Immersive Portugal: Palaces, Port Wines, & Coastal Charm
Uncover the true essence of Portugal on this journey to the heart of the country's rich history, authentic flavors, and vibrant culture.
SPECIAL OFFER
9.6*
ECO SCORE
2
PASSENGERS
14
DAYS
2.5/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Portugal: Drink It In
Begin in Lisbon, soaking up the vibrant culture and historic charm, then venture to the mystical town of Sintra and the serene beauty of Cascais. Continue to the sacred city of Fatima before discovering the picturesque canals of Aveiro and the vibrant streets of Porto. Delight in a curated food tour, savoring traditional Portuguese flavors and regional delicacies. Embrace the stunning landscapes of the Douro Valley on a private river cruise. Conclude your adventure exploring the historic towns of Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo, each rich in heritage and natural beauty. This meticulously crafted itinerary offers a blend of cultural immersion, culinary delights, and breathtaking vistas, promising an unforgettable journey through Portugal's most captivating destinations.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
- • This operator knows Portugal, and this itinerary reflects that — explore the real Portugal and discover local gems off the more touristic beaten path.
• Enjoy a serene private sail through the Douro Valley’s stunning landscapes, followed by an intimate wine tasting.
• Delight in an immersive gastronomic tour of Porto, including a visit to the iconic Bolhão Market, local cervejarias, and a tasting of the region’s famed port wine at the historic Ferreira Lodge.
SPECIAL OFFER
Rates:
From $14,895 per person
Custom dates to fit your schedule. We recommend visiting during late spring or early fall. You'll enjoy warm, pleasant weather, perfect for exploring Lisbon's historic streets, Douro Valley vineyards, and Algarve beaches without the intense summer heat or large crowds. The landscapes are lush in spring, while autumn provides a golden glow over the countryside.
Inquire with your preferred dates.
Custom dates available year-round;
Hover here for more information.
Departures:
Trip Sustainability Awards
Community
Promotes excursions and activities that directly involve and support local communities
Waste
Committed to actively reduce, or even eliminate, the use of consumer goods and disposables
Transportation
Committed to lowering the average pollution levels by choosing sustainable transportation options
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon
Lisbon is a city that makes you want to go exploring, to discover whatever might appear in every neighborhood, on every street. It’s a safe and friendly city, relatively small but with so much to see. It’s an ideal place to spend a few days or as a starting point for touring the country. It’s old. It’s modern. It is, without a doubt, always surprising. You can choose a topic or a theme to explore it. The range is wide: Roman Lisbon, Manueline, Baroque or Romantic Lisbon, literary Lisbon, the Lisbon of Bohemian nightlife, and the city of Fado. There are also very different ways of exploring: by foot, by tram, by segway, by hop-on-hop-off bus, in a tuk-tuk, see from the river on a boat trip or from the other side, after crossing the Tagus on a cacilheiro ferry... the suggestions are endless.
Accommodations: Hotel das Amoreiras
Location
Hotel das Amoreiras is the only hotel located in Jardim das Amoreiras, one of Lisbon’s most beautiful and charming garden squares. Surrounded by two museums, Arpad Szenes-Vieira da Silva and the Water Museum, the Hotel stands across the city’s remarkable 18th century Águas Livres Aqueduct, where the renowned Chapel of Our Lady of Monserrate can be found, built inside one of its large stone arches.
The Avenida da Liberdade, The Marquês de Pombal Square, and Príncipe Real are all within walking distance, and the iconic nº24 Tram which stops just outside the Hotel, can take you to the old town, Baixa and Chiado. Jardim das Amoreiras is the most exclusive and charming of all the garden squares in Lisbon. It's a genuine local experience.
Style and Character
The boutique’s location is unrivaled, close to lush gardens, remarkable museums, and timeless historical architecture. Nature spills through each window, making the hotel a refuge for those who like their city breaks to come with a side of tranquility. Timeless design features make Hotel das Amoreiras feel closer to a stately home than an urban hotel. Its influences span Europe and are revealed in its considered décor of rich fabrics and varied textures. A trail of hand-selected art in the hotel’s grand entrance hall leads you to the chic 70s-style mirrored bar, with warm orange tones setting the mood for cozy cocktails or a relaxed afternoon coffee. Bedrooms are designed with comfort in mind, in a subtle color palette of green and greiges. Hand selected Portuguese marble and brass ornaments add a luxe touch.
Service and Facilities
Our breakfast is freshly prepared every morning and served downstairs in the breakfast room, based on seasonal ingredients sourced from what we believe are amongst the best small local producers, most of them still family-owned. The Bar Hotel Das Amoreiras’ Bar is the perfect place to enjoy our all-day snack menu or a drink before dinner. We look forward to receiving you soon!
Rooms & Suites
Effortlessly stylish, combining classical and contemporary, our 17 rooms and 2 attic suites were individually designed to offer a peaceful retreat in the heart of Lisbon so you can relax and unwind throughout your stay. Enjoy the views of the garden, including the Lisbon Aqueduct, from the comfort of your room with floor-to-ceiling windows or large windows facing Jardim das Amoreiras. All bathrooms are marble with walk-in showers, most with large windows that provide natural light.
Food and Drink
Whether indoors or in our courtyard, relax and enjoy our breakfast until noon, or just chill out with a glass of wine or cocktail and lose all sense of time. Hotel das Amoreiras offers a delicious breakfast served à la carte and a seasonal light menu of bar snacks both sourced from the best local producers. After a restful night, take your morning coffee to the courtyard and plan the day’s escapades in the shade of its statement olive tree.
Day 2: Hiking in Sintra
Start from Cabo da Roca and go along the coast to the beautiful Adraga beach, known for its rock arch and caves. The way to Adraga is mainly single lane and requires good shoes and physical preparation, as the second and third kilometers are quite technical.
Suggestions:
• Visit the westernmost point of continental Europe, Cabo da Roca
• Take a detour to relax on the wonderful Ursa Beach
• Check out the natural crater down to the sea on the cliffs before Adraga beach
Total distance: 3 km Circular trail:
No Max Altitude: 138 m Min Altitude: 0 m sea level
Difficulty: Medium
Estimated time for the hike: 1h 30 min
Starting point: Cabo da Roca
Finishing point: Adraga Beach, by the restaurant.
As always, but especially on this walk, it is important to remember not to stray from the path for your safety. In addition to your camera, take water along, as there is almost no shade on this route, and the only refreshments are in the beginning and Adraga.
Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.
