines various influences from its lengthy period of construction, which lasted several reigns.

Outstanding in the interior are the Founders' Chapel with its fine stained-glass windows, the cloisters, the Unfinished Chapels with their Manueline and Flemish Gothic features, and the Chapter House.

End of the tour in “Alvados” (near Obidos)

Check-in at Hotel Cooking & Nature 4**** Sup.

Cooking lesson at the hotel in the evening & dinner

Overnight in Alvados

DAY 05 – Alvados/Porto

Breakfast at the Hotel

Depart from the hotel heading north

Stop in Coimbra for a guided tour (local guide)

THE MYSTICAL CITY OF COIMBRA

Long ago, this site was occupied by the Celts, but the process of Romanisation brought a great cultural transformation to this region. The presence of the Romans is still visible in the various archaeological remains housed at the Museu Nacional Machado de Castro, built over the cryptoporticus of the Civita Aeminium, the forum of the Roman city.

After them, between 586 and 640, came the Visigoths, who altered the name of the town to Emínio. In 711, it became a Moorish and Mozarab city. In 1064, the city was conquered by the Christian Fernando I of Castile and governed by the Mozarab Sesnando.

Coimbra was the capital of Portugal during the Middle Ages, but it was the Renaissance that transformed the city into a place of knowledge when Dom João III (1521-57) decided to move the University to the city on a definitive basis, whilst at the same time numerous colleges were created to provide an alternative to the official form of teaching.

A centre of learning, par excellence, the University of Coimbra was founded in 1290 and is one of the oldest in Europe, and was classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO; this classification includes also Uptown and Sofia Street.

After the visit, continuation towards Porto

Check-in at The Yeatman Hotel 5*****

Overnight in Porto

DAY 06 – Porto

Breakfast at the Hotel

Private Full-Day Tour to Porto

PORTO, WORLD HERITAGE & PORTWINE

Upon departure towards the historical center, considered World Heritage by UNESCO, we will pass by one of the trendiest and most cultural areas of the city called Boavista and Foz. This is where the Atlantic meets the Douro river providing the ideal location for upper-class residences.

After passing the aristocratic part of the city and the Avenida dos Aliados, famous for its banks and trendy shops, we will leave the car behind for a walk down the well-known Santa Catarina street to get a feel of the city and its people. Some time at leisure can be given for a coffee or some shopping!

We will then visit the Stock Exchange Palace with incredible granite work and magnificent neo-Arab influences. A passage by the famous Clérigos Church and Lello Bookshop is also on the program as well as the famous “Casa da Musica” (House of Music).

No visit to Porto is complete without a visit to one of the Portwine cellars located on the south bank of the River Douro. After the visit, you will have the chance to taste some of the wines.

Return to the hotel in the evening

Overnight in Porto

DAY 07 – Porto

Breakfast at the Hotel

Private Day Tour to the Douro Valley

THE DOURO VALLEY

The River Douro rises in Spain and flows more or less East / West across Northern Portugal reaching the sea at Portugal's second city, Oporto. Once a fast-flowing river of rapids and narrow ravines it has been tamed over the past 25 years by the construction of 8 dams along its length giving it, in most places, a tranquil, lake-like appearance.

The valley is spectacularly beautiful with the hills falling steeply down to the water´s edge becoming more and more sparsely populated and wild the further inland one travels, with more of the land being given over to terraces of vines and, to a lesser extent, olive groves. This is a port country and was, in fact, the world´s first demarcated wine region being established in 1756.

The color of the land changes throughout the year as the vines mature. February and March though also see the almond trees in blossom, particularly in the upper reaches, creating blankets of pink-white everywhere which, with fine weather, brings the Portuguese out for the first picnic of the year.

Visit, wine tasting and lunch at a Wine Estate in the Douro Valley (Peso da Regua)

Quinta de Marrocos Estate

In the beautiful Douro region, you will find the old Franciscan monastery that today comprises the main house of the Quinta de Marrocos estate.

The estate enjoys a lovely location by the left bank of the Douro river, nestled between the snow on the Marão mountain range, the history and art of Lamego and Vila Real, the traditions and customs of the villages, and towns, the nature of the Douro valley.

The 17th-century house is decorated with (country-style) family antiques. It is one of the oldest estates in the Douro and has maintained its own winery activity for over 4 generations, producing famous Port and Douro wines.

After lunch, enjoy a 2-hour cruise on the Douro river before returning to Porto

Overnight in Porto

DAY 08 – Porto

Breakfast at the Hotel

Private transfer to Porto Airport

Departure flight

The above price includes the following services:

03 nights accommodation at Hotel Bairro Alto 5*****

01-night accommodation at Hotel Cooking & Nature 4**** Sup.

03 nights accommodation at Hotel The Yeatman 5*****

Private transfers and tours as mentioned in the program

Official guide during all tours as mentioned in the program (local guide for Coimbra)

Entrance fees to monuments during all tours

Dinner with Fado show at a local restaurant in Lisbon (excluding beverages)

Cooking lesson/experience at Hotel Cooking & Nature (excluding beverages)

Visit, wine tasting, and lunch at “Quinta de Marrocos” wine estate (including beverages)

River cruise on the Douro river (approx 2 hrs/ not in private/ depending on Weather cond.)

24hrs on-site support by Mr. Travel Staff

Not Included:

Sevices are not mentioned in the program

Personal extras

Flight tickets

Hotels:

LISBON - Hotel Bairro Alto

ALVADOS - Hotel Cooking & Nature

PORTO - The Yeatman Hotel

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