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Tour Code: ZP
Tour Length: 12 days
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PORTUGAL IN DEPTH
Day 1 - (Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight. Day 2 - Arrival in Lisbon, Portugal. (Mon.) Free time to rest or start exploring the Portuguese capital. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and have a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D) Day 3 - Lisbon. (Tue.) Lisbon was the center of Europe's longest-lived overseas empire. Portugal's imperial ambitions date back to Prince Henry the Navigator's 15th-century discoveries in West Africa and did not subside until the 1970s. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide features Belem Tower, guarding the mouth of the Tagus, and JERONIMOS MONASTERY with the tomb of Vasco da Gama. Drive past the Bull Ring to Pombal Statue and on along the grand Avenida da Liberdade. Then enjoy a walk through the cobbled alleys of quaint ALFAMA, the quarter of the seamen. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Exciting optional excursions to the royal palace of Sintra and dinner at a typical taverna with Fado-style entertainment are available. (BB) Day 4 - Lisbon - Fatima - Tomar. (Wed.) First stop on your northbound journey is medieval Obidos. Go back in time as you pass the main gate in the impressive perimeter wall and walk along the narrow streets. Continue to Alcobaça to visit the Church of SANTA MARIA MONASTERY, built in the 12th century for 999 Cistercian monks. See the elaborate tombs of King Pedro I and his Castilian lover Inês de Castro and hear how she was murdered at the order of Pedro's father. The fishing harbor of Nazaré is the perfect place for a leisurely lunch break. In the afternoon mix with the pilgrims at the country's hallowed national shrine, Fatima's SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY. Overnight in Tomar, the historic seat of the mighty Order of the Knights of Christ. (BB,D) Day 5 - Tomar - Oporto. (Thu.) Visit the hilltop CONVENT OF CHRIST with its famous Manueline window. Further north, the ROMAN RUINS OF CONIMBRIGA are eloquent testimony to centuries of Roman influence. Tour the excavations, view the well-preserved mosaics, and visit the excellent MUSEUM. On to Coimbra, strategically situated on a hill overlooking the Mondego River. After a visit to the gilded baroque LIBRARY of its 700-year-old university, drive through the ancient BUÇACO FOREST on your way to Oporto, Portugal's second-largest city. (BB,D) Day 6 - Oporto. (Fri.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a panoramic drive to the mouth of the Douro River, the soaring cathedral, the richly decorated CHURCH OF SAO FRANCISCO, and the STOCK EXCHANGE with its contemporary ARABIAN HALL inspired by Granada's Alhambra. Next, visit a PORT WINE CELLAR where the famous wine produced from grapes of the Douro Valley is aged in huge vats. Afternoon at leisure, and tonight why not join an optional dinner at one of Oporto's typical restaurants" (BB) Day 7 - Oporto - Viseu. (Sat.) Head inland to Guimaraes, often referred to as the "Cradle of Portugal" because of its association with the country's first king, Alfonso Henriques. Next is Vila Real, former capital of Portugal's northeastern region of Trás-os-Montes. Just outside the town visit the splendid park and manor of PALACIO DE MATEUS, whose picture graces the label of the excellent Mateus rosé wine. From here a scenic road through the port wine vineyards leads to Viseu, believed to have been the home of the Lusitanian leader Viriate who resisted the Roman conquest. (BB,D) Day 8 - Viseu - Evora. (Sun.) This morning, your first stop is in Belmonte, today a symbol of Jewish awakening, and visit the JEWISH MUSEUM. Afternoon break in Castelo de Vide, an enchanting small town. Time to walk through the Jewish Quarter with its white-washed houses and take pictures of the 14th century castle. Continue to Evora, the cultural center of southern Portugal and a former royal residence. (BB,D) Day 9 - Evora - Algarve. (Mon.) A massive wall surrounds Evora's medieval center, classified as a World Heritage Site. A Local Guide will take you on a walking tour through its narrow alleys to the Roman Temple, the early gothic CATHEDRAL, Portas de Moura Fountain, and SAO FRANCISCO CHURCH. Visit the OSSUARY CHAPEL, whose walls are covered with thousands of human bones and skulls. Next, proceed across the arid Alentejo plain to the Algarve, Portugal's most popular holiday area. Tonight is your chance to try one of the seafood restaurants for which the Algarve is famous. (BB) Day 10 - Algarve Excursion. (Tue.) Today you may prefer to relax, explore this beautiful resort at your own pace, or join the included excursion along the enchanting southern coastline. History comes alive as you reach the wind-swept PROMONTORY OF SAGRES, where Henry the Navigator lived and planned his overseas expansion. Only a few miles away is Cape St. Vincent, the southwestern corner of continental Europe, a dramatic cliff defying the waves of an ever-angry Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy a lunch break in pretty Lagos and return to your hotel. (BB,D) Day 11 - Algarve - Lisbon. (Wed.) North to Setúbal, a major port and industrial center on the north bank of the Sado Estuary. Then the scenic route over the Serra da Arrábida and savor sweeping views of the Tróia Peninsula. Catch glimpses of the castle of Sesimbra, which recall fierce medieval battles between Christians and Moors. After crossing the Bridge of April 25th, you - re back in Lisbon for the last evening of an exciting touring adventure. (BB) Day 12 - (Thu.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB) |
