Portugal Tour Packages

CONFIDENTIAL RATE [2023 – 2025] FOR TOUR OPERATORS
NET PRICES – PER PERSON – NON-COMMISSIONABLE

Portugal Tour Packages
Rates Validity: 01.08.2023 – 31.03.2025

Program	Package	Download
1	Algarve & Porto \| 09 Nights / 10 Days Lisbon – Algarve – Porto	Download
2	Porto Tour \| 04 Nights / 05 Days Porto	Download
3	Sao Miguel Island, Azores – The Atlantic Garden \| 04 Nights / 05 Days Sao Miguel Island – Azores	Download
4	West Portugal Tour \| 07 Nights / 08 Days Sao Martinho do Porto	Download
5	Jewish Portugal: From the Origins to Present Days \| 08 Nights / 09 Days Lisbon – Crato – Penalva do Castelo – Porto – Lisbon	Download
6	Lisbon Tour \| 06 Nights / 07 Days Lisbon	Download
7	Best of Portugal \| 08 Nights / 09 Days Lisbon – Evora – Fatima – Porto	Download
8	Portugal & Douro Valley \| 09 Nights / 10 Days Lisbon – Fatima – Porto – Douro – Porto	Download
9	Portugal – Ocean & Countryside \| 07 Nights / 08 Days Lisbon – Fatima – Marvao – Sesimbra – Lisbon	Download
10	Portugal – The Knights Templar Kingdom \| 08 Nights / 09 Days Lisbon – Obidos – Tomar – Monsanto – Belmonte – Marvao – Lisbon	Download
11	Portugal & Spain \| 07 Nights / 08 Days Lisbon – Alcobaca – Sao Pedro do Sul – Lamego – Santiago de Campostela – Bayona – Porto	Download

PROGRAM – 1
Algarve & Porto | 09 Nights / 10 Days
Lisbon – Algarve – Porto

Day 1 Arrive Lisbon | Transfer to Algarve
Arrival at Lisbon airport and meet and greet at the airplane gate.
Private transfer to the Algarve.
Time free at leisure
Overnight in the Algarve.

Day 2 Algarve
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day to go to the beach, enjoy the pool, or one of the many activities in the region like for example the cave exploring or coasteering (not included).
COASTEERING
After getting ready with a wetsuit, buoyancy aid, helmet, and shoes accessing the conditions, and a safety briefing, we’ll walk down to the water’s edge and start our route exploring the Coastline, hidden beaches, amazing cliffs, rock formations, clear ocean waters and learning about the marine environment and some local traditions. You’ll be swimming in the ocean, inside sea caves, climbing and walking along the rocky shoreline, and doing some cliff jumping! We can even jump inside the grottoes! After all the action we’ll walk back over the cliffs along the coastal path for a scenic experience while chatting about your session.

CAVES VISIT
Be amazed by the natural beauty of the caves and cliffs of Ponta da Piedade of Lagos.
From the beach of Praia da Batata in Lagos, we depart to explore the golden coast of Lagos along the golden beaches, up to the first rock formations.

On the way to the southern point of Lagos, you will see many birds such as cormorants, seagulls, and storks. Be seduced by the crystal clear water of the Atlantic Ocean. We anchor on secluded white beaches, only to be reached by sea to take a refreshing dive into the ocean and snorkel amongst the fish.
Overnight in the Algarve.

Day 03: Algarve
Breakfast at the hotel
There is no such thing as too much time in the Algarve! A couple of other ideas (not included).

DOLPHIN WATCHING
During this boat trip, you will be looking for dolphins outside Ria Formosa or Sagres areas (depending on your hotel location) out on the sea. You will also have the opportunity to observe seabirds, pelagic fish like sunfish, tuna fish, or even sea turtles that inhabit the coastline of the Algarve.
This is a memorable experience worth sharing with your family and friends.

WATER PARKS
Algarve is a place for beach, water, and mostly fun! And you have 4 Water parks to choose from which are ideal for both adults and children. The parks have water slides, wave pools, green areas, and everything else you would expect and security is of course an important detail.

One of the parks even has dolphins (with which you may swim), sharks, and other marine wildlife.
Overnight in the Algarve.

DAY 04: Algarve – Casal Branco – Porto
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer from the Algarve to Porto
Stop on the way at Casal Branco for a visit and lunch.
Near the Tagus River, Casal Branco Estate has been in the same family for over 200 years. It has been creating Lusitano horses since the 19th century and producing top-quality wines for more than one hundred years.

Family, tradition and a big passion for what they do keeps it going and justify the recognition that is continuously received.
Continue towards Porto
Arrive in Porto and check in at Intercontinental Cardosas Palace
Overnight in Porto.

Day 05: Porto
Breakfast at the hotel
Full-day tour of Porto with private guide including wine tasting.

PORTO
After meeting with the guide at the hotel lobby, leave for a tour of the downtown area of Porto. Passing Avenida dos Aliados, famous for its banks and trendy shops, we will head towards 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 its incredible granite work and magnificent neo-Arab influences and the S. Francisco church also called the Golden Church. A passage by the famous ClErigos Church and Lello Bookshop is also on the program.

Lunch will be free. No visit to Porto is complete without a visit to one of the Port wine cellars located on the south bank of the River Douro. After the visit, you will have the chance to taste some of these fabulous wines.
Overnight in Porto.

Day 06: Porto – Douro – Porto
Breakfast at the hotel
Full-day visit to the Douro Valley Wine Region
Visit Quinta de Marrocos wine estate including wine tasting and lunch.

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. Evidence of the port industry can be seen along the valley with all the famous company names – Cockburns, Taylors, Sandeman, and others – appearing on large placards on the hillsides. The color of the land changes throughout the year as the vines mature.

QUINTA DE MARROCOS WINE 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 Marao 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.
Overnight in Porto.

Day 07: Porto – Lisbon
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Lisbon
Stop on the way in Obidos for a private visit to this lovely medieval city.

THE MEDIEVAL TOWN OF OBIDOS
The delightful town of Obidos, with white houses adorned with bougainvillea 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 Obidos 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, Obidos 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.

Continue towards Lisbon for another hour
Overnight in Lisbon.

Day 08: Lisbon
Breakfast at the Hotel
Meet with the guide at the hotel lobby.
Private Half-Day Tour of Lisbon.

HALF-DAY TOUR LISBON
Leave the hotel heading towards downtown, passing Rossio Square and the trendy shopping & cultural district of Chiado. From here we will take one of the famous Lisbon Trams and you will experience a unique ride until reaching the old quarters of Alfama. Here we will visit the Castle of St George from where one can admire one of the best views over Lisbon. We will then walk through the old quarters until downtown and will visit Commerce Square, located right at the river. After some time at leisure for shopping or coffee, we will return to the hotel.

SUNSET CRUISE LISBON (optional – not included)
The river is one of the places not to be missed when you are visiting this beautiful city. Lisbon colors and light are one of the things most people remember and there is no better time of the day than sunset when the sun turns orange, pink, and red, and everything changes..

But there is more than just the light, it is from the river that we can have a unique view of the most important UNESCO monuments of the city, these include the Jeronimos Monastery and the Belem Tower. And you will also have a particular view of the Monument to the Discoveries which symbolizes the efforts and ventures of our glorious sailors.

Return to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure
Overnight in Lisbon.

Day 09: Lisbon – Sintra – Lisbon
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Meet with the guide at the hotel lobby.
Private Full-Day Tour of Sintra and Cascais.

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 northernmost 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.

After visiting the Pena Palace, a fairytale castle built for Prince Dom Pedro in the 1750’s still well preserved and with beautiful gardens (in the photo) some time at leisure will be given for exploring 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 in the afternoon
Overnight in Lisbon.

Day 10: Depart Lisbon
Departure transfer to Lisbon airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Includes
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– 09 nights accommodation as per the program.
– Meals as mentioned in the program.
– Entrance fees to monuments.
– English speaking guide.
– Full-day visit to Porto.
– Full-day visit to Douro Valley.
– Visit to Quinta de Marrocos wine estate.
– Half-day tour of Obidos.
– Half-day Tour of Lisbon.
– Full-day Tour of Sintra and Cascais.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by AC transport.
– All taxes.

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Algarve	03	Holiday Inn Algarve
Porto	03	Mercure Porto
Lisbon	03	Radisson Blu

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 2450 PP
Single Supplement	USD 610 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 2
Porto Tour | 04 Nights / 05 Days
Porto

DAY 01: Arrive Porto
Arrive Porto. Meet assist and transfer to the hotel.
Free day.
Night in Porto.

DAY 02: Full Day Tour Porto
Pick Up – Hotel
Included: wine tasting in a old cellar / 6 Bridges River Cruise.
PORTO| Capital and gateway to the north of Portugal, Porto is both the city that provided a nation with a name and a fortified wine known world-wide: Port Wine.

With its splendid geographical location on the mouth of the river Douro and an architectural heritage of exceptional quality, the historic center of Porto was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1996. Porto is the capital of the North and the second largest city in the country; its hard-working inhabitants are noted for their commercial enterprise, always standing firm against outside impositions and foreign invaders, which explains why Porto has become known as the «unvanquished» city.

In this Porto Day tour we will visit the most important sites of this old city.
Take a guided tour the Port Wine Old Cellars with a special tasting of these wines.

Admire the typical granite houses and monuments, with all the rhythms of city life, its movement and intense retailing, the main square of Av. Aliados, the highest tower in the city of Clerigos, the church of Sao Francisco all furnished with gold leaf, the world famous bookstore Livraria Lello, the Ultramodern Casa da Música building, the Atlantic fortress of Castelo do Queijo, the old Cathedral, the Palácio da Bolsa (Chamber of Commerce), Ribeira (Riverside), and make a river cruise under the citys six bridges , from where you can enjoy an entirely different view of the city.
Night in Porto.

DAY 03: Full Day Tour Douro Valley
AMARANTE | All visitors to Amarante will most certainly be impressed by two imposing natural features: the great Serra do Marao rising above the city in a series of majestic landscapes and the River Tamega, the longest tributary of the river Douro, whose journey begins in Galicia and which flows through the heart of Amarante, giving added colour to the picturesque houses standing on its banks.
The bridge at Amarante perpetuates the memory of the local population’s heroic resistance against Napoleon’s troops, who invaded Portugal in the early nineteenth century. Amarante’s sweets and cakes are extremely famous and easy to find in many of the region’s cake-shops and cafEs.

We continue our way towards the great Douro Valley passing through some small hilltop villages with granite espigueiros (granaries used for drying and storing corn), breathtaking landscape and then going down towards the Douro River, where the vines grow in terraces on the banks of the river, lending great beauty to the landscape, with large estates and manor houses.

DOURO VALLEY | Classified a world heritage site, the man gave birth to port wine and table wines of great quality. Port wine is the oldest Ambassador of Portugal. Cultivated in terraces of the Douro, has the honor to belong to one of the oldest demarcated regions in the world, since in 1756 was created the General Company of Agriculture and Vineyards of the Alto Douro. Here was also born the Douro table wines, which in recent decades have acquired great notoriety and border projection thanks to their quality, both in the reds as the whites and roses. Green in summer, fire color in autumn, the Vineyard has given rise to a unique landscape classified by Unesco.

Visit one of the main Douro Wineries with a commented tasting of wines of excellence.
Night in Porto.

DAY 04: Full Day Tour Braga & Guimaraes
Pick Up – Hotel
Included : Guimaraes Castle and Braga Cathedral.
GUIMARAES | A city known as the «cradle of the Portuguese nation», whose historical centre is classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. Explore the historic city centre, the Castle and the Ducal Palace.

BRAGA: Called “Bracara Augusta” during the Roman Empire.
The Cathedral in Braga is the oldest in Portugal and was the major religious reference point throughout centuries. Thus comes the popular saying “older than the Braga Cathedral”, to denote something that is extremely old. Always subject to the ecclesiastical influence that has naturally reflected on the city’s heritage, it is possible to conclude that the 16th and 18th centuries represent peaks in its history and development.

In this Tour we visit Braga, one of the oldest religious cities in the world. You can visit the three Sanctuaries that make up the famous Faith triangle: the Cathedral of Braga and the Sanctuary of Sameiro and Bom Jesus.

After a delicious lunch (included), the tour continues towards Guimaraes, birthplace of Portugal, where you will have the opportunity to visit its magnificent historic center (UNESCO World Heritage).

Highlights Braga Historic Center, Sameiro Sanctuary and Bom Jesus Sanctuary, Braga Cathedral, Guimaraes Historic Center – UNESC World Heritage Guimaraes Castle.
Night in Porto.

DAY 05: Depart Porto
Departure transfer to Porto airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Includes
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– 04 nights accommodation as per the program.
– Meals as mentioned in the program.
– Entrance fees to monuments.
– English speaking guide.
– Full-day visit to Porto.
– Full-day visit to Douro Valley.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by AC transport.
– All taxes.

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Porto	04	Mercure Porto

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 1089 PP
Single Supplement	USD 305 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 3
Sao Miguel Island, Azores – The Atlantic Garden | 04 Nights / 05 Days
Sao Miguel Island – Azores

DAY 01: Ponta Delgada | Discover The Capital
Transfer in at the Azores Airport.
Meet assist at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Free Afternoon in Ponta Delgada To Explore The Area.
Visit the capital. Take your time to visit some of the most iconic monuments of Ponta Delgada: the Portas da Cidade (City Doors), Church of Saint Peter, Market of Grace, Church of St. Sebastian, Church of Our Lady of the Conception (Parish of St. Joseph), Field of St. Francis and Sanctuary of Santo Cristo, where it takes place an important religious manifestation, are some of the points you can visit. Be sure to visit the Carlos Machado Museum.
Night accommodation in Sao Miguel Island Azores.

DAY 02: Lagoa Das 7 Cidades | Lagoa Do Fogo
On this tour we will be visiting the west side of the Island, Sete Cidades and it’s lakes specially the major lake. The so called Blue and Green Lake, once considered one of the 7 wonders of Portugal.
After luch time to discover the amazing Lagoa do Fogo.
Going up to Pico do Carvao that takes us to the famous view of Vista do Rei, we will be seeing spectacular landscaping views, such as and North, Central and South coasts of the island, as well as the Fogo volcano located in the middle of the Island surrounded by green vegetation.

Meanwhile, and before arriving at Vista do Rei, we will make a stop at the Canário Lake and at the famous viewpoints of Grota do Inferno and/or Cerrado das Freiras.
Continuing our tour to Vista do Rei, you will see the famous Blue and Green Lake, surrounded by green landscapes and steep slopes.

On the way to the parish of Sete Cidades, we will be making one more stop at Santiago Lake viewpoint. This lake is located at 334 meters from the sea level, has a length of 700 meters, a width of 475 meters and approximately 29 meters deep.

The farm parish of Sete Cidades located at the bottom of the crater with the same name, will be visited where you will have the opportunity to look at the church of Saint Nicolas built in 1857.

The return to Ponta Delgada will be trough the South coast where we will stop at the Miradouro do Escalvado for a superb view over the fishing village of Mosteiros, with beautiful summer homes, beaches and natural pools, and the famous rocks leftovers of an extinct volcano.