Day 3: Exploring Lisbon
Private Sidecar Tour
Tour Highlights:
• Belém, historical section (pastry tasting is optional)
• Torre de Belém ex-libris of Lisbon jewel of manueline art
• Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a modern monument dedicated to Portuguese maritime discoveries
• Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, is the greatest example of Manueline's art
• Alfama Mouraria: ride through the oldest and most picturesque section of Lisbon.
• Praça do Comércio, the biggest and most beautiful square in Lisbon.
• Baixa-Rossio-Avenida da Liberdade, Marquês de Pombal, city center
• Major Belvedere of Lisbon
• Santa Luzia Senhora do Monte São Pedro de Alcantara Graça Santa Catarina
The Glamour of a Sidecar
Imagine yourself riding in Lisbon in a vintage black sidecar, full of glamor, charm, and history, feeling the pleasant breeze of the wind, and the warmth of the sun, and discovering new perspectives, and new ways. Have fun, and feel safe, away from the hubbub of the tours filled with confusion. More than a ride or a tour, discover a new experience, a new way to know our culture, history, nature, food, and nightlife. With room for three people (driver and two passengers, one behind the driver and one inside the sidecar) the sidecar allows the ideal context of privacy and dialogue between driver/guide and passengers giving you the chance to talk, watch, and learn while having fun along the way, in an experience for all the senses!
The sidecar avoids the traffic by using alternative and picturesque roads, allowing you to know many places that otherwise would not be possible, and of course, the most famous attractions. The history of our black Ural Sidecar dates back to the 40s of the twentieth century. It was designed by the Russians based on the German BMW R71, a motorbike diverted from Sweden to Russia. By the end of World War II, about 10,000 Ural Sidecars were sent to the front line. From the earliest days, more than 3 million Ural Sidecars already passed through the doors of the factory in Irbit in the Ural Mountains in Siberia, where they continue to be manufactured. Apart from its history, our Ural Sidecar is plain black, which gives it that irresistible vintage, iconic look, full of style. Remember the Indiana Jones or Tintin in their sidecars? Now you can experience the same feeling!
Free afternoon at leisure to relax at the hotel or explore its surroundings. Consider exploring the area of Belém on your own.
Belém
There’s a section of Lisbon which is not within walking distance to the city center, but it is worth a visit: Belém. Lisbon is linked to the heroic deeds of Portuguese maritime exploration, in the 15th and 16th centuries. This was the Age of Discoveries and the Golden Era of Portugal, transforming Lisbon into the opulent center of a vast empire. Part of the wealth from these expeditions was used to build magnificent monuments in a unique Portuguese style: the extravagant Manueline architecture style, best typified in Jerónimos Monastery.
Here you will discover the Coach Museum, to see a collection that is unique in the world and includes carriages used by both the Portuguese and European courts.
Take a delicious stop at the traditional Pastry Factory of “Pasteis de Belem”. At the beginning of the 19th Century, in Belém, next to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the Heironymite Monastery) there was a sugar cane refinery attached to a small general store. As a result of the 1820 liberal revolution, all convents and monasteries in Portugal were shut down in 1834, and the clergy and laborers were expelled. In an attempt at survival, someone from the monastery offered sweet pastries for sale in the shop; pastries that rapidly became known as ‘Pastéis de Belém’. In 1837, the baking of the “Pastéis de Belém” began in the buildings attached to the refinery, following the ancient ‘secret recipe` from the monastery. Passed on and known exclusively to the master confectioners who hand-crafted the pastries in the ‘secret room’, this recipe remained unchanged to the present day.
Next, continue walking towards the imposing Jerónimos Monastery. Built in the 16th century, an impressive example of Manueline architecture. It was King Manuel I who ordered the construction of the Monastery and its endowment to the Order of the Friars of Saint Jerome. The sheer magnificence of the building reflects the universal vision of its founder and the scale of the wealth available to the Crown. This was the starting point of the Portuguese discoveries.
Inside the church, a masterpiece of the Manueline style, with beautiful transept vaults supported by palm tree columns, an ambitious approach by the Portuguese architect. On entry, there are the tombs of the poet Luís de Camões, author of the epic masterpiece Os Lusíadas. As well as the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, commander of the armada that set sail for India in 1497, completing the first such naval voyage in history. You can also find in the lateral chapels and in the chancel, tombs of Portuguese Kings during the Golden Age of the discoveries.
On the western edge of Praça do Império, an imposing modern building will attract your attention. This is the Belém Cultural Centre, a powerful fixture in the city’s cultural scene, with an interesting program of cultural events. This is where the Berardo Museum is housed, with its collection of contemporary art. The imposing Monument to the Discoveries stamps its mark on the riverside at Belém. It was designed in 1940 to commemorate the "Exposition of the Portuguese World", promoted by the Salazar government to celebrate the eighth and third centenaries of the founding and restoration of the Portuguese nation (1140 and 1640 respectively). However, it was only built in 1960 for commemorations marking 500 years since the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.
52 meters in height, the monument symbolizes a caravel, headed by the figure of Prince Henry the Navigator followed by a cortege of 32 leading figures from the Era of the Discoveries including, for example, King Afonso V (1432-81), the driving force behind the first discoveries, Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) who discovered the maritime route to India, Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467-1520), who discovered Brazil and Fernando Magellan, who completed the circumnavigation of the globe in 1522, among others.
To finish your day in the setting sun, pay a visit to the Belém Tower, a fortress erected in the 16th century with the aim of defending the entrance to the Tagus from sea attacks although its elaborate decoration makes it look more like a textbook on Manueline style than a military structure.
Meal at Portuguese Home
To answer some of your questions, we would like to offer some insider access to the home of your host for a fantastic meal in one of the historic neighborhoods of Lisbon. Your host will welcome you as if you were family! Before going to your host’s home, he/she will take you on a stroll through the neighborhood and shop for a few things for the meal, little things like wine or bread, olives, or any other things that are missing and that you will buy at a local grocery store. This short stroll will help you better understand the neighborhood and the food you are about to taste. Together you will then head to the host’s and, already with a carefully chosen wine glass in hand, you will see the house and sit down at the dining table to enjoy a traditional home cooked Portuguese three-course menu. The meal will also come with some of the best Portuguese wines. You will not only leave with food and spirit nourishment but with friends for life and long-lasting memories.
Day 4: Traditional Ceramic & Tile Making Workshop + Fado Dinner Experience
The ceramic tiles are one of the most famous symbols of Portugal. We invite you to take part in Portuguese culture and make a traditional ceramic tile of your own.
