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 Portugal
Discoveries - 10 nights
A country of contrasts. The ceremonial art of
drinking prized port wine. The soulful sounds of
Fado in private concert. An elegant,
forest-secluded palace/hotel, fit for royalty.
Panoramic views. Sintra's lavishly decadent
architecture
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Day
1
Flight to Porto, Portugal.
Days 2-3
Porto Guimarães
First settled by Roman traders, Porto
flourished during the era of maritime exploration.
It became a showcase of wealth. Guimarães,
the birthplace of this nation, served as home to
royalty. During our visit to these cities, we:
Walk the Praça de Liberdade, lined with
bright flowers and paved with mosaic tiles, to the
São Bento Train Station, famous for its
historic murals made of azulejo tilework.
our the Bolsa stock exchange and its magnificently
gilded Arabian Room, in addition to marveling over
the 450 pounds of gold used to build the
14th-century Church of San Francisco.
Enjoy mouthwatering cuisine by the Douro River. "
take part in the pleasures of sipping ports in one
of the famous lodges.
Days 4-5
Porto Aveiro Buçaco
From Porto, we head to Aveiro, a town
with canals and colorful boats. Of special
interest:
The barcos moliceiros' floating folk art. These
brightly painted swan-necked boats glide through
the canals.
A private Fado concert in our secluded hilltop
palace-turned-hotel, which overlooks the
Buçaco forest.
Coimbra, an historic and lively university
town.
Days 6-7
Buçaco Conimbriga Tomar
An opportunity to walk through the Buçaco
Forest, with a variety of paths dedicated to
specific botanical, historic and spirtual
landmarks. This part of our tour shows us the
Beiras territory, an unspoiled and scenic region
that also:
Offers a glimpse of the Romans, who inhabited
Conimbriga.
Showcases the medieval ways and treasures of the
Knights Templar.
Celebrates the land's great navigators by using
ropes, nets and other nautical themes in its
Manueline architecture.
Days 8-9
Fatima Alcobaça Óbidos
We travel now into the Estremadura and
Ribatejo territories to see:
The shrine of Fátima. Pilgrims journey from
many lands to pray at this site commemorating
several miraculous appearances of the Virgin.
The Dominican Abbey of Batalha, where we marvel
over a masterpiece of Portuguese gothic
architecture.
The Alcobaça Monastery. The tombs of Dom
Pedro and Inés de Castro represent the
country's finest Gothic carvings and the tale of
furtive love, royal murders, and grim revenge.
The white walled village of Óbidos, which
King Dinis presented to his bride Isabel of Aragon
in 1282.
Days 10-11
Lisbon Sintra
The coastline, stretching westward from
Lisbon to the resorts of Estoril and Cascais and
north toward Sintra' displays sophistication,
intrigue and historic significance. The Lisbon
coast offers:
A scenic drive up winding roads to the Pena Palace,
an architectural fantasy featuring an Arabic
minaret, a portal guarded by gigantic sea monsters,
a stained-glass ballroom and a spectacular
view.
Lunch on the Estorial coast and a stroll into the
fashionable bay resort of Cascais. Enjoy a
leisurely afternoon at Lisbon's Azulejo museum.
Day 12
Return flight home.
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(Superior)