Before the end of the tour we will be visiting the ArrudaŽs Pineapple Plantation located at Faja de Baixo. Our pineapple is grown inside of glass green houses, taking on average 2 years to be harvest.

AFTERNOON
LAGOA DO FOGO (Fogo Lagoon) | This tour will take you to the middle section of the island, specifically the volcano of Fogo and its beautiful lake with white sandy beaches and crystal clear water.

Driving through the South coast on the way to the city of Lagoa, you will see 3 black sandy beaches, Sao Roque, Melicias and Pppulo, about 4 km from Ponta Delgada.

In the city of Lagoa you can visit the Vieira Ceramic Company, an old company still going strong since 1862, where you will enjoy seeing a different kinds of pottery and tiles still being produced the original way.

Now is time to drive over the mountain of the volcano of Fogo, South side, enjoying spectacular landscaping views over the West, volcano of Sete Cidades, as well as South, Central and North sides of the Island.

At the top of the volcano, Pico da Barrosa, standing at 947 meters high, you will be memorized with the view over the big volcanic caldeira of Fogo and it’s magnificent lake with the same name.

Do not miss the Caldeiras of Ribeira Grande, located in the north of the Island of Sao Miguel, in the beautiful county of Ribeira Grande, the village of Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande is alive testimony of the volcanic manifestations of this Island.
In the surrounding area are also available holes for confection of stews, a phenomenon that can also testify.

After this wonderful stop, drive to the downtown Ribeira Grande which became a city on June 29th 1981 a very picturesque city with an original garden build around the water stream.

To end this tour on a high note you will have a chance to try a large variety of liquors at the Eduardo Ferreira factory Mulher de Capote.
Night accommodation | Ponta Delgada.

DAY 03: Full Day Tour To Furnas
On this tour you will be visiting the one of a kind Parish of Furnas the place where we cook underground the famous Cozido (meats and vegetables dish) and also known for it’s caldeiras and springs.
Begin our tour by the South coast towards Vila Franca do Campo, a very picturesque village, the first Capital of the Island of Sao Miguel destroyed by a huge earthquake in 1522.

After driving by downtown Vila Franca do Campo, we will visit the chapel of Our Lady of Peace located at the top of a hill with the same name, with a spectacular panoramic view of the Parish and the famous lagoon known by IlhEu de Vila Franca do Campo, a crater of a submarine volcano about 5000 years old, now a national reserved area.

Continuing on to the volcano of Furnas, the first destination is Poça da D. Beija also known by the Fountain of Youth and Pool of Paradise, located at the Valley of Furnas, area of warm springs, place where you will have enough time to bath on 39cº/103f warm pools.

After this wonderful experience, we go to the Furnas Lake the place where we cook underground the famous Cozido, a combination of different vegetables and meats. It may be a good suggestion for lunch.

After lunch drive to Caldeiras of Furnas, hot water springs, medicinal mud used for several skin and respiratory conditions.

Finally we will exit the big volcano of Furnas on the way to Pico do Ferro a magnificent view over the big Furnas Valley.

Now, on the North coast, Gorreana tea plantation will be our next stop, one of the last two tea companies of Camellia sinensis in Europe, producing black and green tea. You will have the opportunity to visit the factory and sample the tea.

Returning to Ponta Delgada we still have one more stop at Miradouro de Santa Iría, where you will have a dramatic view over the North coast of the Island, being able to spot the big volcano of Sete Cidades and the highest point of the Island called Pico da Vara at 1105 meters high.
Night in Ponta Delgada.

DAY 04: The Northeast And Its Viewpoints
Owner of a stunning natural beauty with lush vegetation, situated in the most rugged part of the Island, the northeast region is undoubtedly the mirror of nature in all its splendor.
On this day we will prove this, with the visit to the countless viewpoints that meander all this part of the coast of the island of San Miguel.

This tour is based on the East side of Sao Miguel which is the oldest area of this island going back about 4.2 million years.

We will start our tour driving by the South coast towards the city of Lagoa crossing than to the North side of the island being our first stop at Miradouro de Santa Iría, where you will have a dramatic view over the North coast of the Island, being able to spot the big volcano of Sete Cidades and the highest point of the Island called Pico da Vara at 1105 meters high.

Continuing our tour by the North coast, our nest stop will be at Salto do Cavalo, a spectacular mountain top view, standing at 760 meters high, overlooking the volcano of Furnas and the village of Povoaçao and its big extinct volcano caldeira, considered the biggest of the island.

From Salto do Cavalo we will go down for a visit to the village of Povoaçao, where the first settlers came first to this island back in 1432.

After visiting Povoaçao our next stop will be the view point of Pico Longo from this view, you will see from a different angle the village of Povoaçao and it’s Lombas, back than know by the wheat and corn valley.

Ponta do Sossego, a beautiful garden surround by old mountains and sea is waiting for you. An unforgettable stop.

Before we arrive at the village of Nordeste you will have the opportunity to look at the oldest light house of the Azores from Vista dos Barcos view, build back in 1876, called Farol do Arnel.

At the Village of Nordeste, the main village of the county once was considered one of the gardens of Europe winning a prize in 1994 which they proudly display at the Town Hall. This will be the place where we will make a stop for lunch.

Our last stop, before we head back to Ponta Delgada, will be on the North coast at the place called Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões, where waterfalls, gardens and picnic areas gives a special touch to the park.
Night in Ponta Delgada.

DAY 05: Departure Day
Departure transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Includes
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– 04 nights accommodation as per the program.
– Meals as mentioned in the program.
– Entrance fees to monuments.
– English speaking guide.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by AC transport.
– All taxes.

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Ponta Delgada	04	Azoris Royal Garden

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 1280 PP
Single Supplement	USD 340 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 4
West Portugal Tour | 07 Nights / 08 Days
Sao Martinho do Porto

DAY 01 And DAY 02: Free Time At The Beach
Free time to relax by the sea, in the magnificent bay of Sao Martinho do Porto, where the beach extends for 3 kilometers, forming a shell around the sheltered beach.
The calm sea presents the ideal conditions for a family holiday with children, and for water sports.
Night in Sao Martinho do Porto,

DAY 03: Discovering The West
This full-day tour will take you to some of the most emblematic cities in the western region of Portugal. Let yourself be enchanted by the city of Caldas da Rainha, Peniche and Obidos.

Discover one of the most beautiful regions of Portugal, the West! Here you will find villages and cities still shrouded in ancestral traditions, beaches and mountains, breathtaking landscapes.

Visit the thermal village of Caldas da Rainha, known as the Queen’s Village, enchants yourself as you walk through the narrow streets with its white and flowery houses of the magnificent medieval town of Obidos, and finally explore Peniche, a city with Strong links to the sea and that will not leave you indifferent.

CALDAS DA RAINHA | A dynamic and vibrant village, situated on the Costa da Prata on the west coast of Portugal, it has become a popular tourist destination over time.

Rich in water, which dictated the foundation of the city, and abundant in clay, Caldas da Rainha is known for the ceramic art that developed there.

Visit the historic center, the old Thermal Hospital and the old queen’s pool. Discover the local traditional crockery. Visit the Museum of Ceramics and possibility to make the Ceramic Circuit of the city.

OBIDOS | is a charming and picturesque medieval hilltop village, with white washed houses decorated with flowers.

Captured from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques in 1148, the village became prosperous from the time it was chosen by the royal family, when the King Dinis offered it as wedding gift to his wife Isabel, in the 14th century. Full of flowers, many medieval monuments and beautiful panoramic views are found here, relax yet in a medieval bar while enjoying the famous local liqueur “Ginjinha”.

PENICHE | Peniche is an area of great natural beauty and an enviable landscape, with a vast historical, cultural, natural and religious heritage.

Visits included: Fort of Peniche, transformed into political prison in the era of Estado Novo (1933-1974), was the scene of one of the most extraordinary evasions of the 20th century in Portugal.
At Cape Carvoeiro stop to visit the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos RemEdios, inside the rock and covered by beautiful 18th century tiles.

Take a walk along the beach of Baleal, which stretches between two seas like an island (which was once), much sought after by the excellent conditions for surfing and Bodyboarding.
Return to the hotel.
Night in Sao Martinho do Porto.

DAY 04: Lisbon
Visit the most iconic places in the coolest city in Europe. Take a walk through the streets of Alfama, discover the beauties of the downtown and admire the city’s grand monuments.

LISBON | On the right bank of the broad Tagus river estuary, the capital of Portugal graciously reclines over rolling hills. This is a spectacular geographical location and does much to explain the cosmopolitan history of the city. Its exceptional natural light, which has long inspired writers, photographs and filmmakers, the brightly coloured buildings straddling the slopes, the striking ochre of the roofs, the tiling on so many facades and the narrow twisting alleys of the medieval districts bestow Lisbon with the peculiar atmosphere of a city perched somewhere between the European north and the Mediterranean south.

BAIXA (DOWNTOWN) | Park Edward VII, Avenida da Liberdade, Squares of Rossio and Restauradores, St. Dominic’s Church (18th century), Ginjinha, Baixa Pombalina (Pombaline Downtown), Praça do ComErcio.

WALKING TOUR ALFAMA | Alfama is one of Lisbon’s most genuine neighborhoods its architecture presents the unique characteristics of old and colorful buildings that give it a joyful character and tranquility. While walking through the disordered and narrow streets of Alfama, you’ll feel like youre in a small village, witnessing conversations between neighbors, listening to Fado echoing through the stairways and being able to see the Tejo River from another perspective.

QUARTER BELEM | Belem Tower (16th century), Monastery of Jeronimos (16th century), Monument of Discoveries (20th century), Traditional Milk Custard Tarts of BelEm “PastEis de BelEm” (19th century)

MONASTERY OF JERONIMOS | 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.

Return to the Hotel.
Night in Sao Martinho do Porto.
DAY 05: Free Time at The Beach
Explore the beach and the nature around the Bay. Take long walks along the beach,
taste the Portuguese Cuisine in the numerous local restaurants where fresh fish dishes are the main attraction. Enjoy the exceptional conditions of this bay for the practice of water sports.
Night in Sao Martinho do Porto.

DAY 06: NazarE | Fátima | Alcobaça E Batalha
We start the day with a visit to the most picturesque beach of Portugal: NazarE. With its mild climate and natural beauty, NazarE beach has one of the most ancient traditions connected to fishing in Portugal. Known for its giant waves, the beach of NazarE has plenty to offer you. Then we discovered two jewels of Portuguese architecture: Monastery of Alcobaça and Monastery of Batalha, both classified by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. It is also essential to visit the ex-libris of religious tourism in Portugal: Fátima. A sacred place of national and international importance, Fatima is known as the altar of the world.
NAZARE | Nazare 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 towns sea front, is known for its grandeur and for the brightly-coloured awnings that decorate the white sandy beaches, contrasting with the blue of the water. We visit the Sítio, which provides one of the most famous views of the Portuguese coast. It is a 318 metre 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 do not miss a visit to the Ermida of MemOria chapel, and to the Shrine to Our Lady of Nazare.

MONASTERY OF ALCOBAÇA | Monastery or Royal Abbey of Santa Maria, founded by the Order of Cistercians in 1153. Building began in 1178 on land donated by Dom Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal to the Order of Cistercians, in fulfilment of a vow made after the Christian reconquest of Santarem. Testify the magnificent gothic tombs of the two lovers King Pedro and Ines de Castro.

MONASTERY OF BATALHA | Built in 1386 to keep a vow by Portuguese King Dom Joao I to the Virgin Mary that he would build it if Portugal defeated Castille at the Battle of Aljubarrota on 14th August 1385. 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.

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 hold at May 13 and 13 October.
Estimated time of arrival at the Hotel.
Night in Sao Martinho do Porto.

DAY 07: NazarE | Fátima | Alcobaça E Batalha
On this last day enjoy the beach, the calm sea and relax in the hot sun. Enjoy your free time to make those last minute purchases.

In the village of Sao Martinho do Porto you will find many boutiques, coffee shops, pastry shops and local produce stores.
Night in Sao Martinho do Porto.

DAY 08: Transfer Out
Departure transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Includes
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– 07 nights accommodation as per the program.
– Meals as mentioned in the program.
– Entrance fees to monuments.
– English speaking guide.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by AC transport.
– All taxes.

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Sao Martinho do Porto	04	Miramar Hotel & Spa

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 1225 PP
Single Supplement	USD 315 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 5
Jewish Portugal: From the Origins to Present Days | 08 Nights / 09 Days
Lisbon – Crato – Penalva do Castelo – Porto – Lisbon

DAY 01: Arrive Lisbon
Transfer Airport to Hotel
Lisbon City Tour: Oriente (The Eastern District)
Begin with a panoramic sightseeing tour. Lisbon is, without doubt, a charming capital city. Singular monuments scatter themselves through an urban landscape unlike any other, and beautiful viewpoints open up extraordinary views over the river Tagus. This is a city both Atlantic and Mediterranean, illuminated by an extraordinary light. Our tour will allow you to discover the different side of the citys rich variety of heritage and styles and the uniqueness of one of Europe most beautiful capital.

Jewish life probably began here not long before the city fell to the Moors in the 8th century. It remained a major port and market up to the time that Portugals first king, D. Afonso Henriques, seized it in 1147. The Alfama quarter, hugging a slope between the river and the castle is one of the citys oldest areas, and a large Jewish community flourished here in the hereabouts of the Rua da Judiaria. As the community grew, and more Jewish refugees came to Lisbon, a new Judiaria Pequena formed in the 13th century near what is today the central Praça do ComErcio. This entire area was totally destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. The nearby Rossio square, was the site of the court of the Inquisition. It was here that countless autos-da-fE were held where Jews and other accused heretics were burnt at the stake.

Walking Tour in Lisbon Historic Center, visiting the sites: Park Edward VII, Liberdade Avenue, Rossio (Church of Inquisition and Palace of Inquisition), Praça do ComErcio (Celebration of Auto da Fe), Alfama (the old Jewish quarter).

Lunch in the city of Lisbon.
Lisbon Synagogue Shaare Tikva is a historical synagogue in the city of Lisbon. There have been Jews in Lisbon at least since the Middle Ages, but the community suffered a major blow in 1497, when an edict by King Manuel I ordered Jews either to convert to Christianity or to leave the country. All synagogues of Lisbon were confiscated by the King and given to Christian religious orders. For the Jews that converted to Catholicism, called New Christians (cristaos novos), the establishment of the Portuguese Inquisition in 1536 meant a permanent danger of being persecuted.

The situation for Judaism in Portugal changed at the beginning of the 19th century, when the Portuguese Inquisition was abolished and Sephardi Jews from Morocco and Gibraltar, mostly merchants, started to migrate to Lisbon and other parts of Portugal. Inaugurated in 1904, the Lisbon Synagogue was the first synagogue to be built in Portugal since the late 15th century. Ventura Terra conceived a temple in a style mixing Neo-Byzantine and Neo-Romanesque, consistent with the Oriental fashion for Synagogue architecture.
In 2004, a ceremony was held to celebrate the synagogue’s 100th anniversary. Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio and Israel’s Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar were among the speakers.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 02: Lisbon City Tour: Ocidente (The Western District)
Discover Lisbon and the surroundings with this amazing circuit. We promise unique and unforgettable experiences for those who prefer the city and history, for those who looks for nature and traveling with all the senses. This is a rich route, diverse, inviting. Waiting to be discovered and covered for you.