This is a ceramics studio and shop based in central Lisbon, it is renowned for its workshops and creative works. The studio displays exclusive works by recognized ceramists as well as exhibits new collections by young artisans through the workshops. The shop aims to promote a style through its distinctive interpretation of trends and its exceptional attention to detail, creating an inimitable and comfortable environment.
The workshop has a duration of 1h30, building and painting pieces of your own choice and imagination. After the work is cooked and glazed by us (this process takes approximately two weeks) and delivered to one single address (also can be picked up at the studio).
All necessary materials for this activity are provided by the atelier:
• Introduction to the history and techniques of tiles in Portugal
• Ceramic and all necessary materials
• Paint
• Please note that the tile cooking takes about 3 days – at the end of this period, you can pick up your tiles in our workshop or they can be sent by post for an additional fee
Explore the city at your leisure this afternoon, followed by a Fado dinner experience.
Fado Dinner Experience
Fado is Portuguese and was born in Lisbon. It was adopted by Portuguese culture and is now a symbol of Portugal, with a strong tradition in the historic districts of Lisbon. The three-hour show features talented artists, a singer and two musicians (Portuguese guitar and classical guitar) performing Fado and the music that makes it the national song. The live performances are accompanied by images of unique must-visit locations in Lisbon. It is said that Fado combines nostalgia (saudade), Portuguese pride, hope, and conformism in a musical style epitomized by Amália Rodrigues. On account of these unique characteristics, Fado has now been declared part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Day 5: Setubal & Évora
Setubal
It was the Romans who started one of the region's most traditional activities — gathering salt and preserving food in salting tanks whose remains still exist on the Tróia Peninsula. Setubal is a busy working port and major commercial fishing center that boasts an extensive history and seafaring heritage. Setubal may be industrial, but it is situated in a region of immense beauty. To the east are the stunning hills of Serra da Arrabida and the idyllic beaches of the Portinho da Arrábida, while to the south of the Sado Estuary are the paradise beaches of the Troia Peninsula.
Setubal should not be mistaken as a pristine beach resort or a manicured tourist destination; this is a hardworking port city full of character and grit. The city does make for an interesting base to explore the region, and there are plenty of day trips that could easily fill a weeklong trip. Often Setubal is combined as part of a tour or as a secondary destination (e.g. Lisbon and Setubal or Cascais and Setubal).
There is a lot to see in Setubal, and the main highlights are:
The Historic Center
With its narrow alleys of shopping streets, and grand plazas such as the Praça de Bocage and the Mosteiro de Jesus, the first earliest of Manueline architecture (late-Gothic) in Portugal. The city is a great destination to experience typical Portuguese daily life. There is the lively Mercado do Livramento market (Tues-Sun), the social cafes on the Praça de Bocage, and the delicious seafood restaurants close to the fishing harbor. Setubal also has the added advantage of not being that famous, so it never gets overrun with coach loads of tourists. A typical day trip to Setubal would visit the market, the historic center, the waterfront, and the fishing harbor and then climb up to the castle. For your day trip, it is very easy to travel to Setubal; there is a direct train from Lisbon or a regular bus service from Sesimbra.
Mercado do Livramento (Fish Market)
‘Mercado do Livramento‘ is located at the center of this beautiful small town. On the Av. Luísa Todi 157, next to a popular supermarket ‘Pingo Doce’. Established in 1930, a unique architecture with cast iron columns, and huge panels of tiles inside represents a long history with the Art Deco style outside. The pink-painted large building is easy to notice. A lively and chaotic experience of authentic Portugal. The Mercado do Livramento is one of the best-covered markets in Portugal. The market comprises over 130 stalls selling fresh produce through to local handicrafts, but the main specialty is the large fish market. The fish market is a chaotic and lively affair, where the fresh catch from Setubal’s fishing fleet is sold by loud fishwives, and savvy chefs come to secure the finest cuts of fish. The market (Tues-Sun) is open from 7 am to 2 pm, but most of the fish is sold by 11. The market is closed on Mondays. On the entrance to the market are beautiful tile paintings depicting the traditional agricultural life of the Setubal region, and are worth a visit even if the market is closed.
Évora (Private Walking Experience)
This adventure invites you to explore the medieval city of Évora, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage City, due to its excellent preservation over the centuries. An open-air museum according to UNESCO since 1986, its walls have been guarding the streets and buildings practically unaltered throughout the centuries. The fascination with this walking tour starts with its impressive walls keeping the "eborenses" safe for a long time now. Inside them, you are awaited by traces of Roman times, medieval buildings, palaces, and convents which are witness to the golden era of Portugal (15th and 16th centuries). Visit the enigmatic church of St. Francis and its Chapel of the Bones. Continue up the narrow streets of the old town reaching the Giraldo square where the Inquisition once had its headquarters. Visit the millennium-old Roman Temple and visit the interior of the 13th-century cathedral. In the 16th century, Évora thrived with culture and tradition in its university as much as it still does today. Finish your walking tour with the wonderful 16th-century university, once a prestigious Jesuit college.
We visit the following monuments:
• Historic center with medieval white streets.
• Royal Palace (exterior only visit. The interior is used for temporary exhibitions).
• City Garden
• St. Francis Church and Chapel of Bones
• Geraldo Square
• Gothic cathedral of the XIII century
• Roman temple from the first century AD
Accommodations: Torre de Palma Wine Hotel
Dating back to the 14th century, this imposing white-washed house, with a central tower and a bold trim of yellow, overlooks its fields of vineyards and Lusitano horses. There are 18 attractively decorated rooms, mainly housed in the former stables and worker’s cottages, and a restaurant serving regional fare.
History and Story
Dating from 1338, the Torre de Palma Wine Hotel was born in 2014. Inspired by the lifestyle of the distinguished Basilii family (former inhabitants of the nearby Torre de Palma Roman ruins), and Alentejo traditions, the hotel was conceived to be your home in this region of southern Portugal. Torre de Palma Wine Hotel is a 5-star project devoted to Alentejo wine and to offering genuine experiences. It features the typical Alentejo architecture: white-washed walls and inviting, comfortable rooms. The hotel’s 18 rooms and suites boast elegant interiors that combine contemporary design with traditional pieces, in perfect harmony with the natural surroundings. This boutique hotel includes indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, restaurant and bar. As well as these facilities, the hotel offers a screening room, a chapel, horse riding arena, organic vegetable garden, orchard, vine, a little olive grove, a small forest, a store with regional products and private parking.
