Best of Portugal

We set off northwards. Through a landscape rich in windmills and orchards, we arrive in Óbidos, a town situated within medieval walls, where, among the harmony of the architecture and the variety of local handicrafts, you can taste the delicious ginjinha (cherry liqueur). We continue to Alcobaça, dominated by the imposing church that introduced the Gothic in Portugal and in which rest in delicate tombs D. Pedro and D. Inês de Castro, known for their love story that they lived. Then we will go on to Nazaré, a fishing village also known for its magnificent beach, and for its legends and traditions. Next we will be dazzled by the grandeur and delicacy of the Gothic in the Batalha Monastery, where the Infant D. Henrique, mentor of the Portuguese maritime epic, rests in his tomb. We continue to Fátima, world sanctuary of the Marian cult and altar of the world. Here you will have the opportunity to watch the candlelight procession. Accommodation: Fátima

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Coimbra, city with one of the oldest universities in the world. We will be surprised by the splendor of its baroque library and its musical and university traditions. Still in Coimbra, we will visit the Santa Clara Church, in whose silver and crystal reliquary the beloved Queen Saint Isabel, famous for the miracle of the roses, rests. While strolling through the city center, you will be able to admire the Coimbra ceramics. In the afternoon we will proceed to Aveiro, a city crossed by canals, and, for this reason, known as the "Venice of Portugal". There we will see the typical "moliceiros" boats and taste the delicious and traditional "ovos-moles". We will finish the day in Porto. Accommodation: Porto

Breakfast at the hotel. During the morning, we will get to know the city of Porto. Located on the right bank of the mouth of the Douro river, it is the second-largest city in Portugal. We will discover the streets, the avenues, the monuments and the characteristic places of this city, including the romantic Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace), with the wonderful Arab Room, the S. Francisco Church, with its dazzling gilded carved wood decoration, the traditional and popular Ribeira district, where you can see the delicate filigree work. We will also visit one of the most renowned and traditional Port wine cellars, where we will do a tasting. We will continue to the Minho region, where history, religion and legends blend with magnificent monuments, breathtaking views, delicious cuisine, unique wines, colorful shawls and delicate linens. Through a landscape where green gave its name to the region's wine, we find Guimarães, cradle of the nationality. On the Sacred Hill, the Royal Castle and the Bragança Palace convey to us the strength and power of kings and nobles, and the streets and architecture of the city center bring to mind medieval times. Next, the city of Braga, known as the "Rome of Portugal", takes us to feel the power of the sacred in the oldest cathedral in the country and in the Bom Jesus do Bom Jesus Sanctuary, with its fascinating baroque staircase. Accommodation: Porto

Breakfast at the hotel. We will depart for Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia and the destination for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. In 1985, UNESCO declared Santiago de Compostela a World Cultural Heritage Site. During the day, you will be free to discover this fascinating city. You can stroll through the historical streets, visit the extraordinary monuments and taste the typical dishes. Accommodation: Porto

Breakfast at the hotel. We leave towards Amarante, a small town located on the banks of the Tâmega river, proud of São Gonçalo, a matchmaker saint venerated in its convent overlooking the river, of its houses with colorful porches, its confectioneries with delicious convent sweets and its market where you can feel the pulse of life in the region. We pass the Serra do Marão, on the way to Vila Real. Here we will visit the harmonious and perfumed gardens of Mateus Palace, whose facade is reproduced on the labels of the famous rosé wine. We will then be carried away by the magic of the landscape and feel the force of Man's work in the vineyards of the Douro Demarcated Region, where one of the most famous nectars of the Gods is produced: Port Wine. We will stop in Lamego, where the superb Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Sanctuary looks out over the city where you can taste the traditional Lamego ball. In Viseu, the Dão wine region where we will make a stop, Viriato the Lusitanian - Portugal's first hero - is honored. In the center, the Cathedral dominates an area of streets, where emblazoned houses blend with a very lively and diverse commerce. Lodging: Urgeiriça

Breakfast at the hotel. We cross the heart of Portugal, towards Bussaco, where the romantic Hotel Palace, former Royal Hunting Palace, stands out, as well as its luxuriant and unusual vegetation. We continue to Tomar. The development of Tomar is closely linked to the Order of the Knights Templar who, in 1159, received these lands as a reward for the help given to D. Afonso Henriques (the first king of Portugal) in the Christian reconquest of the territory. We will visit the Convent of Christ, a monument that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. Continuation to Lisbon and accommodation at the hotel. Accommodation: Lisbon

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for a luxurious day. Let yourself get lost in the fantasy of a palace that marked Romanticism. Stroll through the charming town of Sintra. Free time for lunch. Enjoy the beautiful panorama from the westernmost point of Europe (Cabo da Roca). Along the coast we will contemplate one of the most famous surf beaches, the fantastic Boca do Inferno, the cosmopolitan town of Cascais and the gardens of Estoril Casino. Return to Lisbon. Accommodation: Lisbon

A day to discover the city of Évora, declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, a mosaic of culture, history and traditions. We leave Lisbon, crossing the bridge over the Tagus River. Through a bucolic landscape of cork oaks, olive trees and vineyards, we will see the walls and the white houses of the city of Évora. We will walk through the narrow streets of this city, to travel back in time, visiting some of the main monuments: the Roman Temple of Évora, the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, the Church of São Francisco with the Chapel of the Bones, and the University. The visit will also allow us to enjoy all the variety of handicrafts that the Alentejo region has to offer, appreciating, among others, the famous cork, ceramic and copper objects. You will also have the opportunity to see and feel the richness and diversity of the products used in the preparation of one of the tastiest gastronomies of Portugal. Time for lunch. In the afternoon, you will have free time to better discover the city. We suggest a gourmet wine, olive oil and cheese tasting. Accommodation: Évora

Breakfast at the hotel. Some free time in the morning, after which, amidst a relaxing landscape, we set off towards Beja, where the most imposing tower of a medieval castle in Portugal dominates the city and the region. We cross the small mountains until we reach the Algarve, where, among fields of orange groves, we find Silves, dominated on the top of the hill by the Moorish Castle and by the memory of the old cork industry. Then, passing by Praia da Rocha, we arrive in Lagos where we will meet the sea. Accommodation: Lagos

Breakfast at the hotel. We will stop at Ponta da Piedade to admire the fantastic rock formations created by the erosion of the sea and time. Then, we will set off in the direction of Sagres, place of the mythical nautical school of Infante D. Henrique, who opened the "worlds to the world". At Cape St. Vincent, the southwestern tip of Europe, we will be dazzled by the imposing cliffs. Arrival in Lagos, a cosmopolitan city in the Algarve, with a marina and fishing port, and a privileged place to taste a delicious gastronomy rich in fish, seafood and almond sweets. Rest of the afternoon at leisure. Accommodation: Lagos

Breakfast at the hotel. After a last look at the sea to say goodbye to the Algarve, we set off back, stopping in the city of Setúbal. This port and industrial city is located on the left bank of the mouth of the Sado river, looking over the beautiful Troia peninsula. Then we will cross the Arrábida Mountain Natural Park, with rare vegetation and unique panoramas. Crossing one of the bridges over the Tagus River, we return to Lisbon.