We continue our tour in Lisbon. On this day well focus on the western side of the city, the quarter of the discoveries – BelEm.

QUARTER BELEM (UNESCO): Belem Tower (16th century), Monument of Discoveries (20th century), Traditional Milk Custard Tarts of BelEm PastEis de BelEm (19th century).

MONASTERY OF JERONIMOS (UNESCO): 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 column, 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.

Tasting of TRADITIONAL MILK CUSTARD TARTS OF BELEM PastEis de BelEm (19th century).
To understand the Portuguese discoveries and the instruments that some Jewish astro-physicians invented we the MARITIME MUSEUM. Founded by King Luís in 1863, 100 years later the Naval Museum was installed in part of the JerOnimos Monastery, becoming symbolically associated with the site that saw the Portuguese fleets setting out to discover the routes over the great oceans. This museum, with more than 17 thousand items, among them almost perfect models of ships, from naus and caravels to modern cruisers, bears fascinating testimony to maritime history and the activities of the Portuguese navigators.
In the entrance hall a huge globe shows the routes of the Portuguese expansion from the 11th to 16th centuries and the sharing of the world between the crowns of Portugal and Castile after the Treaty of Tordesillas.

Lunch In the city of Lisbon
WALKING TOUR IN LISBON CHIADO DISTRICT – with strong historic connections with World War II and the rendezvous point for spies. Portugal remained neutral in the 2nd World War and Lisbon became a rendezvous spot for spies, taking advantage of the citys strategic Atlantic connections, quickly turning into a true nest of spies.

The plane to Lisbon, as an escape route in the movie Casablanca, remains one of the best-known examples. Inside the city both the Allies and the Axis kept impressive diplomatic services: probably the only place in war-torn Europe where all sides were able to meet on equal grounds. In this walking tour you will visit some of the sites related with the spy stories of the 2nd World War and also learn about the most famous spy Hotels in Lisbon, The refugees and the fashion trends, The lonely fight of the Portuguese consul in Bordeaux, The most important WWII spy, Garbo/Arabel, The Jewish gold and the tungsten traffic, The games of the political police.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 02: Alentejo: Elvas, Evora
Tour to the Alentejo region.
Finally we arrived to the Alentejo. Here we meet Evora, a city that stands imposing in front to the vast Alentejo plain. Lastly, we will feel the aroma and taste of unmistakable wines of this sunny place in the south.

There is something fortifying and liberating about the Alentejo landscape, with its never-ending space, its immense undulating plains, huge skies of the deepest blue, its infinite horizon… and the people, calm and unruffled folk, immensely proud of their homeland.

Take a guided walking city in the city of EVORA (UNESCO) and explore its old historic center with medieval whitewashed streets, former Royal Palace, City Garden, St. Francis Church and the creepy Chapel of Bones, Geraldo Square, Gothic cathedral of the XIII century, Roman temple from the first century AD and the Real Jesuit University.

Since the middle ages that Evora was the second largest Portuguese city and because of the importance that, often here met the Court. So Jewry was therefore one of the country’s largest. It came to have two synagogues, a Jewish school, hospital, and a mikvah (place of ritual baths) and even a leprosarium (Leprosy hospital). The Public Library also presents a rarity, a famous ALMANACH PERPETUUM BY ABRAHAM ZACUTO (printed in 1496 and then translated by Master JosE Neighbor) and the Nautical Guide Evora (1516), works that greatly contributed to the nautical and scientific development of Portugal during the discoveries. The city was also home to one of the inquisition courts in Portugal, precisely where most processes involved Judaism (about 9,500). The Court and the Evora Inquisitor’s Palace are in front of the Museum of Evora, one can still today one can see the coat of arms of the Holy Office.

Lunch in the city of Evora.
Finish the day in a historic pousada hotel, in CRATO.
A castle, a convent and a palace, built in different periods, were the origin of an ecclesiastical architectural work of outstanding harmony. The former headquarters of the Knights of Malta is surrounded in medieval mystic. Flor da Rosa Pousada manages to combine the genuine characteristics of the convent, highlighting them with an architectural project, which although modern, entirely respects its origins.
Night in Crato.

DAY 04: Castelo De Vide, Marvao
Castelo de Vide, at 850m above sea level, is of Roman origin but it is probably best known for the large Jewish quarter which existed in the Middle Ages. In the old Jewish quarter of the town, nothing seems to have changed since those times, with cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and mysterious Gothic doorways. One can explore pretty squares, the oldest synagogue in Portugal and, of course, the 14th century castle overlooking the town.

We will discover Marvao. Anyone who knows Marvao will certainly say that you are at such a height that you can see the backs of the birds flying by. And it is quite true. Just go up to the Castle and enjoy the immense scenery. This medieval walled town is one of Portugals treasures, where you are welcomed and feel a limitless tranquillity. Marvao is known for its narrow streets and picturesque recesses, its Manueline pillory, and its Gothic windows and wrought iron balconies.

Take a careful look at the houses in the Jewish Quarter. On the ground floor, two doors connect with the exterior. Normally in granite, one leads into the store where the business was done and the other leads onto stairs leading to the two upper floors which were the living quarters. On the doors that still retain their ogival gothic structure, there are sculpted symbols. On the right doorpost, there are small indents of around 10cm. These are mezuzot (plural of Mezuzah) and clear evidence the Jewish faith was practised. They were used to attach a small parchment that represented a profession of faith. On one side, there was the name of God and on the other the word Shemah was inscribed. Shemah is the name given to the first sentence in the Book of Deuteronomy meaning listen.

At the crossroads between Rua da Judiaria and Rua da Fonte there is the former synagogue, which served as both a meeting place and school for the Jewish community. According to what is known, through to the 12th century, this was but a modest house before being transformed into a place of worship in the 14th century. In the 16th century, with the order given to expel all Jews, it again returned to being a residence. Within one of the walls, a tabernacle and a receptacle were discovered confirming the buildingŽs former purpose. The tabernacle, divided into two, served to store the sacred manuscripts and the holy oils used in religious ceremonies. The receptacle, to the left, was used to hold the scriptures.

Heading down the north slope, the stroll inevitably ends in a square pleasantly set off by the Town’s fountain. This represented one of the boundaries to the Jewish quarter.

MARVAO: Continue to the most extreme east border of Portugal, to the wonderful hilltop CASTLE OF MARVAO. Only a few kilometers from Spain, stands the peaceful town of Marvao, on the highest crest of the Serra de Sao Mamede. Geographically, Marvao is a point of natural strategic defence, marked by steep slopes to the north, south and west. Access on foot is only possible from the east, which was the direction in which the town gradually spread. Inside the walls are narrow streets lined with the beautiful popular houses that are typical of the Alentejo. Amidst them, it is easy to find Gothic arches, Manueline windows, wrought-iron balconies and other embellishments in the nooks and crannies of the buildings made from the local granite. This impressive fortress town served as an entry point to the thousands of Jews who fled Spain in the 15th and 14th centuries.
Night in Crato.

DAY 05: Belmonte, Trancoso
Today we visit Belmonte and Trancoso. In Belmonte all roads in this ancient settlement – its first charter was granted by king Sancho I in 1199- lead up to the hilltop granite castle.

Belmonte retains much of the medieval atmosphere of times when the Jewish community would have to practice its prayers, traditions and customs in secrecy even if Belmonte is now more than proud to be home to the Bet Eliahu synagogue.

With a past that parallels the history of Portugal, Trancoso is a town whose narrow streets and stone houses preserve the medieval atmosphere. The plateau on which it is situated, at an altitude of 870 metres, gave it a strategic position in the defence of the frontier with Spain and made it an important fortress during the Middle Ages.

BELMONTE, the most Jewish town of Portugal. After centuries of Jewish organization in secrecy is during the 1920s that Samuel Schwarz announces the existence of a community in the interior of Portugal, near the Serra da Estrela: Belmonte, the native town of the discoverer of Brazil in 1500, Pedro Alvares Cabral. After the persecutions of the Inquisition and the Catholic integration processes that have diluted all the existing communities, it came to public that this village had its Jewish traditions alive. Belmonte is in the 20th century the last peninsular (Portugal and Spain) community of Crypto-Jews. About 200 people, nearly 10% of the villagers. This present community has its own synagogue, rabbi and cemetery.

The community of Belmonte today meets the main religious rituals. Some rituals barely changed since the medieval ages, as one needs to understand that they lived in secrecy for centuries and had no contact with the world or with other Jewish communities, as well as the geographic location of the town was until the 1950s extremely difficult to reach.

Lunch In the city of Belmonte
Continue to the walled town of TRANCOSO where Jewish merchants first settled in the 12th century. Visit the well preserved on the facade of the Casa do Gato Negro (The house of the Black Cat). The façade of the house is decorated with emblems that have been interpreted as representations of the Lion of Judah and the Gates of Jerusalem. The house itself used to belong to the former Rabbi of this community and it was probably also used as the local Synagogue. Now, the town of Trancoso is honoring its Jewish heritage with the establishment of the Isaac Cardoso Center for Jewish Interpretation, along with a new synagogue called Beit Mayim Hayim the House of Living Waters. A mezuzah was affixed to the entrance of the synagogue the first mezuzah in the village for hundreds of years! Jewry: Rua da Alegria
Night in Penalva do Castelo.

DAY 06: Aristides Sousa Mendes | Righteous Among The Nations
Today, we will start by meeting Aristides Sousa Mendes history.

Aristides de Sousa Mendes do Amaral e Abranches was one of the great heroes of the Second World War. As the Portuguese consul stationed in Bordeaux, France, he issued some 30,000 visas, including about 10,000 to Jews, over the period of a few days.

After this emotional visit, time to relax. So, we will visit the an amazing Winery, were you will taste some of the best wines of the Douro Valley.

Then we will go to AMARANTE, a place that will not leave you indifferent. We ended the day in the northern capital, a city constantly changing, which has been modernized but retains intact its traditions and its medieval traits.

We start this day by visiting the house of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who was one of the great heroes of the Second World War. As the Portuguese consul stationed in Bordeaux, France, he found himself confronted in June of 1940 with the reality of many thousands of refugees outside the Portuguese consulate attempting to escape the horrors of the Nazi war machine. These persons were in desperate need of visas to get out of France, and a Portuguese visa would allow them safe passage through Spain to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, where they could find liberty to travel to other parts of the globe.

In all, Sousa Mendes issued some 30,000 visas, including about 10,000 to Jews, over the period of a few days. This heroic feat was characterized by the Holocaust historian Yehuda Bauer as the largest rescue action by a single individual during the Holocaust.

For his act of defiance Sousa Mendes was severely punished by Salazar, stripped of his diplomatic position and forbidden from earning a living. He had fifteen children, who were themselves blacklisted and prevented from attending university or finding meaningful work. In this way what was once an illustrious and well-respected family one of the great families of Portugal was crushed and destroyed. The familys ancestral home, known as Casa do Passal, was repossessed by the bank and eventually sold to cover debts.

Now, the Casa do Passal, which has been classified as a National Monument, will be given a new lease of life by far-sighted government representatives Pedro Saraiva and Celeste Amaro, and thousands of followers around the world!

We visit the House of Aristides Sousa Mendes, the house of his birth, and the cemetery where he is buried.
After this visit, follow to Douro Valley, to discover one of the following winerys.

WINERY PACHECA: Quinta da Pacheca, one of the most famous properties in Douro, stands out for having been the first to bottle wine under its own brand. On April 17, 1738 the winery already belonged to D. Mariana Pacheco Pereira. In 1903 it was bought by JosE Freire de Serpa Pimentel, and after 100 years it still belongs to the same family. The property is located in the Lower Douro region, with a total length of 51 hectares of vineyards and a single winery. The main wines are: Pacheca, Grande Reserva Touriga Nacional and Vinha da Rita.

QUINTA DO VALLADO: Established in 1716, is one of the oldest and most famous Quintas in the Douro Valley. It once belonged to the legendary Dona AntOnia Adelaide Ferreira, and still belongs to the family of her descendants. it lies on both banks of the Corgo river, a tributary to the Douro river, rightnear to its mouth, close to the town of Peso da REgua.

Lunch In the mountain village of Amarante
All visitors to AMARANTE will most certainly be impressed by two imposing natural features: the great Serra do Marao rising above the city in a series of majestic landscapes and the river Tamega, the longest tributary of the river Douro, whose journey begins in Galicia and which flows through the heart of Amarante, giving added colour to the picturesque houses standing on its banks.
Amarante’s sweets and cakes are extremely famous since the middle ages.

The highlight of Amarante town is the Convent of Saint Gonçalo, founded by king D. Joao III in 1540. This convent is a pilgrimage destination to all single ladies who are looking forward to meet their charming price in the near future.
Night in Poro.

DAY 07: Porto: The Home Of Port Wine
PORTO: Capital and gateway to the north of Portugal, Porto is both the city that provided a nation with a name and a fortified wine known world-wide: Port Wine.

With its splendid geographical location on the mouth of the river Douro and an architectural heritage of exceptional quality, the historic center of Porto was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1996.

Porto is the capital of the North and the second largest city in the country; its hard-working inhabitants are noted for their commercial enterprise, always standing firm against outside impositions and foreign invaders, which explains why Porto has become known as the «unvanquished» city.

In this Porto Day tour we will visit the most important sites of this old city.
Take a guided tour the Port Wine Old Cellars and taste a kosher port wine, unique in the world.
Admire the typical granite houses and monuments, with all the rhythms of city life, its movement and intense retailing, the main square of Av. Aliados, the highest tower in the city of Clerigos, the world famous bookstore Livraria Lello, the ultra modern Casa da Musica building, the Atlantic fortress of Castelo do Queijo, the Palacio da Bolsa (Chamber of Commerce), Ribeira (Riverside), and a river cruise under the city’s six bridges, from where you can enjoy an entirely different view of the city.

Lunch In the city of Porto
The Synagogue Kadoorie Mekor Haim is the largest in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the largest in Europe. Built with donations from Jews around the world, it was inaugurated in 1938, at a time when in Germany Synagogues were being burned down.

This architectural monument is one of the most extraordinary Jewish houses of worship in the world and is also the headquarters of the Jewish Community of Porto, founded in 1923 by Captain Barros Basto, who became known in the Jewish world for trying to rescue the descendants of Jews forced to convert Christianity, in the fifteenth century, who kept the secret practice of precepts of the Jewish religion.

OPTIONAL TOUR
PORTO FADO SHOW + FOLKLORE SHOW + DINNER WITH DRINKS | PRICE 45EUR/PERSON + 10EUR/PERSON FOR TRANSPORTATION | By night, the traditional neighborhoods fall under the spell of Fado, the melancholic style of Portuguese folk music. In 2011, UNESCO granted Fado World Heritage status.
Night in Porto.