This charm hotel at the heart of the Alentejo wine region would not exist if it were not for its core identity: wine production and, consequently, wine tourism. The magical winery is Torre de Palma’s ex-libris and the symbol of the hotel’s wine culture. In addition to an extensive vineyard area, there is also a room filled with wine barrels, a wine tasting room, wine production area and numerous leisure and cultural activities organized around Alentejo wines.
Torre de Palma is approximately a 2-hour drive from Lisbon. Monforte is 10 minutes away by car, while Portalegre, Estremoz and Elvas are just 30 minutes away. The city of Évora, whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is 1 hour away.
Location
Set in the countryside, a short walk from the ruins of an old Roman villa, now an important archaeological site, and just half an hour by car to beautiful Estremoz, whose medieval upper town is dominated by a 13th century marble keep.
Style and Character
Exteriors are spotless white and a yellow trim, while spacious interiors bring quirky paintings, mirrors and contemporary lights to give 21st century warmth to the whole. Interior designer Rosarinho Gabriel has respected the long history of the building by inserting regional artifacts which add to the sense of place.
Service and Facilities
The service is absolutely excellent with a genuine desire to please. Facilities abound from the spa with treatments using Darphin and citrus oil, to bicycles to borrow and Lusitano horses to ride. There is an indoor and outdoor swimming pool and a winery to explore with tasting of the award-winning wines upon request.
Rooms
The majority of the 18 rooms are housed in the low-lying former stables and worker’s cottages which face the main house across an internal courtyard. The master suite and a double room are located in the main house. All the rooms are differently decorated, from four-poster beds topped with crowns to walls of book-lined wallpaper to rugs and cushions on deep sofas atop wooden floors. Bathrooms have underfloor heating and Castelbel amenities. All rooms have coffee machines.
Food and Drink
There is a fun bar with swings to sit on offering a selection of tapas from baked monte da vinha soft cheese, nuts and Torre de Palma honey to the local baked blood and lard sausage to Caesar salad. Basili Restaurant serves gourmet regional fare such as pennyroyal and coriander codfish with quails egg, Alentejo bread and black olive powder or black pork with sweet potato migas (a bread stew). Breakfast is a buffet with local hams, cheeses and fresh fruits. Eggs are available to order.
Activities
This hotel is located in the heart of the Alentejo wine lands. Therefore the big strength is the connection to the wine and the magical winery. We also develop programs with other wineries so the guest can have a deep wine tour of the region. Unique experiences await our guests. Riding a Lusitano horse, star gazing, walking and hiking, cooking workshops, birdwatching or hot air ballooning over the Alentejo plains. A special moment is the sunset wine moment at the hotel’s tower.
Day 6: Private Cooking Experience
Spend your morning and afternoon at leisure, with a break in between for a private cooking experience.
Private Cooking Experience
This is a special opportunity to meet one of the chefs living in the Alentejo and explore all the richer flavors of the local gastronomy. Learn how to cook some of the local and traditional dishes with a few twists of innovation and contemporary taste. Based on the traditions of the Alentejo region, a larger rural area, strongly connected to the land and its customs and traditions. Many are those who still live in country estates and cherish a farm-to-table lifestyle in their daily diet. Already holding your glass of wine, you will learn about the elements needed to cook a wonderful "alentejana" meal and bring them to the kitchen.
The kitchen combines traditional architecture and decor with all the modern utilities in a cozy and intimate atmosphere. There, a few local flavors will be served as appetizers and also conversation topics, because this region is also known for its cheeses and fantastic smoked meats. Your journey continues as you follow the traditional recipe, while the chef is cooking and explaining what you will be prepared based on the best regional produce. A relaxing experience where you will learn about the culture in Alentejo through the food, wine, and conversations that will flow with your chef.
Private Dinner at Casa do Forno
The Casa do Forno, which can be translated to House of the wood-fired oven, is the ideal place for themed and more intimate celebratory dinner. The wood-fired oven is the central element. Traditionally, this was the oven used by the community near Torre de Palam to bake their bread for the week. The oven is a massive structure and due to its size was able to bake at the same time the bread for all the members of the rural community. Today the Hotel promotes special events around the cooking of traditional and contemporary meals based on the ancient techniques of the wood-fired oven. The atmosphere is set for a cozy country-style dinner, surrounded by objects from the old times of agriculture. The curated experience is completed with a unique tasting menu created by Chef Miguel Laffan.
It was in the Alentejo that the Chef discovered the beauty of the natural landscapes, meadows, and castles, which inspired him to win the region's first Michelin star. This strong connection and knowledge of the Alentejo led him to create PALMA - a family experience of sharing and well-being in which the genuineness and generosity of the land are what stand out. Here, in Alto Alentejo, he found local producers of great passion, around homemade sausages, pure cheeses, and carefully selected grazing animals.
Day 7: Visit Evoramonte, Estremoz & Elvas
You can make some stops to visit the charming little village of Evoramonte and the little towns of Estremoz and Elvas.
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 the major feature is the castle with its medieval walls and the former thirteenth-century citadel, which now houses the Pousada de Portugal Rainha Santa Isabel. Estremoz became particularly famous for the quarrying and trading of its high-quality white marble. 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.
During your visit, it is worth going up the hill of the old castle (which was transformed in 1967 into a Pousada) and taking in the views of the Alentejo plains. These were the ruins of the ancient palace where Queen Isabel de Aragon used to stay when coming to Estremoz. This town records the story of her life and in particular the “Miracle of the Roses”. The fable tells that when carrying money for the poor hidden in her apron the King stopped her and upon his request, she opened the apron to reveal only some roses.
One of the ex libris of the city of Estremoz is the traditional market that takes place every Saturday morning in Rossio Marquês de Pombal. The square becomes filled with fruits, vegetables, cereals, olive oil, cheeses, olives, sausages and animals. These products are fresh and can be purchased directly from the producer. Alongside this market, there is also a Fair of Antiquities. Furniture, embroidery, ceramics, porcelain, copper, books, disks, coins, postcards, stamps, old granola, and agricultural utensils are just a few examples of what can be found at this fair.
Evoramonte
The picturesque and delightful Evoramonte (or Evora Monte) parish is located between the beautiful cities of Evora and Estremoz. Once of big geographical and military importance, this Alentejo village with walls that still protect its residents on the mountaintop feels like an old warrior who patiently waits for visitors. With numerous stories to tell them. If you decide to go up by car, park it outside the walls near Porta de São Sebastião. This way, you will be able to enter the village like the Portuguese have done over the centuries. The place is small but beautiful and unique. Its size is a good reason to go through every street and corner paying attention to details. They come up everywhere in Evoramonte: an ornament, a door or window in Alentejo style, an inscription on the wall, a lazy cat resting on a strategic spot.