DAY 08: Tomar And Obidos
Almost in the end of our circuit along the paths where the prevailing Jewish heritage, we will dedicate the last day to two stunning locations in the center of the country, explore the mythical city of TOMAR and “travel in time” through the streets and alleyways of the beautiful medieval village of OBIDOS .
In both stops we find traces of the presence of the Jews and its remarkable culture.

Continue South towards TOMAR (UNESCO), awarded the classification of world heritage to the Templar Castle and the Convent of the Knights of Christ in Tomar (12th century) a unique monument in the history of the western world. After a royal reformation of the Order of Christ, here was settled the Inquisition main office in the 17th century. This vast monumental complex illustrates seven centuries of Portugal’s history and contains several important mementoes of decisive moments in the history of the western world.

SYNAGOGUE: Built between 1430 and 1460 by order of Prince Henry, the synagogue of Tomar witness the importance that the Jewish community has been in the city since the 14th century. The functions that the building had over the times were different, becoming public jail, chapel and warehouse. Adjoining the main building after archaeological excavations, a room was found, for the mikvah, the ritual bath of purification of women. The Synagogue of Tomar contains a strong symbolism. It is in fact the only synagogue in the 15th century, built from scratch, which still remains standing.

Lunch In the city of Tomar
Continue west towards the delightful town of OBIDOS, with white houses adorned with bougainvillea 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. Inside the walls, which at sunset take on a golden coloring, one can sense a cheerful medieval ambience 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. Jewry sites: The former synagogue is still standing, however not possible to visit inside. As well as the Rua Nova (Jewish artisans street) and Porta Santiago (Gate of St James).
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 09: Depart Lisbon
Departure transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Includes
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– 08 nights accommodation as per the program.
– Meals as mentioned in the program.
– Entrance fees to monuments.
– English speaking guide.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by AC transport.
– All taxes.

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Lisbon	02	Radisson Blu
Crato	02	Pousada Mosteiro Crato
Penalva do Castelo	01	Rural Madre de Agua
Porto	02	Mercure Porto
Lisbon	01	Radisson Blu

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 2380 PP
Single Supplement	USD 570 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 6
Lisbon Tour | 06 Nights / 07 Days
Lisbon

DAY 01: Arrive Lisbon
Transfer airport to the hotel.

Lisbon City Tour: The Seven Hills
Lisbon is so many special things; it’s the sound of vintage trams rambling up and down cobblestone streets, a medley of heartfelt Fado songs, an open-air gallery of historic heritage, a haven for free spirits, a surprise for fashionable shoppers and Portugal’s “coolest” city.

On the right bank of the broad Tagus river estuary, the capital of Portugal graciously reclines over rolling hills. This is a spectacular geographical location and does much to explain the cosmopolitan history of the city. Its exceptional natural light, which has long inspired writers, photographs and filmmakers.

We promise unique and unforgettable experiences for those who prefer the city and history, for those who looks for nature and traveling with all the senses. This is a rich route, diverse, inviting. Waiting to be discovered and covered for you.

BAIXA (DOWNTOWN), Sites: Park Edward VII, Avenida da Liberdade, Squares of Rossio and Restauradores, St. Dominic’s Church (18th century), Ginjinha, Baixa Pombalina (Pombaline Downtown), Praça do ComErcio.

QUARTER ALFAMA, Sites: Lisbon Cathedral (12th century), Viewpoint Portas do Sol, St. George Castle.

Visit the modern art district of PARQUE DAS NAÇÕES / EXPO: This is the most modern quarter of Lisbon. A quarter with lots of contemporary architecture. Well have a stroll around and a cable car ride to take pictures of Lisbon Oceanarium, Alameda dos Oceanos, Lisbon Casino, Portugal Pavilion, Oriente Train Station from Architect Santiago Calatrava, Atlantic Pavilion where major concerts are hosted, Europes biggest bridge Vasco da Gama.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 02: Lisbon City Tour: The Discoveries and The Royalty
We continue our tour in Lisbon. On this day well focus on the historic center of the city, its viewpoints and the citys most important museums. The circuit starts in one of the most beautiful places of the capital along the Tagus: BelEm. We visit one of the relics of Portuguese heritage: Jeronimos Monastery. A visit that enriches further the circuit of this second day in the Portuguese capital.

We’ll take a walk on other historical sites of great importance, as the Jeronimos Monastery. There will be time yet to go through the streets and alleys of one of the most charming areas of Lisbon: Bairro Alto.
The day ends in the best possible way! We have for you a Fado show, this melody that comes from within the Portuguese soul, and that sings the sentiment, lost love, longing for a departed one, everyday life and triumphs. Come with us and discover the magic Lisbon!

QUARTER BELEM (UNESCO): Belem Tower (16th century), Monument of Discoveries (20th century), Traditional Milk Custard Tarts of BelEm “PastEis de BelEm” (19th century)

ROYAL PALACE OF AJUDA: This neo-classical palace was built in the first half of the 19th Century and was chosen as the residence for the Portuguese royal family when D. Luís I (1838-1889) became king and married an Italian princess, D. Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911).

It is a typical example of a 19C royal residence and has an important collection of decorative art (gold and silver ware, paintings, sculpture, furniture, tapestries, glassware, porcelain, etc.).

QUARTER BAIRRO ALTO (photo stop): Viewpoint Sao Pedro de Alcantara.
LISBON FADO SHOW + FOLKLORE SHOW + DINNER WITH DRINKS | PRICE FOR OPTIONAL TOUR 50EUR/PERSON + 35 USD / PERSON FOR TRANSPORTATION | By night, the traditional neighbourhoods fall under the spell of Fado, the melancholic style of Portuguese folk music. In 2011, UNESCO granted Fado World Heritage status, as an urban Lisbon song symbolic of the city and the country.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 03: Sintra: Lengedary Castles | Nature And Architeture
SINTRA is a town of palaces, landscapes, culture, art and also of great romantics who passed through here. Learn about the ancient myths of Celtic bards, the Moorish legends, the passions of the Christian Reconquest and a masonry that makes this site so unique in the world and yet so magical! There were several romantic figures that have passed in Sintra. From literature to music, the town of Sintra has inspired various figures and dazzled others with its mystical and charming environment.

In the morning, we visit the Historical Centre of Sintra, with visit to the traditional narrow streets full of flowers and local craft shops, viewpoints, with compulsory stop at the traditional sweets and Ginjinha (cherry liqueur).

We start with cultural tour with NATIONAL PALACE OF SINTRA, unique example of medieval palaces in Portugal. From the earliest dynasties, Sintra was a favorite spot for the Portuguese kings. Its interior tell not one, but several stories of Portugal. The decor has great value, combining furniture, paintings and tiles. Outside we see the two large conical kitchen chimneys with 108 feet high, a symbol of Sintra.

Continue to PENA ROYAL PALACE, in the top10 of the most beautiful palaces in the world! A real enchanted palace. One of the most beautiful examples of the romantic revival of the 19th century. Built on the site of a former convent of friars from the Order of St. Jerome. A fantasy from King Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha. A palace with a complexity of styles: neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic and neo-Renaissance.

After lunch, we continue to the destination that you are most interested in.
Here are the options that you can take. Please mention your choice when making the reservation.

AFTER LUNCH – OPTION 1
**HIKING DIFFICULTY MEDIUM/HARD**
MOORISH CASTLE + REGALEIRA GARDENS AND PALACE
Guided tour to REGALEIRA PALACE AND GARDENS, a place with a spirit of its own. Built in the early 20th century, a taste of the romantic style, rises in the middle of the forest, and is the result of the mythological dream of its owner, AntOnio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro.
+
The oldest monument of Sintra, the MOORISH CASTLE, located on the ridges of the Serra de Sintra, the castle dates back to the time of the Muslims in Portugal, 8th century. Reconquered by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, in 1147. The panoramic view from the top of the castle is amazing!

AFTER LUNCH – OPTION 2
CABO DA ROCA CLIFF, CASCAIS AND ESTORIL
You cannot afford to miss paying a visit to the westernmost point on the European mainland, the headland of CABO DA ROCA. Situated at a latitude of 38º47 North and a longitude of 9º30 West, CABO DA ROCA is an important coordinate for anybody sailing along the coast, since it is the westernmost point on the European mainland.

Situated close to the sea and traditionally a fishing village, CASCAIS enjoyed an important period of development in the 14th century, when it was a major stopping off point for boats on their way to Lisbon, turning it into a very busy port at that time. It was, however, in the second half of the 19th century, when sea bathing became a popular activity, that Cascais was given the impetus that transformed it into a very fashionable summer resort.

AFTER LUNCH – OPTION 3
WINERY IN COLARES
The history of this Winery dates back to the early 18th century, surprisingly managed to survive the 1755 earthquake because of granitic structure of the landscape. These are the most western vineyards of Europe.

The winery Sta. Maria is situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Serra de Sintra, has maritime climate influence with cool nights, morning mists of strong and accompanied by ocean breezes. The result of this terroir wines are reminiscent of the sea, very aromatic, fresh, mineral, elegant, and balanced and with the peculiarity of having strong salty notes. These are wines that have great aging potential.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 04: Evora: History – Wine – Cork Nature – Veliko Tarnovo
We start our walking tour of the city of EVORA.
Topped by an imposing cathedral, Evora is on sloping hill out of the huge Alentejo plains. A walled city classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city, with its narrow streets of Moorish origin contrasting with squares full of light. Evora was conquered by the Romans in 59 BC, named as Liberalitas Julia. After the Portuguese reconquest in the 12th century, an urban area grew beyond the city walls. The city was very important for several Portuguese kings of the first and second dynasties. During this period, all of it was endowed with various palaces and monuments, particularly during the reigns of King John II and Manuel (15th and 16th centuries).

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, Real Jesuit University.

After lunch, we continue to the destination that you are most interested in.
Here are the options that you can take. Please mention your choice when making the reservation.

AFTER LUNCH OPTION 1
CORK FACTORY + CASTLE OF EVORAMONTE
Visit a CORK FACTORY, where you can discover the process of transforming raw cork into the products that are sold all over Portugal.

Portugal is the world’s leading manufacturer of cork and represents 53% of world production. In spite of corks being the most familiar object, many other things are made of cork, especially in areas where it grows as Alentejo, where 72% of the total production is concentrated.
+
EVORAMONTE CASTLE is a hilltop castle, dates back to the 12th century, when the settlement was conquered from the moors by the Knight Geraldo Sem Pavor. The Italian Renaissance style fortress, was commissioned by Duke D. Jaime in the 16th century. It is a unique monument within Portuguese military architecture.

AFTER LUNCH OPTION 2
ARRAIOLOS CASTLE AND RUG VILLAGE + TRADITIONAL WINERY
ARRAIOLOS is a pleasant town with traditional architecture and whitewashed houses with blue trims. The mediaeval castle was built at the orders of D. Dinis (1279-1325), although the town soon spread beyond its walls.
The name of this town is well known internationally thanks to the famous Arraiolos rugs, which are produced here by the local craftsmen and women.

Ravasqueira Winery: A winery with old traditions, but modern in its wine production. Walk in the vineyards, explore the wine cellar, a museum of carriages, gardens, and take a wine tasting.
Some wines won golden awards in WINE SPECATOR.

AFTER LUNCH OPTION 3
NATURAL PARK ARRABIDA + FREE TIME ON THE BEACH
Situated by the sea, just 30 minutes from Lisbon, the ARRÁBIDA NATURAL PARK is incomparably beautiful, the blue sea in contrast with the green of the dense vegetation mantle that covers the hill. It is a magnificent mountain 380 meters high, which falls into the sea where you can enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view over the Atlantic.

There are several fine sandy beaches with clear water that can only be found around Mediterranean countries, beaches such as Figueirinha, Galapos and Portinho Arrábida. In this park you may taste a delicious sheep cheese, a local delicacy. | Opened in 1884, is the largest gallery of national and European art. The Museum is housed in a 17th century palace. Includes works ranging from the 14th century to the 19th. Guards notable paintings by masters of the Portuguese school as Nuno Gonçalves (century. XV), Frei Carlos, Vasco Fernandes, Christopher Figueiredo, Gregory Lopes (century. XVI), Vieira Porto and Domingos Sequeira (secs. XVII-XIX), as well as collections permanent schools and European artists (Memling, Bosch, Dürer, Holbein, Gerard David, Cranach, Morales, Pieter de Hooch, Zurbarán, Piero della Francesca, Raphael, Fragonard, Courbet, etc.).

Also interesting are the sixteenth century Japanese folding screens that show the Portuguese arrived in Japan. The first contact between East and West. We can see their fascination by the Portuguese, mustaches of the Portuguese, size of their noses, and shirt buttons, nonexistent in Japan to date.

LISBON FADO SHOW + FOLKLORE SHOW + DINNER WITH DRINKS | PRICE FOR OPTIONAL TOUR 50EUR/PERSON + 35 USD / PERSON FOR TRANSPORTATION | By night, the traditional neighborhoods fall under the spell of Fado, the melancholic style of Portuguese folk music. In 2011, UNESCO granted Fado World Heritage status, as an urban Lisbon song symbolic of the city and the country.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 05: Obidos, Sao Martinho Do Porto, NazarE, Alcobaça And Batalha
OBIDOS is a charming and picturesque medieval village, with white washed houses decorated with flowers. Captured from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, in 1148, though already occupied before the Romans reached the Iberian Peninsula, the village became prosperous from the time it was chosen by the royal family, when the King Dinis offered it as wedding gift to his wife Isabel, in the 14th century. Full of flowers, many medieval monuments and beautiful panoramic views are found here, relax yet in a medieval bar while enjoying the famous local liqueur Ginjinha, served in a chocolat cup.

Time to relax in the beach of SAO MARTINHO DO PORTO, the sands here continue for an approximate 3 kilometers forming a shell shape around the sheltered bay that is home to Sao Martinho do Porto Beach. The calm sea represents the perfect conditions for both children and nautical sports such as windsurfing, sailing and canoeing.

NAZARE is blessed with magnificent light, pleasing sun, fine white sand and hospitable locals. The seven colorful skirts worn by NazarE women have been worn since the days when they used to wait for their husbands to return from the day’s fishing trip. But today the town is defined more by the waves that attract surfers and body-boarders and the beautiful underwater landscapes that attract divers. The lovely cove is protected by high cliffs, atop which the Sítio da NazarE offers a memorable view.

MONASTERY OF ALCOBAÇA (UNESCO): Monastery or Royal Abbey of Santa Maria, founded by the Order of Cistercians in 1153. Building began in 1178 on land donated by Dom Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal to the Order of Cistercians, in fulfilment of a vow made after the Christian reconquest of SantarEm. Testify the magnificent gothic tombs of the two lovers King Pedro and Ines de Castro.

MONASTERY OF BATALHA (UNESCO): Built in 1386 to keep a vow by Portuguese King Dom Joao I to the Virgin Mary that he would build it if Portugal defeated Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota on 14th August 1385. 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.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 06: Tour to Tomar and Fátima
Breakfast.
Visit to Fatima.
FÁTIMA: 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 hold at May 13 and 13 October. This Marian pilgrimage center evokes the apparitions of our Lady to three Shepherd children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, occurred in 1917 and recognized in 1930. The site was a country ground called Cova da Iria and belonged to Lucia parents, who later donated it to the sanctuary. It was here that the first appearance took place.