Wherever you walk in Evora Monte, you will find simple white houses traditionally painted with white lime. And, many times, exhibiting the typical skirting boards near the ground, windows, and panels. Of yellow and blue colors, Alentejo style. Walking around the whole area inside Evoramonte walls, you will see the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição (church) near the cemetery.
In Misericórdia Street, wider and where the access to the cistern is, a few benches invite you to have a break. Closer to the walls, here, like in any other part of the village, the distant horizon reminds us why the defensive castle was built in this location. Further ahead is the small Igreja da Misericórdia (church) and the connecting Hospital da Misericórdia. But the obvious highlight in Evora Monte is the Tower, the ducal palace, at the highest point of the hill. On the main street (Santa Maria) you can see the house where you can take your souvenirs from Evoramonte (apart from the photos, of course). It is called Celeiro Comum (Common Granary) and dates back to 1642. That was when it was founded by charter from King João IV after the population requested it to have cereal stocks. Nowadays, it houses an extremely good handicrafts shop.
Elvas
Located close to the border, Elvas fought to maintain the independence of Portugal and its history. By doing so, it became an example for all mankind. Upon our arrival in the city, we are greeted by a magnificent Aqueduct extending a distance of 7 km and consisting of 843 arches, constructed by the same man who built the Tower of Belém, in Lisbon, architect Francisco de Arruda. Its size and numbers are as impressive as what we will discover ahead of us. We have, in fact, just entered the largest bulwarked fortification in the world, with its defensive structures in the shape of a star that enclose a perimeter of nearly 10 km, which are a unique testimony to the development of military strategy up to the 19th century. The fortifications were very important in the battles with Spain for the independence of Portugal in the mid-17th century, and served as a base for General Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century.
Today, the fortifications of Elvas are a World Heritage site. The military section that is preserved today is made up of the Islamic and Medieval walls and the ring of walls from the 17th century influenced by the Dutch style of Cosmander, plus the Forte de Santa Luzia (17th century), the Forte da Graça (18th century) and three small fortifications from the 19th century São Mamede, São Pedro and São Domingos. If we were birds, we would see the surprising design of these structures on the ground, which we can only comprehend in aerial photographs of or guess at when we visit the monuments and view the surrounding landscape.
In the heart of Elvas, the area of the Castle is the oldest part of the city. From there to the Praça da República square, where the old Cathedral is located, today the Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, we pass by the Domínicas Church, with its original octagonal floor plan, past the Manueline pillory and the Torre Fernandina. Along these streets, it is easy to identify the arches that served as the old entries through the walls. We can also visit other important monuments, such as the São Domingos Church, the Military Museum and the Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco, and two museums that mustn’t be missed: the modern Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Photography João Carpinteiro, where we travel back in time to the earliest days of this art, and find a camera from 1898 and proofs dated 1860.
With its history of battles and bravery, Elvas is today a quiet city, where we are well received and offered regional delicacies such as migas com entrecosto (sautée of breadcrumbs and garlic with spare ribs), ensopado de Borrego (lamb stew), or carne de porco à alentejana (Alentejo-style pork with clams). When it comes to sweets, there’s no resisting the famous ameixas d’ Elvas (preserved plums), the perfect accompaniment to sericaia (baked dessert made of eggs, sugar, milk and cinnamon), not to mention the traditional sweets azevias (sweet pumpkin pockets), nogados (dough fritters), enxovalhadas (lemon and cinnamon-flavored cakes) and filhós (Portuguese doughnuts).
Wine Blending Experience
Wine Blending is an experience in which participants are challenged to create a blend of their own with wine from different deposits and barrels from the Torre de Palma winery. In the end, they are also challenged to personalize their label and take a completely personalized wine home. This activity also includes a visit to the Torre de Palma winery with an explanation of the wines and different grape varieties to create the best blend.
Enjoy this unique opportunity to create your blend, based on your taste and knowledge about wines. Don't worry, a wine expert will be with you during the entire process to make sure you will take advantage of your time exploring all the textures, colors, and aromas from each of the wine samples.
Day 8: Fatima
Pilgrimage Catholic Site of Fatima
The apparitions of Fatima have developed immensely the local town into one of the largest centers of Marian cult in the world. The major manifestations of devotees are held on May 13 and 13 October (the Procession of candles takes place on day 12, and the Farewell procession takes place on day 13, thus ending the celebrations). Visit the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima: This Marian pilgrimage center evokes the apparitions of Our Lady to three Shepherd children Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, which occurred in 1917 and were recognized in 1930. The site was a country ground called Cova da Iria and belonged to Lucia's parents, who later donated it to the sanctuary. It was here that the first appearance took place. The sanctuary includes the Basilica, the square of the prayers, the chapel of the apparitions, the Church of the Holy Trinity, and the pyre where people burn candles asking for blessings.
Accommodations: Luz Charming Houses Boutique Guesthouses
Luz Houses is the result of sweet love and the desire to build a special and unique place! Here, every house has a story, each tree keeps a secret and every stone invites us to get lost where the past, present and future play with each other in harmony. Inspired by the traditional architecture of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the small village is hidden in a mystical forest where, on clear nights, we can hear the echo of the songs of Fátima's Shrine.
Here we stroll unhurriedly, on meditative and leisurely walks, we return to the past and we play marbles and the spinning top. On the walls, we look for messages and, in the middle of the garden, you may find a small cave that awakens your senses. The return to our origins, the whisper of the leaves kissed by the wind and the secrets so well kept, make this unique heaven the perfect place to find balance between body, mind and soul. Upon entering the small village of terracotta color, walk a path of stone slabs that at nightfall is illuminated by small lights hanging from the trees - it takes us to "Mãe Casa" (Mother House). Open the door and let yourself be filled with the aroma of wild flowers. A bicycle will give you a welcome, inviting you to ring the bell to call the host of the village, which will make everything you need to feel at home and embark on an interior and relaxing trip.
Discover our grocery filled with local products that delight us with the freshness of the smell of the earth and that you can use to cook your meals. Be sure to try the local cuisine recipes we have for you! Here everyone gathers in the morning for breakfast where you can taste the best of what is done in the region. At the fireplace you can drink hot coffee and at the honesty bar you can enjoy a good wine or craft liquor.
The Mother-House
Walk around the Motherhouse and find our lovely grocery store with local products that delight us with the freshness of the smell of the earth. Don’t forget to look for a special little gift for that unique person in the world... If you are looking at Luz Houses in a more professional capacity, such as organizing meetings or other events, we can adapt one of our two spaces with the necessary equipment to carry out your tasks and hold meetings, formal or informal. All spaces have free wifi.
Wellness/Spa
In our Natural Cave we favor aromatherapy and herbal medicine, using our local flora, passed from generation to generation. Let yourself be surprised by the surroundings and the cave's magic gracefully created by nature. Feel the energy and vibration of the natural cave which gracefully lines up in unison and in balance with the universe. The Cave is available by appointment and is open daily, from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Day 9: Exploring Nazaré & São Martinho do Porto
Nazaré
Nazaré beach, with its mild climate and natural beauty, has one of the most ancient traditions connected to fishing in Portugal. The long sandy half-moon shaped beach, which is also the town’s sea front, is known for its grandeur and for the brightly colored awnings that decorate the white sandy beaches, contrasting with the blue of the water.
This is the beach in Portugal that retains the more colorful fishing traditions, and it’s not uncommon to encounter fishmongers who still wear the traditional seven skirts. At the end of the afternoon on Saturdays during the summer months, don’t miss sitting on the seawall to watch the fascinating “Arte Xávega” (Drag Nets) spectacle, in which nets laden with fish arrive from the sea and the women scream out their wares for sale. If you don’t understand the words, don’t worry, they often use codes that only they know.
Facing the sea on the right, you will see an impressive headland. This is Sítio, which provides one of the most famous views of the Portuguese coast. It is a 318 meter rock face with a sheer drop to the sea, and is reached on foot by the bravest, or by going up the funicular. At the top sits the Ermida da Memória chapel, famous for the legend of the miracle that Our Lady made to prevent the horse of the nobleman, D. Fuas Roupinho, leaping over the precipice. True or not, the Suberco Belvedere shows the imprint left in the rock by one of the horse’s hooves that foggy morning in 1182. Sítio also houses the Shrine to Our Lady of Nazaré and not far away, the Dr. Joaquim Manso Museum for more details about the traditions of Nazaré.
These days, Nazaré’s major attractions are the waves and surfing, thanks to the "Nazaré Canyon", a submarine geomorphological phenomenon that allows the formation of perfect giant waves. It is the largest underwater canyon in Europe, about 170 kilometers along the coast, reaching a depth of 5,000 meters.
Hiking in the Natural Cliffs of São Martinho do Porto: The Hidden Treasure of the Center
This is one of those routes that combine all the ingredients to make it unforgettable, such as amazing landscapes, history, and adrenaline. You will start the activity on the marginal avenue, in front of the Baía Azul campsite, and set off to discover the historical remains of this region.
São Martinho do Porto is a typical Portuguese holiday resort in that everyone in Portugal knows about it but no one in the rest of the world has even heard of it. As a consequence of this, São Martinho do Porto remains a fantastic and unique spot. Set in an almost perfectly scallop-shaped bay, with twin headlands guarding the entrance to the Atlantic Ocean, the crescent of beach stretches from the mouth of the Tornada River to the town at the northern end. At the far end, the beach is backed by extensive dunes becoming increasingly built up as you near the other.
The sea here is virtually always calm as the bay is very sheltered (the polar opposite of the neighboring rival Beach of Nazare). Seen from far, from the bay of S. Martinho do Porto, we have a more concrete idea of its length, about 200 meters, and its surroundings with the mouth of the Tornada River, where the dune becomes a cliff to the ocean, until it closes the "shell of S. Martinho do Porto". Part of the dune is made of granite and its size was reached around 100,000 years ago when the winds carried sand from the lagoons that existed between Óbidos and Nazaré.
Total distance: 6 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated time for the hike: 3h
Important to bring: Suitable footwear (mountain boots or rigid-soled sneakers); Waterproof windbreaker; Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat; Snacks
Day 10: Exploring Porto
Today, you'll transfer from Fatima to Porto, and enjoy time exploring the area on foot and by boat.
Moliceiro boat trip, with a visit to the Canals of the City of Aveiro
The calmness of the waters of the inner canals guarantees a relaxed journey that enchants those who experience it. Visit the canals of the city and contemplate the natural and built heritage, the Art Nouveau facades and its modern buildings perfectly harmonized with its past.
Discover the charm of this delicate and seductive art period of the 20th century by taking a walking tour with a guide through the Art Nouveau route, a track created to help identify all buildings and monuments. Distinguished as the city-museum of Art Nouveau in Portugal, Aveiro is a member of the “Réseau Art Nouveau Network”, along with Barcelona, Brussels, Budapest, Glasgow, Helsinki, and Havana.
Accommodations: PortoBay Teatro
This is a 4-star hotel in Porto belonging to the PortoBay Group. After being fully refurbished in the first half of 2021, it is now reopening its doors with a fresher, brighter and fully rejuvenated image. It is located in the theater district, right in the historical center of the city, in Rua Sá da Bandeira. Next to the entrance, but with its own access, the Il Basilico restaurant offers Italian comfort food flavors in the bruschettas, tortelloni, pizzas and risottos that find their way to the tables.
Location
Despite being just a three-minute walk from Porto’s main avenue, Avenida dos Aliados, and 200 meters from the São Bento train station, the hotel feels as if it's off the tourist trail, with plenty of local cafés and restaurants found in the surrounding area.
Style and Character
The hotel is built on the site of Porto’s old Baquet Theatre and carries a strong theater theme throughout. Check-in takes place at the 'box office' where room tickets are handed out, elaborate costumes hang in glass cabinets and on racks in the corridors, room numbers illuminate like seat numbers at the base of doors, black-and-white films loop on a big screen in the bar area.
Rooms
The hotel has 74 spacious and fully refurbished rooms. Divided into 5 categories, they offer a contemporary, individual and comfortable feel. The neutral tones and light woods give a warm atmosphere that can be felt throughout the hotel. The suites and junior suites can accommodate up to three people. We have adjoining rooms and rooms adapted for people with reduced mobility.
Day 11: Curated Food Experience in Porto
In Porto, you can try some of the best food in Porto including traditional Portuguese Food and local regional cuisine. Many of the local cafes, cervejarias, and local restaurants are affordable and the food tastes amazing! Quick disclaimer: When you see the name of a place starting with Cervejaria, you will likely find good local food in a traditional ambiance. This curated tour will allow you to explore the best of the local gastronomy of central Porto and Matosinhos, following the guidance of a local certified guide who has the best insider tips and knows just the right place!