UNESCO: Convent of Christ in TOMAR (1983)
Continue South towards TOMAR, UNESCO awarded the classification of world heritage to the Templar Castle and the Convent of the Knights of Christ in Tomar (12th century) a unique monument in the history of the western world. This vast monumental complex illustrates seven centuries of Portugal’s history and contains several important mementoes of decisive moments in the history of the western world.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 07: Depart Lisbon
Departure transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Includes
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– 06 nights accommodation as per the program.
– Meals as mentioned in the program.
– Entrance fees to monuments.
– English speaking guide.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by AC transport.
– All taxes.

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Lisbon	06	Radisson Blu

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 1780 PP
Single Supplement	USD 570 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 7
Best of Portugal | 08 Nights / 09 Days
Lisbon – Evora – Fatima – Porto

DAY 01: Arrive Lisbon
Transfer to the hotel.
Lisbon City Tour: ORIENTE (The eastern district)
Lisbon is so many special things; its the sound of vintage trams rambling up and down cobblestone streets, a medley of heartfelt Fado songs, an open-air gallery of historic heritage, a haven for free spirits, a surprise for fashionable shoppers and Portugals “coolest” city.

With the arrival of the Moors from the 8th century, it was renamed Aschbouna. The city fell to the Portuguese in 1147, when conquered by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. It became the national capital in 1255.
On this first day you’ll have the contrast between the Medieval and the new modern architecture, and the only things that still binds them, the Portuguese tiles(Azulejos).

We will visit: BAIXA (DOWNTOWN), Sites: Park Edward VII, Avenida da Liberdade, Squares of Rossio and Restauradores, St. Dominic’s Church (18th century), Ginjinha, Baixa Pombalina (Pombaline Downtown), Praça do ComErcio.
QUARTER ALFAMA, Sites: Lisbon Cathedral (12th century), Viewpoint Portas do Sol, St. George Castle

DAY 02: Lisbon City Tour: Ocidente (The Western District)
UNESCO: Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of BelEm in Lisbon (1983)
Fado Portuguese Folk Heritage (2011)
We continue our tour in Lisbon. On this day well focus on the historic center of the city, its viewpoints and the citys most important museums. Finishing the night with a Fado and Folklore show.

On this day the circuit starts in one of the most beautiful places of the capital along the Tagus: BelEm.

QUARTER BELEM: Jeronimos Monastery (16th century), Belem Tower (16th century), Monument of Discoveries (20th century), Traditional Milk Custard Tarts of BelEm PastEis de BelEm (19th century), Royal Palace of Ajuda (19th century).

MONASTERY OF JERONIMOS: 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.

LUNCH
ROYAL PALACE OF AJUDA: This neo-classical palace was built in the first half of the 19th Century and was chosen as the residence for the Portuguese royal family when D. Luís I (1838-1889) became king and married an Italian princess, D. Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911).
It is a typical example of a 19C royal residence and has an important collection of decorative art (gold and silver ware, paintings, sculpture, furniture, tapestries, glassware, porcelain, etc.).
The palace was closed at the time of the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910 and reopened as a museum in 1938. Some of the most important presidential ceremonies now take place here.

QUARTER BAIRRO ALTO (photo stop): Viewpoint Sao Pedro de Alcantara.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 03: Sintra : Land Of Enchanted Castles
SINTRA is a town of palaces, landscapes, culture, art and also of great romantics who passed through here. Learn about the ancient myths of Celtic bards, the Moorish legends, the passions of the Christian Reconquest and a masonry that makes this site so unique in the world and yet so magical! There were several romantic figures that have passed in Sintra.

From literature to music, the town of Sintra has inspired various figures and dazzled others with its mystical and charming environment. In the morning, we visit the historic centre of Sintra, with visit to the traditional narrow streets full of flowers and local craft shops, viewpoints, with compulsory stop at the traditional sweets and Ginjinha (cherry liqueur).

Guided tour to REGALEIRA PALACE AND GARDENS, a place with a spirit of its own. Built in the early 20th century, a taste of the romantic style, rises in the middle of the forest, and is the result of the a mythological dream of its owner, AntOnio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro.

We start the afternoon with the oldest monument of Sintra, the MOORISH CASTLE, located on the ridges of the Serra de Sintra, the castle dates back to the time of the Muslims in Portugal, 8th century. Reconquered by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, in 1147. The panoramic view from the top of the castle is amazing!

Finish the day with a guided tour to PENA ROYAL PALACE, in the top10 of the most beautiful palaces in the world! A real enchanted palace. One of the most beautiful examples of the romantic revival of the 19th century. Built on the site of a former convent of friars from the Order of St. Jerome. A fantasy from King Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha. A palace with a complexity of styles: neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic and neo-Renaissance.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 04: Evora: The Capital Of Alentejo And The Wine Flavors
In the Alentejo, you travel naturally with and to History. The abundance and the quality of the Heritage which it expresses become easy for you to discover but, if you are visiting the Region for the first time, you could be spoiled for choice. If this is the case, dont hesitate: opt for our suggestions and you will discover that the magic of the Alentejo is to be found, with endless pleasure, everywhere.

Tour to Alentejo where the plains disappear out of sight combine with the sun and the heat to impose their own slow, steady rhythm. The open, ample landscape is peppered with cork-oaks or olive trees that have withstood the ravages of time.

Evora is the inevitable reference point for anyone coming to the Alentejo inspired by the theme of Heritage.

Topped by an imposing cathedral, EVORA is laid out over a gently sloping hill rising out of the huge Alentejo plain. It guards its historic centre with a vast outer wall and represents a valuable cultural legacy that UNESCO has classified 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. After the Reconquest, in addition to between the inner and outer walls, urban development moved beyond the city’s walls. The city was home to the court of various Portuguese kings of the first and second dynasties. During this period it was endowed with various palaces and monuments, particularly during the reigns of kings Joao II and Manuel (15th and 16th centuries).

Walk in its historic center and feel the beauty of its medieval whitewashed streets, with yellow/blue stripes. Discover iconic landmarks such as the Palace of King Manuel, Sao Francisco Church and its Bones Chapel, Geraldo Square, the Cathedral from the 13th century, the Roman Temple from the 1st century, the Royal Jesuit University and the Church of Graça.

Start the day with a visit to a CORK FACTORY, where you can discover the transformation process of raw cork into the final products that are sold throughout Portugal. Portugal is the world’s leading manufacturer of cork and represents 53% of world production. In addition, the cork oak plantation area corresponds to 25% of its distribution worldwide. Although cork bottle stoppers are the most familiar object, many other things are made of cork, especially in areas where it grows as Alentejo, where 72% of total production is concentrated. You can find many items like accessories, shoes and clothes made of this material, which has some very appreciated properties as that is robust, versatile, recyclable, and hypoallergenic and contains thermal qualities.

ARRAIOLOS | TOUR IN WINERY & OLIVE OIL FARM: Visit a Traditional Portuguese winery with noble origins. Walk in its vineyards, cellar, carriages museum, mansion and gardens, finish with a tasting of some of the best Portuguese wines and Olive Oil in Alentejo.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 05: Obidos, Sao Martinho Do Porto, NazarE, Alcobaça, Batalha And Fátima
On this day we visite some of the most emblematic places of the West of Portugal.We will go through villages that stand in the cliffs by the sea, where still resist old arts of the sea,we will move through the streets of a village that “hides” inside stone walls,and that seemed to hang in the medieval time.We will be dazzled in face of grandiose monuments classified by UNESCO, and we will know cities with a rich history.

Get to know Obidos, NazarE, Alcobaça, Batalha and Fátima.
OBIDOS is a charming and picturesque medieval village, with white washed houses decorated with flowers. Captured from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, in 1148, though already occupied before the Romans reached the Iberian Peninsula, the village became prosperous from the time it was chosen by the royal family, when the King Dinis offered it as wedding gift to his wife Isabel, in the 14th century. Full of flowers, many medieval monuments and beautiful panoramic views are found here, relax yet in a medieval bar while enjoying the famous local liqueur Ginjinha, served in a chocolat cup.

ALCOBAÇA: Monastery or Royal Abbey of Santa Maria, founded by the Order of Cistercians in 1153. Building began in 1178 on land donated by Dom Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal to the Order of Cistercians, in fulfilment of a vow made after the Christian reconquest of SantarEm. Testify the magnificent gothic tombs of the two lovers King Pedro and Ines de Castro.

BATALHA: Built in 1386 to keep a vow by Portuguese King Dom Joao I to the Virgin Mary that he would build it if Portugal defeated Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota on 14th August 1385. 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.

FÁTIMA: Visit to the Santuary of Fátima. The apparitions of Fátima have developed immensely the local town into one of the largest centers of Marian cult in the world. The major manifestations of devotees are hold at May 13 and 13 October. This Marian pilgrimage center evokes the apparitions of our Lady to three Shepherd children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, occurred in 1917 and recognized in 1930.
Night in Fatima.

DAY 06: Coimbra, Aveiro And Porto
University of Coimbra and Uppertown Sofia (2013)
When visiting Aveiro we find a landscape with watermark. This city, known as the Portuguese Venice, will surprise you. In Aveiro take a tour in the moliceiros boats and enjoy the buildings in style “Art Nouveau”.
In Coimbra visit the University of Coimbra, Alta and Sofia, classified by UNESCO as World Heritage. Experience the historical heritage of a place that centuries ago is known as the “city of students.”

The day ends in the capital of northern Portugal: Porto, with the promise that the next day will be full of good surprises.

COIMBRA: Capital of Beira Litoral, of Roman origin Aeminium, was also the former capital of the Portuguese Kingdom. One of the most beautiful cities of Portugal, preserved several historical monuments, medieval churches and the most important library in Portugal! Coimbra, situated on the bank River Mondego, in the geographical center of Portugal, has plenty of charm in its academic streets, narrow, with small courtyards, arches and floral eaves, cafes, galleries and bookstores. Take a guided walking tour in its historic centre, as this is the best way to explore the old town. We start at the University of Coimbra (1290), to the Old Cathedral (1162), New Cathedral (1598), Academic Neighborhood, Almedina, Igreja de Sao Tiago, Igreja de Santa Cruz (1131). Free time for shopping and regional sweets.

AVEIRO: next to the sea and the ria (estuary), is crossed by a network of channels through which moliceiros (local boats) meander. These slim, colourful vessels used to be used to collect algae and seaweed, and today are for sightseeing trips. Visiting on foot does not mean too much effort either since the city is flat. In the 16th century, the development of the salt industry, agriculture and fishing and the first cod-fishing expeditions to the distant Newfoundland in 1501 brought Aveiro a period of great prosperity, which led to its being awarded a charter by D. Manuel I in 1515. Aveiro has also a number of buildings in Art Nouveau style that are worth seeing.
Night in Porto.

DAY 07:Porto
This is one of Europe’s oldest tourist destinations. Its wealth of artistic heritage, Port Wine, open-air leisure spaces and cultural life are just some of the reasons to visit this city.

The city unfolds along the river bank and the sea shore, to reveal charming vistas, inviting esplanades and all the pleasures of the outdoors, framed by its green spaces. But setting out to discover Porto means bumping into surprise after surprise. Whilst maintaining its welcoming and conservative nature, the city is, at the same time, contemporary and creative. This can be seen in its streets, its architectures, its museums, its leisure spaces, its esplanades and its shopping areas which run from the traditional to the modern and exclusive.

Porto’s Historical Centre was designated World Cultural Heritage in 1996 and its natural setting and its meandering streets give it a unique charm.

Port wine is present in the city in a multitude of forms and sensations: you can get to know it and try it, but never ignore it or forget it.

PORTO: Capital and gateway to the north of Portugal, Porto is both the city that provided a nation with a name and a fortified wine known world-wide: Port Wine.

In this Porto Day tour we will visit the most important sites of this old city.
Take a guided tour the Port Wine Old Cellars with a special tasting of these wines.
Admire the typical granite houses and monuments, with all the rhythms of city life, its movement and intense retailing, the main square of Av. Aliados, the highest tower in the city of Clerigos, the church of Sao Francisco all furnished with gold leaf, the world famous bookstore Livraria Lello, the ultra modern Casa da Musica building, the Atlantic fortress of Castelo do Queijo, the old Cathedral, the Palacio da Bolsa (Chamber of Commerce), Ribeira (Riverside), and a river cruise under the citys six bridges, from where you can enjoy an entirely different view of the city.
Night in Porto

DAY 08:Tomar, Cascais And Estoril
Continue South towards TOMAR, UNESCO awarded the classification of world heritage to the Templar Castle and the Convent of the Knights of Christ in Tomar (12th century) a unique monument in the history of the western world.

The day ends quietly by the sea, in the charming bay of Cascais.
This is a day that will be passed in the heart of Portugal. Tomar is a magical city, full of forests and gardens, where stands its imposing Castle and the Convent of Christ, the symbols of the Portuguese heritage,recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage.

This vast monumental complex illustrates seven centuries of Portugal’s history and contains several important mementoes of decisive moments in the history of the western world.

At last, you deserve to relax. Enjoy the smooth sands and crystal clear beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy your last afternoon in Cascais BEACH, a pleasant bay just 30 minutes distance from Lisbon.
Night in Cascais or Estoril.

DAY 09:Depart Lisbon
Transfer Hotel, directly Lisbon airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Lisbon	06	Radisson Blu
Fatima	01	Mercure Fatima
Porto	02	Mercure Porto
Cascais	01	Pestana Cascais

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 2275 PP
Single Supplement	USD 595 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 8
Portugal & Douro Valley | 09 Nights / 10 Days
Lisbon – Fatima – Porto – Douro – Porto

DAY 01:Arrive Lisbon
Transfer to the hotel.
Lisbon city tour: ORIENTE (The eastern district)
Lisbon is so many special things; its the sound of vintage trams rambling up and down cobblestone streets, a medley of heartfelt Fado songs, an open-air gallery of historic heritage, a haven for free spirits, a surprise for fashionable shoppers and Portugals “coolest” city.

On this first day you’ll have the contrast between the Medieval and the new modern architecture, and the only things that still binds them, the Portuguese tiles(Azulejos).

QUARTER ALFAMA, Sites: Lisbon Cathedral (12th century), Viewpoint Portas do Sol, St. George Castle

DAY 02: Lisbon City Tour: Ocidente (the western district)
We continue our tour in Lisbon. On this day well focus on the historic center of the city, its viewpoints and the citys most important museums. Finishing the night with a Fado and Folklore show.
also visit other historical sites of great importance, as the Jeronimos Monastery.

On this day the circuit starts in one of the most beautiful places of the capital along the Tagus: BelEm.

We also visit other historical sites of great importance, as the Jeronimos Monastery.There will be time yet to go through the streets and alleys of one of the most charming areas of Lisbon: Bairro Alto.

Lunch
ROYAL PALACE OF AJUDA: This neo-classical palace was built in the first half of the 19th Century and was chosen as the residence for the Portuguese royal family when D. Luís I (1838-1889) became king and married an Italian princess, D. Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911).