Porto is a charming town, situated on the slopes of the Douro River. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its beautiful monuments and historic buildings such as the imposing Cathedral and the Tower of Clerics, Porto is the second largest city of Portugal with superb views over the river and the world-famous Port Wine Cellars on the opposite bank, in Vila Nova de Gaia. The city provides a harmonious synthesis of ancient and contemporary attractions. Fiercely proud of their heritage, the citizens of this merchant town have invested their blood and sweat in their commerce and wine. Nightclubs and restaurants mingle with cathedrals, churches, and museums in narrow alleys and broad avenues. There are many cafes around the city, where you can relax after strolling the many hills of Porto.
Start your tour with a visit to the iconic and recently renovated Bolhão Market. The Bolhão Market is a jewel of Porto: the building, one of the city's most iconic, is municipal heritage and a monument of public interest and preserves the memories and stories of the great fresh produce market, which beats in the heart of the city, of the people of Porto, and of those who visit it. Its character is unique and valuable, and its identity and history have been intertwined for over a hundred years with the identity and history of the city of Porto.
Discover a traditional Portuguese market, where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, explore some of the local products, and explore delicious products. Discover local gastronomy from a whole different angle. You will uncover the secrets of Porto’s delicacies, history, and culture. Because this experience isn’t just a tasting tour: it’s an opportunity to truly connect with the food, the people, and the culture. This journey will then take us to explore the backstreets that lead to iconic places; we’ll run into unexpected gastronomic gems like taverns and snack bars where you’ll find Porto’s beloved everyday specialties.
But the highlight also goes to the local pastry shops, where you’ll taste sweets of the most delicate nature, from the unmatchable repertoire of Portuguese conventual pastry. This gastronomic journey through Porto wouldn’t be complete without tasting the esteemed port wine. During this tour, you will have the opportunity to explore Matosinhos, a major port and fishing town that boasts some of the finest beaches close to Porto and is home to some of the best seafood cervejarias in the area. Being a town of fishermen, Matosinhos owns a daily market with a variety of stalls selling local produce, fresh fish, and locally grown fruit and vegetables. The market building dates from the 1950s and is a protected national monument, with its bold, modernist interior and futuristic curved roof.
Ferreira Port Wine Lodge Experience
Built by a family of Douro winemakers in 1751, the House of Ferreira has a rich tradition and a prominent role in the history of Port Wine. Dona Antonia Adelaide Ferreira contributed significantly to the consolidation of the brand. A legendary woman with a unique personality, who became a myth and a symbol of strength to face the adversities of the Douro in the nineteenth century. The Ferreira Cellars invite you to discover a brand that has been around for more than 250 years, that is a symbol of the highest quality and whose heart and soul are Portuguese.
So what is Port wine? Where does it come from? What is the history behind it? Port is a fortified wine. Fortified wines are made by adding a proportion of grape spirit, or brandy, to the wine at some point during the production process. Port is arguably the greatest of all fortified wines and its paramount expression, Vintage Port, ranks alongside the finest produce of Bordeaux or Burgundy as one of the great iconic wines of the world. In the case of Port, the addition of the brandy takes place before the wine has finished fermenting. This means that the wine retains some of the natural sweetness of the grape, making it rich, round, and smooth on the palate. One of the fascinating aspects of Port wine is its variety of different styles, each with its characteristic flavors, from the intense berry fruit flavors of a Reserve or a Bottled Vintage to the rich mellowness of an Aged Tawny or the sublime complexity of a Vintage Port.
Traditionally it is served towards the end of the meal with cheese, as a dessert wine, or as an after-dinner drink although some styles, like white Port, can also be enjoyed as an aperitif. Port wine is produced in the mountainous eastern reaches of the Douro Valley in northern Portugal, one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful vineyard areas where wine has been made for at least two thousand years. In 1756 the Port wine vineyards of the Douro became the first vineyard area in the world to be legally demarcated. Like other great classic wines, Port owes its distinctive character to a unique association of climate, soil, grape variety, and wine-making tradition. The unique terroir of the Douro Valley and its remarkable wines cannot be replicated elsewhere.
The grapes, mainly of indigenous varieties such as the Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa or Tinta Barroca, are grown on the steep rocky hillsides bordering the Douro River and its tributaries. Many of the oldest vineyards, now classified as World Heritage, are planted on narrow terraces supported by hundreds of hand-built dry stone walls. The first shipments of wine under the name Port were recorded in 1678. Although the wine is produced inland in the vineyards of the upper Douro Valley, it takes its name from the coastal city of Oporto from which it is traditionally exported.
Until well into the 20th century, the wine was carried down the river Douro from the vineyards in special boats known as barcos rabelos. The wine was then unloaded into the ‘lodges’ of the Port houses which line the narrow lanes of Vila Nova de Gaia opposite the old city center of Oporto, to be aged, blended, bottled, and finally shipped. Many of the oldest and most famous producers, such as Taylor’s or Croft, are of English or Scottish origin as, for most of the history of Port wine, Britain was by far its largest market.
Day 12: Private River Cruise & Wine Estate in the Douro Valley
Private River Cruise
Departing from Pinhão, you will descend downstream, surrounded by some of the most emblematic estates in the Douro Valley. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to admire the spectacular landscapes of the Douro and its vineyards, while sailing smoothly on the Douro River. On the way back and if the wind helps, the skipper will open the sails and enjoy the silence and tranquility that only a sailboat can provide. If you want, you can dive and swim in the warm and sheltered waters of the Douro River. An experienced sailor will be your host and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the Douro and its wines.
Wine Estate - Quinta dos Frades
Lovers of the Upper Douro winemaking region, on deciding to visit the Quinta dos Frades estate, will find it contemplative, enchanted by the waters of its very own Douro River. A centenary estate that will tell you the story of a family, the Delfim Ferreiras, who were so in love with the wine culture and the vineyards of the Douro region.
You will be able to visit a series of delightful spots: The mansion-house with its beautifully cared for gardens, the Tea House, the tranquility of the vineyards, the wine cellar and the wines, whose heady sounds and palates you will be able to try for yourself.
The vines, planted at an altitude of between 50 and 250 meters, the youngest of which are around 30, and the oldest over 90 years old, exposed to the sun from both the east and west, provide our wines, produced from the best varieties, with a wide range of aromas, flavors and structures, thereby guaranteeing the unique nature of Quinta dos Frades. And we want you to bear witness to this unique nature.