It is a typical example of a 19C royal residence and has an important collection of decorative art (gold and silver ware, paintings, sculpture, furniture, tapestries, glassware, porcelain, etc.).

The palace was closed at the time of the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910 and reopened as a museum in 1938. Some of the most important presidential ceremonies now take place here.

QUARTER BAIRRO ALTO (photo stop): Viewpoint Sao Pedro de Alcantara.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 03: Sintra: Land Of Enchanted Castles
SINTRA is a town of palaces, landscapes, culture, art and also of great romantics who passed through here.
Learn about the ancient myths of Celtic bards, the Moorish legends, the passions of the Christian Reconquest and a masonry that makes this site so unique in the world and yet so magical! There were several romantic figures that have passed in Sintra.

From literature to music, the town of Sintra has inspired various figures and dazzled others with its mystical and charming environment.

In the morning, we visit the historic centre of Sintra, with visit to the traditional narrow streets full of flowers and local craft shops, viewpoints, with compulsory stop at the traditional sweets and Ginjinha (cherry liqueur).

DAY 04: Evora: THE CAPITAL OF ALENTEJO AND THE WINE FLAVORS
In the Alentejo, you travel naturally with and to History. The abundance and the quality of the Heritage which it expresses become easy for you to discover but, if you are visiting the Region for the first time, you could be spoiled for choice. If this is the case, dont hesitate: opt for our suggestions and you will discover that the magic of the Alentejo is to be found, with endless pleasure, everywhere.

This Tour will take to Alentejo where the plains disappear out of sight combine with the sun and the heat to impose their own slow, steady rhythm. The open, ample landscape is peppered with cork-oaks or olive trees that have withstood the ravages of time. You will meet the citie of Evora, the capital of Alentejo. Evora is the inevitable reference point for anyone coming to the Alentejo inspired by the theme of Heritage.

DAY 05: Obidos, Sao Martinho Do Porto, Nazare, Alcobaça, Batalha And Fatima
On this day we will visit some of the most emblematic places of the West of Portugal.We will go through villages that stand in the cliffs by the sea, where still resist old arts of the sea,we will move through the streets of a village that “hides” inside stone walls,and that seemed to hang in the medieval time.We will be dazzled in face of grandiose monuments classified by UNESCO, and we will know cities with a rich history.

Meet Obidos, NazarE, Alcobaça, Batalha and Fátima.
OBIDOS is a charming and picturesque medieval village, with white washed houses decorated with flowers. Captured from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, in 1148, though already occupied before the Romans reached the Iberian Peninsula, the village became prosperous from the time it was chosen by the royal family, when the King Dinis offered it as wedding gift to his wife Isabel, in the 14th century. Full of flowers, many medieval monuments and beautiful panoramic views are found here, relax yet in a medieval bar while enjoying the famous local liqueur Ginjinha, served in a chocolat cup.

The day ends in the capital of northern Portugal: Porto, with the promise that the next day will be full of good surprises.

DAY 07: Porto
This is one of Europe’s oldest tourist destinations. Its wealth of artistic heritage, Port Wine, open-air leisure spaces and cultural life are just some of the reasons to visit this city.

Whilst maintaining its welcoming and conservative nature, the city is, at the same time, contemporary and creative. This can be seen in its streets, its architectures, its museums, its leisure spaces, its esplanades and its shopping areas which run from the traditional to the modern and exclusive.

Portos Historical Centre was designated World Cultural Heritage in 1996 and its natural setting and its meandering streets give it a unique charm. Port wine is present in the city in a multitude of forms and sensations: you can get to know it and try it, but never ignore it or forget it.
PORTO: Capital and gateway to the north of Portugal, Porto is both the city that provided a nation with a name and a fortified wine known world-wide: Port Wine.

DAY 08: The North: Guimaraes, Amarante, Douro Valley
On this day you will know two of the most beautiful cities in the north of Portugal (GUIMARAES and AMARANTE) and you will discover the stunning beauty of the Douro Valley landscape.

The Douro Valley could as easily be called the enchanted valley, such is the beauty and magic that its landscapes offer.

Departing from Porto, where the river flows into the sea and where the Douro wines (table wines and Port wine), produced on its hillsides, also end up, there are various ways to get to know this cultural landscape, listed as a World Heritage Site: by road, by train, on a cruise boat and even by helicopter. None will leave you indifferent.

GUIMARAES: For Portuguese people, Guimaraes has a very special symbolic value, for it was in a field close to the walls of its castle that D. Afonso Henriques fought the Battle of Sao Mamede, on 24 June 1128. By emerging victorious from this struggle against the army of D. Teresa, his mother and the daughter of Alfonso VI of LeOn and Castile, Afonso Henriques began the process that would lead to the foundation of the kingdom of Portugal, of which he was to become the first king.

Therefore begin by visiting the site known as Colina Sagrada (Sacred Hill), crowned by Guimaraes Castle, itself full of so many evocative memories, as well as the small Romanesque church of Sao Miguel. According to tradition, it was in this modest church that Afonso Henriques was baptized in the font that can still be seen inside. In the immediate vicinity is the Ducal Palace, now both a palace and a museum, originally built in the 15th century.

After visiting these important points of reference to the time of the foundation of Portugal, you should stroll down into Guimaraes, where we suggest you choose the Largo da Oliveira, the very heart of the historical Centre.

All visitors to AMARANTE will most certainly be impressed by two imposing natural features: the great Serra do Marao rising above the city in a series of majestic landscapes and the river Tamega, the longest tributary of the river Douro, whose journey begins in Galicia and which flows through the heart of Amarante, giving added colour to the picturesque houses standing on its banks. The bridge at Amarante perpetuates the memory of the local populationŽs heroic resistance against Napoleon’s troops, who invaded Portugal in the early 19th century.

Amarante’s sweets and cakes are extremely famous and easy to find in many of the region’s cake-shops and cafEs.

Lunch.
We continue our way towards the great Douro Valley passing through some small hilltop villages with granite espigueiros (granaries used for drying and storing corn), breathtaking landscape and then going down towards the Douro River, where the vines grow in terraces on the banks of the river, lending great beauty to the landscape, with large estates and manor houses.

In the DOURO VALLEY (UNESCO), well visit a family winery famous for producing famous Red table wines and Green Table Wines, a light chilled wine only produced in this area with Alvarinho grape variety.

Classified a world heritage site, the man gave birth to port wine and table wines of great quality. Port wine is the oldest Ambassador of Portugal. Cultivated in terraces of the Douro, has the honor to belong to one of the oldest demarcated regions in the world, since in 1756 was created the General Company of Agriculture and Vineyards of the Alto Douro. Here was also born the Douro table wines, which in recent decades have acquired great notoriety and border projection thanks to their quality, both in the reds as the whites and rosEs. Green in summer, fire color in autumn, the Vineyard has given rise to a unique landscape classified by Unesco.
Night in Douro Valley.

DAY 09: The North: Guimaraes, Amarante, Douro Valley
This is a day that will be passed in the heart of Portugal. Tomar is a magical city, full of forests and gardens, where stands its imposing Castle and the Convent of Christ, the symbols of the Portuguese heritage,recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage.

Former seat of the Order of the Knights Templar, TOMAR is a city of great charm for its artistic and cultural wealth, whose greatest expression is in the Convent of Christ, one of the chief works of the Portuguese Renaissance. The development of Tomar is closely linked to the Order of the Templars, which received these lands in 1159 as a reward for the assistance they gave Dom Afonso Henriques (the First King of Portugal) in the Christian reconquest of the territory.

It was Dom Gualdim Pais, the first Grand Master of the Order in Portugal, who founded the castle and the remarkable CONVENT OF CHRIST inside. Enlarged and altered over the centuries, this retains the influences of various architectural styles; it is the centrepiece of the city and classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

The Order of the Templars was suppressed in France in the early 14th century, but in Portugal it was transformed into the Order of Christ on the initiative of King Dom Dinis. This was subsequently approved by the Pope, and it was decided that the immense wealth they possessed should pass to the Order of Christ, which came to play an important part in the historic Portuguese Discoveries.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 10: Depart Lisbon
Departure transfer to Lisbon airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Lisbon	04	Radisson Blu
Fatima	01	Mercure Fatima
Porto	02	Mercure Porto
Douro Valley	01	Douro Riverside
Lisbon	01	Radisson Blu

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 2440 PP
Single Supplement	USD 605 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 9
Portugal – Ocean & Countryside | 07 Nights / 08 Days
Lisbon – Fatima – Marvao – Sesimbra - Lisbon

DAY 01: Arrive Lisbon
Transfer to the hotel.
Lisbon City Tour: Oriente (The eastern district)
Lisbon is so many special things; its the sound of vintage trams rambling up and down cobblestone streets, a medley of heartfelt Fado songs, an open-air gallery of historic heritage, a haven for free spirits, a surprise for fashionable shoppers and Portugals “coolest” city.

QUARTER ALFAMA, Sites: Lisbon Cathedral (12th century), Viewpoint Portas do Sol, St. George Castle

DAY 02: Lisbon City Tour (2): Ocidente (The Western District)
We continue our tour in Lisbon. On this day well focus on the historic center of the city, its viewpoints and the citys most important museums. The circuit starts in one of the most beautiful places of the capital along the Tagus: BelEm. Also visit other historical sites of great importance, as the Jeronimos Monastery.

QUARTER BAIRRO ALTO, Sites: Viewpoint Sao Pedro de Alcantara, Convent of Carmo (14th century), Church of Sao Roque (17th century).

—OPTIONAL | 50EUR PER PERSON— FADO NIGHT SHOW & DINNER | By night, the traditional neighborhoods fall under the spell of Fado, the melancholic style of Portuguese folk music. In 2011, UNESCO granted Fado World Heritage status, as an urban Lisbon song symbolic of the city and the country.
Night in Lisbon.
DAY 03: Sintra & Cascais: Contrast Between The Mountain And The Beachside
Discover the beautiful city of CASCAIS, built around a magnificent bay. Is a surprising and welcoming place with lots of glamour, serenity and natural surroundings. Its fantastic food, friendly and warm people and mild climate make it an exceptional destination.

In the Natural Park Sintra-Cascais do not miss the visit to Cabo da Roca, which is approximately 100 metres high,and is one of the symbols of the Region.The park has a great variety of scenery and landscapes including sand-dunes, forests, lagoons, the imposing Cabo da Roca (mainland Europes most westerly point) and a rugged stretch of coastline where high cliffs are interspersed with picturesque beaches. Right in the middle of it all lies the magnificent Serra da SINTRA, the entirety of which is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape.

Let yourself be enchanted by the fascinating town of SINTRA. A town of palaces, landscapes, culture, art and also of great romantics who passed through here. Learn about the ancient myths of Celtic bards, the Moorish legends, the passions of the Christian Reconquest and a masonry that makes this site so unique in the world and yet so magical! There were several romantic figures that have passed in Sintra. From literature to music, the town of Sintra has inspired various figures and dazzled others with its mystical and charming environment.

In the morning, we visit the historic centre of Sintra, with a visit to the traditional narrow streets full of flowers and local craft shops, viewpoints, with compulsory stop at the traditional sweets and Ginjinha (cherry liqueur).

Roughly 150 meters from the sea, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the SERRA DE SINTRA and out to sea over the coastline, all of which makes your trip here well worth the visit. A guided tour to PENA ROYAL PALACE, in the top10 of the most beautiful palaces in the world! A real enchanted palace. One of the most beautiful examples of the romantic revival of the 19th century. Built on the site of a former convent of friars from the Order of St. Jerome. A fantasy from King Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha. A palace with a complexity of styles: neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic and neo-Renaissance.

Guided tour to REGALEIRA PALACE AND GARDENS, a place with a spirit of its own. Built in the early 20th century, a taste of the romantic style, rises in the middle of the forest, and is the result of the mythological dream of its owner, AntOnio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro.

You cannot afford to miss paying a visit to the westernmost point on the European mainland, the headland of CABO DA ROCA. Situated at a latitude of 38º 47 North and a longitude of 9º 30 West, CABO DA ROCA is an important coordinate for anybody sailing along the coast, since it is the westernmost point on the European mainland.

DAY 04: Obidos, Sao Martinho Do Porto, NazarE, Alcobaça And Batalha
On this day we visited some of the most emblematic places of the West of Portugal. We will go through villages that stand in the cliffs by the sea, where still resist old arts of the sea,we will move through the streets of a village that “hides” inside stone walls,and that seemed to hang in the medieval time.We will be dazzled in face of grandiose monuments classified by UNESCO, and we will know cities with a rich history.

FÁTIMA: The apparitions of Fátima have developed immensely the local town into one of the largest centers of Marian cult in the world. The major manifestations of devotees are hold at May 13 and 13 October. This Marian pilgrimage center evokes the apparitions of our Lady to three Shepherd children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, occurred in 1917 and recognized in 1930. The site was a country ground called Cova da Iria and belonged to Lucia parents, who later donated it to the sanctuary. It was here that the first appearance took place.
Night in Fatima.

DAY 05: Tomar, Almourol Castle (Knights Templar) And Marvao Castle
This day will be dedicated to the orders of the most influential medieval knights who occupied Portugal in the Middle Ages, as the Knights Templar and the Knights of Malta. You will learn all about its castles, its traditions, its ambitions, the great masters and their kingdoms in Portugal.

In the middle of the River Tagus, the ALMOUROL CASTLE is one of the most emblematic monuments of the Christian reconquest of the 12th century.

Its history reminds us of the Reconquest of the Portuguese territory during the Middle Ages. When the Christians arrived here in 1129, the castle already existed under the name of Almorolan, having been incorporated immediately afterwards into the land that was placed under the protection of the Knights Templar, whose Master at that time was Gualdim Pais. According to an inscription at the entrance to the castle, its reconstruction work began in 1171.

Former seat of the Order of the Knights Templar, TOMAR (UNESCO) s a city of great charm for its artistic and cultural wealth, whose greatest expression is in the Convent of Christ, one of the chief works of the Portuguese Renaissance. The development of Tomar is closely linked to the Order of the Templars, which received these lands in 1159 as a reward for the assistance they gave Dom Afonso Henriques (the First King of Portugal) in the Christian reconquest of the territory.

Continue to the most extreme east border of Portugal, to the wonderful hilltop CASTLE OF MARVAO. Only a few kilometers from Spain, stands the peaceful town of Marvao, on the highest crest of the Serra de Sao Mamede. Geographically, Marvao is a point of natural strategic defense, marked by steep slopes to the north, south and west. Access on foot is only possible from the east, which was the direction in which the town gradually spread. Inside the walls are narrow streets lined with the beautiful popular houses that are typical of the Alentejo. Amidst them, it is easy to find Gothic arches, Manueline windows, wrought-iron balconies and other embellishments in the nooks and crannies of the buildings made from the local granite.
Night in Marvao. Departure transfer to Lisbon airport for flight to onward destination.

DAY 06: Alentejo Region: Vila Viçosa Ducal Palace And Evora
ALENTEJO where you travel naturally with and to History. The abundance and the quality of the Heritage which it expresses become easy for you to discover but, if you are visiting the Region for the first time, you could be spoiled for choice. If this is the case, dont hesitate: opt for our suggestions and you will discover that the magic of the Alentejo is to be found, with endless pleasure, everywhere.