Historic Background
Quinta dos Frades, originally named Quinta da Folgosa, as it is referred to in the more ancient documents, is located in the parish of Folgosa, municipality of Armamar. Its earliest records date back to the thirteenth centuries, when it was donated to the monks of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Salzedas in 1256, as evidenced by the two Coats of Arms of the Autonomous Congregation of the Cistercians of Saint Bernard of Alcobaça that the estate possesses. It was one of the wealthiest and most productive farms of this Monastery.
The quality of the wine produced at Quinta dos Frades was recognised early on, with the property having been included in the Douro Demarcations, carried out between 1757 and 1761 by the Agricultural Company of the Upper Douro Wines. The estate has a Pombaline landmark classified as a Building of Public Interest, by decree number 35.909.
With the extinction of the religious orders and their monasteries in 1834, as was the case of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Salzedas, which owned Quinta dos Frades, the assets of these monasteries were inventoried and put up for sale in public auctions. Quinta dos Frades was finally auctioned off on 6 November 1841 to the first Baron of Folgosa, Jerónimo de Almeida Brandão e Souza, and remained in the possession of his heirs, his daughter and her husband (Count of Folgosa) until 1941.
In 1941, the "Comendador" Delfim Ferreira, an important industrialist and driver of the Portuguese economy, bought Quinta dos Frades and embarked on a rehabilitation project designed by the architect Rogério de Azevedo, who was also responsible for the design of the emblematic Hotel Infante Sagres, whose construction was ordered by Delfim Ferreira. The estate was thus endowed with modern production and leisure infrastructures, and Delfim Ferreira also introduced the method of planting vines on a free falling slope. During the 1970s the size of the estate was reduced due to the construction of Bagaúste Dam and the re-routing works of the E. N. 222, when a large area was expropriated including the land below the stately house where the oldest vines were established. Nowadays, the estate involves an area of around 200 hectares.
After decades of producing for other wine exporting establishments and a period of restructuring, finally in 2008 the great grandchildren of Delfim Ferreira decided to draw on the potentialities of the estate's vineyards and started a project to produce the first table wine under the brand name of “Quinta dos Frades”. Nowadays, there are more brands and a special edition dedicated to "Comendador" Delfim Ferreira.
Day 13: Viana do Castelo & Ponte de Lima
Early in the morning, you'll depart for Ponte de Lima. In this town of stories and history, a walk through the town center is a journey to the roots of our ancestry. Largo de Camões welcomes visitors with its Noble Fountain, completed in 1603. The nearby Bridge tempts us all to cross it. Cross the bridge and admire the beauty of the Church of Santo António da Torre Vellha (Old Tower), built in the nineteenth century and notable for the height of its tower and the gargoyles flanking it. Close by, the Chapel of Anjo da Guarda (Guardian Angel), a construction with Romanesque and Gothic roots, dated by many to the thirteenth century, will arouse curiosity for the simple and harmonious way it fits into the landscape.
Don’t return to the other bank without visiting the International Garden Festival and the picturesque outskirts of Além da Ponte (literally "Beyond the Bridge”), of undeniable architectural interest. On the left bank, back in the historic town center, admire the São Paulo Tower, from the fourteenth century, the Pelourinho (Pillory), the Torre da Cadeia Velha (Old Jail Tower), which was still being used as a prison in the 1960s and the Arco da Porta Nova, the town gate that leads to the old Rua da Judiaria. Before heading to another symbol of Ponte de Lima, the Avenida dos Plátanos (Plane Tree Avenue), stop for a moment at the Baroque Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Penha de França. At the end of the avenue, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia (seventeenth century) is unmissable, as is the notable complex formed by the Churches of Santo António dos Frades (fifteenth century) and Ordem Terceira de S. Francisco (eighteenth century), which houses the Terceiros Museum. Just off the Avenue is the Diogo Bernardes Theatre, a fine example of an Italian-style theater, inaugurated in 1893, which remains as the town’s main cultural center. Close by, the Villa Moraes, with its admirable Neoclassical-style façades, typical of the houses built by those who returned from Brazil and a welcoming and romantic park.
Back in the center of the town, the Parish Church, rebuilt by João I, is another essential site.
On Praça da República, the monuments particularly notable are of Teresa, the Countess of Portugal, and of the poet António Feijó, the Town Hall building and the Pelourinho. Continue along the narrow streets of the old town, Rua Beato Francisco Pacheco and the sixteenth century Bairro das Pereiras with its fine architecture and notable façades. There is much left to see, but we suggest ending this tour at the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia das Pereiras, where a sublime view of the valley and over the town can be enjoyed.
It's time to head towards Viana do Castelo! Viana do Castelo is one of the most beautiful cities in the north of Portugal. Its involvement in the Portuguese Discoveries and, later on, cod fishing shows its traditional connection to the sea. The special geographical location of the city, next to the sea and to the mouth of the river Lima, can be seen from the Santa Luzia hill. This stunning view and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a revivalist building by Ventura Terra, of 1898, could be your starting point for visiting the city.
Viana is rich in palaces emblazoned with coats of arms, churches and monasteries, monumental fountains and water features that constitute a wealth of heritage worth visiting. At the Tourist Office, you can ask for a brochure and choose a route inspired by Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque, Art Deco or tile architecture. Whichever streets you stroll through in the historic center, you will always come back to the Praça da República, the heart of the city. This is where you will find the 16th century Misericórdia building and fountain, as well as the old Paços do Concelho (Town Hall). Close by is the Romanesque Cathedral or Igreja Matriz (Parish Church).
Facing the sea that was responsible for Viana’s history, a baroque church guards the image of Nossa Senhora da Agonia, the patron saint of fishermen. She is taken out every year on 20 August to bless the sea in one of the most colorful festivals in Portugal, where the beauty and richness of the costumes that are paraded during the festivities are notable. Viana - also known for its filigree gold work - has maintained its traditions, as can be seen in the Museu do Traje (costume and gold museum).
Day 14: Departure
You will be transferred to the airport for your flights homeward. Farewell Portugal!
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Travel with Portugal experts who specialize in one-of-a-kind, intimate experiences prioritizing inspiration and emotions. They celebrate “simplicity, the worship of small details, and the pursuit of everyday happiness.” This is our carefully crafted Immersive itinerary that includes lots of meetings with locals and off-the-beaten-path experiences. We think you’ll love Portugal!
Joy Martinello, Founder
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