This Tour will take to Alentejo where the plains disappear out of sight combine with the sun and the heat to impose their own slow, steady rhythm.
The open, ample landscape is peppered with cork-oaks or olive trees that have withstood the ravages of time. Meet the citie of Evora, the capital of Alentejo.
Evora is the inevitable reference point for anyone coming to the Alentejo inspired by the theme of Heritage.

A walk in Vila Viçosa is indispensable. The House of the Dukes of Bragança, the most powerful noble family after the Royal Family, was established here.

Vila Viçosa region is known for the marble, extracted and cut at more than 160 quarries, and internationally famous (especially the pink marble).

Situated in one of the most fertile regions in the south of Portugal, VILA VIÇOSA was often at the center of some of the most important moments in the country’s history.

THE PALACE OF THE DUKES OF BRAGANÇA, the most powerful noble family after and later Royal Family, was established here. Palace of Vila Viçosa was one of the favorite residences of the Portuguese royal family during many centuries. The Palace of Vila Viçosa was built in the 16th century, on the orders of King D. Jaime, the fourth Duke of Bragança designed with a Renaissance style.

EVORA, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage City, due to its excellent preservation along the centuries. Walk in its historical center and feel the atmosphere of this walled city. Beautiful iconic monuments await your visit like the enigmatic church of St. Francis and its Bones Chapel, the narrow streets of the old town reaching the Geraldo square where the Inquisition once had its headquarters, the millennium old Roman Temple, the 12th century gothic cathedral and the old university.
Night in Sesimbra.

DAY 07: Sesimbra, Parque Natural Da Arrábida And Portinho Da Arrábida
Winery Cultural Tour and Cheese Farm
Finally, you deserve to relax and enjoy the sandy beaches and crystal clear waters of the southwest coast of Portugal.

You will have free time for lunch and relax in Portinho Arrábida (fishing village).
It will be a more relaxed day, doing tours in places by the sea. Places where the green mountain merges with the green of the sea …

Admire the beaches of Sesimbra and Portinho Arrábida. Discover its history, its flavors, meet its people.
WINERY CULTURAL TOUR IN QUINTA DA BACALHOA and discover its history which brings together wine, nature and art. The winery presents Portuguese Tiles from XVI to XX Century, used so lush and unparalleled in any European country, the tiles, which proliferated for more than five centuries in Portugal, eventually became a genuine contribution to our country’s cultural heritage and artistic world.
During the tour, take the opportunity to taste the wines and fully appreciate their flavors.

CHEESE FARM | Azeitao cheese is a traditional sheep cheese, originated in the region of Azeitao in the district of Setúbal. Its a protected designation of origin (DOP) in accordance with the standards of the EU.

The history of Azeitao cheese dates back to the 19th century. The cheeses of Azeitao are extremely soft, having an aroma and flavor that reminds of local mountains and local flowers eaten by these sheep.
Visit a local Cheese Farm and take a workshop with the farmer where he will show you and teach all the required techniques to make this delicious and water mothering cheese!
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 08: Depart Lisbon
Departure transfer to Lisbon airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Lisbon	03	Radisson Blu
Fatima	01	Mercure Fatima
Marvao	01	Pousada Marvao
Sesimbra	01	Four Points by Sheraton
Lisbon	01	Radisson Blu

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 2110 PP
Single Supplement	USD 602 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 10
Portugal - The Knights Templar Kingdom | 08 Nights / 09 Days
Lisbon – Obidos – Tomar – Monsanto – Belmonte – Marvao – Lisbon

DAY 01: Arrive Lisbon
Transfer to the hotel.
Lisbon City Tour.
Lisbon is so many special things; its the sound of vintage trams rambling up and down cobblestone streets, a medley of heartfelt Fado songs, an open-air gallery of historic heritage, a haven for free spirits, a surprise for fashionable shoppers and Portugals “coolest” city.

On this first day you’ll have the contrast between the Medieval and the new modern architecture, and the only things that still binds them, the Portuguese tiles(Azulejos).

LISBON: On the right bank of the broad Tagus river estuary, the capital of Portugal graciously reclines over rolling hills. This is a spectacular geographical location and does much to explain the cosmopolitan history of the city. Its exceptional natural light, which has long inspired writers, photographs and filmmakers.
With the arrival of the Moors from the 8th century, it was renamed Aschbouna. The city fell to the Portuguese in 1147, when conquered by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. It became the national capital in 1255.

On this first day youll have the contrast between the Medieval and the new modern architecture, and the only things that still binds them, the Portuguese tiles: Azulejos.

QUARTER ALFAMA, Sites: Lisbon Cathedral (12th century), Viewpoint Portas do Sol, St. George Castle.
Visit the modern art district of PARQUE DAS NAÇÕES / EXPO: This is the most modern quarter of Lisbon. A quarter with lots of contemporary architecture. Well have a stroll around and a cable car ride to take pictures of Lisbon Oceanarium, Alameda dos Oceanos, Lisbon Casino, Portugal Pavilion, Oriente Train Station from Architect Santiago Calatrava, Atlantic Pavilion where major concerts are hosted, Europes biggest bridge Vasco da Gama.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 02: Lisbon City Tour.
UNESCO: Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of BelEm in Lisbon.
We continue our tour in Lisbon. On this day well focus on the discoveries area, its viewpoints and the citys most important museums.

QUARTER BELEM (UNESCO): BelEm Tower (16th century), Monument of Discoveries (20th century), Traditional Milk Custard Tarts of BelEm “PastEis de BelEm” (19th century)

QUARTER BAIRRO ALTO (photo stop): Viewpoint Sao Pedro de Alcantara.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 03: Sintra & Obidos
SINTRA is a town of palaces, landscapes, culture, art and also of great romantics who passed through here. Learn about the ancient myths of Celtic bards, the Moorish legends, the passions of the Christian Reconquest and a masonry that makes this site so unique in the world and yet so magical! There were several romantic figures that have passed in Sintra. From literature to music, the town of Sintra has inspired various figures and dazzled others with its mystical and charming environment.

After Sintra, still time to discover the mediaeval town of OBIDOS is one of the most picturesque and well preserved in Portugal. Quite close to the capital and located on high ground near the Atlantic coast, Obidos has had a strategic importance in the territory.

You will find a well preserved castle within the walls, and a maze of streets and white houses that are a delight to stroll amongst. Along with the Manueline porticoes, the colourful window boxes and the small squares, many fine examples of religious and civil architecture from the towns golden days provide a host of reasons for making a visit.

In the morning, we visit the HISTORICAL CENTER OF SINTRA, with visit to the traditional narrow streets full of flowers and local craft shops, viewpoints, with compulsory stop at the traditional sweets and Ginjinha (cherry liqueur).

Visit to PENA ROYAL PALACE, in the top10 of the most beautiful palaces in the world! A real enchanted palace. One of the most beautiful examples of the romantic revival of the 19th century. Built on the site of a former convent of friars from the Order of St. Jerome. A fantasy from King Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha. A palace with a complexity of styles: neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic and neo-Renaissance.

We will then travel north, to discover the medieval town of Obidos.
Night in Obidos.

DAY 04: Obidos, Sao Martinho Do Porto, NazarE, Alcobaça And Batalha
On this day we visite some of the most emblematic places of the West of Portugal.We will go through villages that stand in the cliffs by the sea, where still resist old arts of the sea,we will move through the streets of a village that “hides” inside stone walls,and that seemed to hang in the medieval time.We will be dazzled in face of grandiose monuments classified by UNESCO, and we will know cities with a rich history.

DAY 05: Almourol Castle, Tomar And The Historical Village Of Monsanto
On this day let us contemplate landscapes of unique beauty and discover magnificent castles, such as the Almourol Castle, situated on a small cliffy island in the middle of the Tagus River. We’ll discover the historical village of Monsanto, standing above a high crag, it offers visitors some of the most interesting human landscapes in Portugal.

Former seat of the Order of the Knights Templar, Tomar is a city of great charm for its artistic and cultural wealth, whose greatest expression is in the Convent of Christ, one of the chief works of the Portuguese Renaissance.

Whatever your reason for visiting the city, climbing up to the Templar castle and discovering the monumental work of the Convent of Christ is a must.

The ALMOUROL CASTLE is one of the most emblematic monuments of the Christian reconquest of the 12th century. Almourol Castle is also one of the most significant military Medieval monuments, which best evokes the memory of the Knights Templar in Portugal.

MONSANTO, It is said that, from this bulwark, the village was able to withstand the siege imposed by the Romans in the 2nd century BC for as long as seven years. This extraordinary feat is commemorated by the villagers in their Festa das Cruzes (Festival of the Crosses), every year on 3 May. The village offers visitors some of the most interesting human landscapes in Portugal. It spreads along the hillside, making use of the granite boulders to form the walls of the houses. In some cases, a single block of stone forms the roof, which is why the houses are popularly said to have “only one tile”. The steep climb up to the castle is rewarded by one of the most breathtaking views in the whole region.
Night in Monsanto.

DAY 06: Idanha-A-Velha, Sortelha, Belmonte
Mountains, Castles and Medieval Villages
We continue for the most beautiful roads of Portugal. Paths who flee large clusters of tourists and Portugal break through inside a constant and unforgettable discoveries.

This time we start by Idanha-a-Velha, where successive settlements of the region by different peoples have left this village with a most valuable historical heritage.

We visit Sortelha. Surmounted by a castle built on a formidable crag at an altitude of 760 metres, Sortelha still retains its mediaeval appearance intact through the architecture of its rural granite houses.

The great charm of this village is its evocation of a mediaeval atmosphere, with all the houses having been built of granite and generally consisting of just one storey. All around Sortelha, the landscape has the rugged beauty of the large granite boulders and the chestnut groves that frequently accompany these.

We do an unmissable visit to Belmonte where it set an important Jewish community, and that still applies today traces of this presence.

Successive settlements of the region by different civilizations have left IDANHA-A-VELHA with a most valuable historical heritage.
This village was once one a very important backstage of battles between Christians and Muslims in the first century of Portuguese nationhood, when the first king of Portugal, gave the city to the Order of the Knights Templar in order for it to be repopulated.

Surmounted by a 12th century castle, the Templar Knights of SORTELHA built here a formidable crag at an altitude of 760 meters, Sortelha still retains its mediaeval appearance intact through the architecture of its rural granite houses. The villages name derives from the nature of its terrain, being surrounded by rocky escarpments in the shape of a ring (sortija, in Castilian), its walls also having been built in a circular fashion.

We end the day in BELMONTE. Hometown of the navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral, discoverer of Brazil. Belmonte retains much of the medieval atmosphere of times when the Jewish community would have to practice its prayers, traditions and customs in secrecy even if Belmonte is now more than proud to be home to the Bet Eliahu synagogue.
Night in Belmonte.

DAY 07: Castle Of Marvao, Castelo De Vide
The first hilltop castle will be MARVAO. One of the most beautiful and impenetrable fortresses in the country. It is so high, that one can see the backs of the birds flying by.

This medieval walled town is one of Portugals treasures, where the battles of Independence between Portugal and Spain took place in 1640, it came to be regarded as the “most unconquerable stronghold in the whole kingdom.” Today, however, it is a place of peace and quiet.

Second is CASTELO DE VIDE. A superb quaint village. The castle is surrounded by whitewashed houses stands out in the landscape and comes as a surprise. A greater surprise, however, is in the town itself, where one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Portugal can be found.

You will be easily enchanted by the charm of the mediaeval setting. Visit the old synagogue, now a museum, and walk through the labyrinthine streets, where you will see the Jewish presence in the street names and the signs of the faith of generations of Hebrews on the granite doors. Rua das Espinosas, for example, refers to the famous 17th century philosopher, Spinoza, who was the son of an inhabitant of Castelo de Vide.
Night in Castelo de vide / Marvao

DAY 08: Alentejo Region: Crato, Evora, Lisbon
UNESCO: Historic Center of Evora
ALENTEJO where you travel naturally with and to History. The abundance and the quality of the Heritage which it expresses become easy for you to discover but, if you are visiting the Region for the first time, you could be spoiled for choice. If this is the case, dont hesitate: opt for our suggestions and you will discover that the magic of the Alentejo is to be found, with endless pleasure, everywhere.

This Tour will take to Alentejo where the plains disappear out of sight combine with the sun and the heat to impose their own slow, steady rhythm.

The open, ample landscape is peppered with cork-oaks or olive trees that have withstood the ravages of time. Meet the citie of Evora, the capital of Alentejo.

Evora is the inevitable reference point for anyone coming to the Alentejo inspired by the theme of Heritage.

CRATO: FLOR DA ROSA (ROSE FLOWER CASTLE).
A castle, a convent and a palace, built in the 14th century, an ecclesiastical architectural work of outstanding harmony. he Flor da Rosa Monastery was the seat of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Knights of Rhodes and Malta
Today is a Hotel.

DAY 09: Depart Lisbon
Departure transfer to Lisbon airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Lisbon	02	Radisson Blu
Obidos	01	SANA Silver Coast
Tomar	01	Hotel dos Templários
Monsanto	01	Hotel Fonte Santa
Belmonte	01	Covilha Dona Maria
Marvao	01	Pousada Marvao
Lisbon	01	Radisson Blu

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 2110 PP
Single Supplement	USD 602 Per SGL

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PROGRAM – 11
Portugal & Spain | 07 Nights / 08 Days
Lisbon – Alcobaca – Sao Pedro do Sul – Lamego – Santiago de Campostela – Bayona - Porto

DAY 01: Arrive Lisbon
Transfer to the hotel.
Discover the capital of Portugal in one day! We developed a tour for those who want to know the 20 most beautiful attractions of Lisbon, but do not have much time! This full day tour accompanied by an official guide allows you to discover Lisbon, capital of Portugal, and place of many civilizations over the centuries: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Moors and finally the Portuguese after 1147.

Our tour includes mainly 7 Lisbon Quarters: BelEm, Chiado, Bairro Alto, Baixa, Castelo, Alfama, and Parque das Nações/Expo.

BelEm: Jeronimos Monastery (Manueline, JerOnimos, 16th century), BelEm Tower (Manueline, 16th century), Monument of Discoveries (20th century), Traditional Milk Custard Tarts of BelEm PastEis de BelEm (19th century), National Museum of the Carriages

Chiado: CafE A Brasileira
Bairro Alto: Viewpoint Sao Pedro de Alcantara, Convent of Carmo (Gothic,14th century), Church of Sao Roque (Mannerism, Jesuits, 17th century)

Baixa (Downtown): Parque Eduardo VII, Avenida da Liberdade, Squares of Rossio and Restauradores, St. Dominic’s Church (Baroque, Dominicans, 18th century), Ginjinha, Baixa Pombalina (Pombaline Downtown), Praça do ComErcio

Alfama: Lisbon Cathedral (Romanesque / Gothic, 12th century), Viewpoint Portas do Sol
Castelo: St. George Castle

Parque das Nações / Expo: Oceanarium, Alameda dos Oceanos, Lisbon Casino, Portugal Pavilion, Oriente Station, Atlantic Pavilion, Bridge Vasco da Gama and all modern buildings present in the area.
Night in Lisbon.

DAY 02: Portugal: Alcobaça , COs.
Monastery of Alcobaça, Portugal : Awarded as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989, the imposing monastery is one of the most impressive and beautiful testimonies of Cistercian architecture throughout Europe. Despite its nearly 900 years, it still preserves all the chambers and rooms as well as its medieval church, being the largest gothic church ever built in Portugal.

On this day we make a visit to another beautiful example of Cistercian architecture: The COs Monastery. This monastery was founded in the eighteenth century during the Frei Fernando abbey, which sponsored the construction of what would prove to be one of the most important female monasteries of the Cistercian Order.
Contemporary to the foundation of Portugal, the monastery keeps stories of the national history. Founded by its first king – Afonso Henriques, it was born thanks to a vow made himself to Virgin Mary, by asking her blessing against the moors on the battle and conquest of SantarEm.

In 1178, begins the construction of the monastery on the model of the abbey of Clairvaux, the mother house of the Order in France. The monks of white habit started an organized civilization, giving birth to a public school that began in 1269.

Visit the grand nave, lacking any adornment, a feeling of elevation and spirituality. At the center of each arm of the transept we can see two masterpieces of medieval statuary, the tombs of king Pedro I ( 1357-67 ) and queen Ines, here placed on face to face so they can meet again on the Day of Resurrection. Also visit the medieval chambers such as the Refectory, the Dormitory and the Chapter, the Cloister of king Dinis, the amazing kitchen and the Hall of Kings

Monastery of Santa Maria de Cos, Portugal: Founded in the 13th century by the abbot of Alcobaça, this monastery was one of the most important monastic symbols of the region and the most important monastery of the female Cistercian Order. The current building, strikingly simple, derives from work done primarily in the 17th century. The somber look of the exterior of the building contrasts with the Baroque interior. The church with about 50 meters long reveals the grandeur of the old monastery with the tiles 17th — 18th centuries, as well as the golden leaf altars. The stalls of the nun choir with 106 seats stress the interior perspective and dimension.

Finish the day with a taste of the old convent sweets, cooked by one of the awarded sweets shops in the International Festival of Sweets in Alcobaça.
Night in Alcobaca.

DAY 03: Portugal: Coimbra, Penacova, Sao Pedro do Sul
On this day, the circuit includes visits to some of the most emblematic monasteries of Cistar Order: Celas Monastery, a Cistercian example founded in the XIII century by the King D. Sanacho, the Monastery of Lorvao in Penacova, whose origin is shrouded in many legends, and we will also visit the Monastery of Sao CristOvao, founded in sec. XII by Cistercian monks, whose building stands amid a dense forest of chestnut trees, oaks, laurel and hazel trees along the river.

We will also visit one of the oldest universities in Europe: the University of Coimbra.
Monastery of Celas, Coimbra , Portugal: Cistercian monastery founded in the 13th century by king Sancho I. It was redecorated in the 16th and 18th century. Main highlight is the cloister, Romanesque-Gothic style with twin decorated and iconographic columns.

University of Coimbra: The oldest in the country, was founded by King Dinis, under the name of General Studies in 1290, but permanently installed in Coimbra only in 1537. Between the 13th and 16th century the university changed three times its seat, between Coimbra and Lisboa. Only in 1537, by order of king John III, it is back to Coimbra and permanently settled. In the reigns of king Joao V and king Joseph I many golden decorations were added, which resulted in a monumental building of international fame. Main highlights: the rectory, the Hall of Capelos, the bell tower, and its jewel – the Johannine Library.

Monastery of Lorvao, Penacova, Portugal: In a deep green valley was born the rural village of Lorvao, dominated by its imposing Cistercian monastery. Of very old foundation, this monastery dates back to the 6th century. It is known that the monks of Lorvao reached a remarkable degree of culture, as evidenced by the medieval books copied and illuminated, like The Book of Birds (1183) and Reviews of the Apocalypse (1189).

Princess Teresa, daughter of king Sancho I, restructured the monastery in 1206, incorporating it into the Cistercian Order. At the same period, her sister Princess Sancha founded the monastery of Celas, in Coimbra. Both princesses are buried in the chancel of Lorvao inside silver tombs. The interior is grand and harmonious, built between 1748 and 1761, revealing an architecture typical of Johannine Baroque.

Monastery of Saint Cristopher of Lafões, Sao Pedro do Sul, Portugal: The Monastery of Saint Cristopher was founded in the 12th century by Cistercian monks and rebuilt in its present form in the late 17th century. It has a beautiful Tuscan-style cloister and church. Surrounded by a beautiful forest of chestnut oaks, bay leafs and hazel trees, along the river has a natural swimming pool with a waterfall and a pedestrian promenade.
Night in Sao Pedro do Sul.

DAY 04: Portugal: Arouca, Tarouca and Salzedas
We proceed our visit by the most significant monasteries of the Cistercian Order.
Today we set out to discover the Monastery of Arouca and Sao Joao de Tarouca, without forgetting the Salzedas Monastery which became one of the largest Cistercian monasteries of Portugal, donee of vast lands around with the obligation to cultivate and populate.

Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul in Arouca, Portugal: It started to have a twofold community – male and female – having been converted into female monastery and adopted the Rule of St. Benedict at the end of the 11th century. The adoption of the Cistercian rule occurred in the 13th century, associated with Princess Mafalda, daughter of king Sancho I. With a vast heritage, it became one of the most important female Portuguese monasteries.

Becoming a nun herself, Princess Mafalda gained a reputation as holiness. Which may be a reason of her body current uncorrupted state. She was beatified in the 18th century.

The convent was finally abolished in 1886 with the death of the last nun Abbess. The monastic buildings are set into the urban geography of the village of Arouca and although it was originally medieval, it now reflects major changes of the 18th century. Only the remains of a rose window from the 14th century remember its original architecture.

Monastery of Saint John, Tarouca, Portugal: It was the first monastery of the Cistercian Order to be founded in Portuguese territory in the 12th century. This monastery is an exception to the standard patronage of Cistercian monasteries, as they would normally dedicate their church to Virgin Mary, where as this one was dedicated to St. John.

The numerous donations received and effective management of acquisitions, brought prosperity in the 12th and 13th centuries , having a vast heritage that was distributed throughout the northern and central country. Being a daughter of the French abbey of Clairvaux, this monastery was also responsible for Fiaes, St. Peter Eagles and Santa Maria de Aguiar.

The order was abolished in 1834, leading to the adaptation of the temple towards a simple parish church.It is located along the river Varosa because it was a condition of the order that the buildings were erected along waterways. In this abbey one can find the tomb of Price Pedro Afonso, one of the bastard sons of King Dinis, a huge granite stone sarcophagus surmounted by lying statue and decorated with hunting scenes.

Monastery of Santa Maria De Salzedas, Portugal: Being one of the largest Cistercian monasteries in Portugal, owing a vast surrounding land, with the duty to cultivate and populate it. Its construction began in 1155, shortly after the donation of land to the Order made by the Knight Egas Moniz, loyal knight of Portugal first king Afonso Henriques and his wife Teresa Afonso. The large church stands in the middle of the small village houses. Between the 16th and 18th centuries the temple was extensively renovated, an example is its facade that it is in fact unfinished. The monastic part was developed in conjunction with river Torno, meeting the Cistercian requirement to build their dependencies along watercourses.
Night in Lamego.

DAY 05: Spain: Oseira , Santiago de Compostela
Our way through the Cistercian heritage continues now in Spain. Surrounded by lush mountains and beautiful landscapes, the Oseira Monastery is a must-see for all who wish to know the legacy of the Cistercian Order in the Iberian Peninsula.

Finally, we feel the air deeply spiritual of Santiago de Compostela, a place listed as a World Heritage Site since 1985 by UNESCO.

Real Monasterio Cisterciense de Oseira, Spain: Isolated in the Arenteiro valley, this great Cistercian monastery was founded in the mid-twelfth century by king Alfonso VII. Its name recalls that once the region was inhabited by bears (osos in spanish). Inside we stress the grand staircase and the cloister. The church is austere, despite its baroque facade of 1637. The chapter room (15th cent.) impresses with its beautiful domes. The monks returned to this monastery in 1929, regaining life. Today the monastery has 14 monks engaged in the production of liqueurs, the monastery has a library worthy of any capital and even an inn. Some famous writers passed here like Graham Greene, on the summer of 1975 and 1982. Also Syd Barrett, founder of Pink Floyd took vacations there.

Santiago de Compostela, Spain: City internationally renowned as one of the most important Christian pilgrimage destinations in the world, perhaps only exceeded by Rome and Jerusalem. According to tradition, which dates back to the founding of the city in the 9th century, here lies the tomb of James the Greater, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. A visit to this tomb marks the end of the pilgrimage, whose many paths, called Caminos de Santiago or the Milky Way, stretch across Western Europe over thousands of kilometers. Since 1985, the historic center is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage. In 1993 was also included in that list the Camino de Santiago which had already been classified as the first European cultural itinerary.

Santiago is also the capital of Galicia province, here are the headquarters of the regional government and parliament. It is also an important university town, whose foundation dates from 1495.
Night in Santiago de Compostela.

DAY 06: Spain: Armenteira , Pontevedra , Oia
We remain in Spain. We discover Pontevedra, where we find history, culture, leisure, architecture and beautiful scenery. Unmissable! Like other monasteries, also the Monastery of Santa Maria de Armenteira is built in an idyllic place in a lush green valley and next to Ría of Aroza. Imposing and situated on the seafront, the Monastery of Santa Maria de Oia is another important monasteries of the Cistercian Order in Spain. Our tour also includes a visit to this magnificent place.

Monasterio de Santa María de Armenteira, Spain: This monastery appears for the very first time in official documents in the year of 1162. It was always a modest monastery, with a great community. At the end of the fifteenth century falls into some decline, perhaps for the reform of an abbot that by the year 1523 joined the reform introduced by the Congregation of Castile. Was confiscated, forcing the monks to leave the monastery in 1837. Thereafter the buildings except the church and cloister, begun to crumble.

From 1961, Carlos Valle-Inclan, begins to design a dream: to rebuild the monastery. With a group of friends he founded the Association Friends of Armenteira and gradually occurs much of its reconstruction. This allows a group of nuns from the Monastery of Alloz, Navarra, to restore the Cistercian life.

Pontevedra, Spain: Pontevedra is one of the four provinces that make up the autonomous community of Galicia. Like other provinces of Galicia, it has a rich enviable landscape. Known as the Spanish Switzerland. Its landscapes are green and lush, thanks to abundant rain and sunshine throughout the year. It is a wonderful place. On the other hand, it is rich in monuments and history. Celtic culture with prehistoric strongholds, one may find castles, bridges, many Romanesque Christian churches. And naturally, El Camino de Santiago, the ancient Portuguese path that leaves its legacy: churches and cathedrals that were created and gave shelter to pilgrims; Pousadoiros, where pilgrims were welcomed and fed (curd and honey); bridges to cross rivers and facilitate pilgrimage; shelters to accommodate the pilgrims, temples and monasteries, and the last monastery where Sister Lucia ( miracle of Fatima ) lived her life.

Monastery of Santa Maria de Oia, Spain: The Cistercian monastery began to be built on the coast of Lower Miño region, in the fishing port of Oia in 1185, but the latest addition to his church was in the 18th century. In 1230 this artistic construction became a reference work of architecture to the Cistercian Order due to its simplicity. Nowadays you can only visit the church, for the remaining facilities are privately owned. The church has a Latin cross with three naves and a chancel with five apses, rectangular in plan, showing the French influence. The vaults are in crossed cannon. The most interesting of the church interior are its huge T shaped pillars.
Night in Bayona.

DAY 07: Portugal: Viana do Castelo , Porto
We retourn back to the north of Portugal, and we explore Viana do Castelo and the famous Oporto city. Situated at the mouth of the Lima river, between the ocean and the mountains, the charming city of Viana do Castelo is steeped in tradition. Historically, the city was a crucial point of departure during the Age of Discovery, when many Portuguese explorers embarked to discover the unknown world.

Today, Viana do Castelo is a lively fishing port, renowned for its compelling architecture, featuring Manueline and Renaissance influences as well as innovative contemporary design. Let yourself be enchanted by the city of Porto. This is one of Europe’s oldest tourist destinations. Its wealth of artistic heritage, Port Wine, open-air leisure spaces and cultural life are just some of the reasons to visit this city.
The city unfolds along the river bank and the sea shore, to reveal charming vistas, inviting esplanades and all the pleasures of the outdoors, framed by its green spaces. But setting out to discover Porto means bumping into surprise after surprise.

Viana do Castelo: Situated close to the mouth of the river Lima, Viana do Castelo was founded in the 13th century by king Afonso III, under the name of Viana da Foz do Lima. The sea was always the main reason for the city’s existence: at one time it had 70 merchant ships and, in the period of the Discoveries (in the 15th and 16th centuries), carracks and caravels set sail from the shipyards of Viana to follow the sea routes to India and North and South America, returning laden with sugar, ebony, ivory and other exotic goods.

Until the sixteenth century, the town belonged exclusively to the common people, and the nobility were forbidden to settle here. When its doors were finally opened, Viana was suddenly enriched with palaces, churches, convents and fountains forming a remarkable heritage that is well worth a visit. In 1848, the queen Maria II raised Viana to the status of a city and gave it its new name of Viana do Castelo. The Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Agonia (Festival of Our Lady in Sorrow), including one of the most beautiful religious processions in Portugal, is an explosive mixture of colour and happiness that no-one can afford to miss.

Panoramic Tour to Porto: Capital and gateway to the northern region, Porto is an ancient city that gave its name to Portugal and a wine known in the four corners of the world: the Port Wine. Magnificently located on the mouth of the Douro and an exceptional architectural value, the historic center of Porto is a World Heritage Site since 1996. It is the capital of the North of Portugal and the 2nd city in the country, its population predominantly mercantile, has always asserted its will against impositions and invaders, and that is why Porto is also known as the undefeated city . Apart from its history, Porto has a strong personality and unique human character. To better know the city we take a stroll to admire the typical houses and granite monuments, and finish with a boat cruise under the six bridges with dinner included, enjoying a different perspective.
Farewell Dinner | Aboard a cruise ship in Porto City with a lovely view
Night in Porto.

DAY 08: Depart Porto
. Departure transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination.

Tour Ends

Excludes
– Personal Expenses.
– Camera / Video Camera Fees.
– Air Ticket: Bechar – Algiers.
– Medical Aid.
– Tips.
– Travel Insurance.
– Visa If any.

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Lisbon	01	Radisson Blu
Alcobaca	01	Miramar Hotel & Spa
Sao Pedro do Sul	01	Palace Hotel & Spa Monte Rio
Lamego	01	Aqua Douro Club / Quinta Do Atoleiro
Santiago de Campostela	01	NH Collection Santiago de Compostela
Bayona	01	Talaso Atlántico
Porto	01	Mercure Porto

Private Tour	Price Per Person
02 Pax	USD 2135 PP
Single Supplement	USD 617 Per SGL

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