Portugal in Depth

Welcome to Lisbon!

At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Lovely Lisbon

LISBON: Guided sightseeing includes Jeronimos Monastery and cloister and a photo stop at Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - HISTORIC SPOTS: The stunning capital city of Portugal is a treasure trove of historic and architectural masterpieces. Lisbon is home to the 16th-century Monastery of Jeronimos, with its 100-foot facade featuring images of St. Michael the Archangel and Our Lady of Belem. See the 16th-century Belem Tower, which served as a fortress but also as an embarkation point for sailors and was their last sight of land before the start of their journey. Lisbon's Monument to the Discoveries pays homage to great Portuguese explorers with a spectacular carved prow of an ancient ship.

Sea, Surf & Sanctuaries

OBIDOS: Take an orientation walk of the medieval town.

NAZARE: Free time to browse.

ALCOBACA: Visit the Church of Santa Maria Monastery.

FATIMA: Visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary en route to Tomar. (B/D) 137 mi / 220 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - LEGENDARY LIVES: The monastery of Alcobaca is a unique masterpiece of Gothic Cistercian art. See the tombs of King Pedro I and his Castillan lover, Ines de Castro, and hear about the heartbreaking tale of these ill- fated lovers. The king never stopped loving Ines even after she was murdered, and during his life he commissioned matching tombs that sit together so that they can look at each other as they rise from their graves.

Academic Honors

TOMAR: Visit the Convent of Christ.

COIMBRA: Visit the University. Scenic drive en route to Porto. (B) 155 mi / 250km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - CULTURE & TRADITION: The University of Coimbra is distinguished as the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest in the world, it is also one of the best known and internationally celebrated. With a history of more than seven centuries, the students at Coimbra University dress in the traditional black capes with ribbons in varying hues as was the tradition when the school was founded in 1290.

Panoramas & Port Wine

PORTO: Guided sightseeing includes a panoramic drive to the mouth of the Douro River and the cathedral. Visit the Church of Sao Francisco and the Arabian Hall in the Stock Exchange. Enjoy a Port wine tasting at the famous Sandeman & Co Port Wine Cellar. Free time this afternoon. (B)

LOCAL FAVOURITE - LOCAL TASTES: You're invited to the home of the most internationally recognised Porto wines at the magnificent Sandeman Wine Cellars. Here, taste centuries of tradition in a glass of Port wine in the city that bears its name. Saude!

Tapas & Tastings

GUIMARAES: Orientation walk through the medieval district.

PENAFIEL: Visit the gardens of the Quinta da Aveleda winery and enjoy Portuguese tapas tasting. Take a scenic drive through the port wine vineyards en route to Viseu.

VISEU: Dinner with local specialties and wine at Forno da Mimi restaurant. (B/D) 149 mi/ 240 km

LOCAL FAVOURITE - HISTORY & HERITAGE: The history of the Quinta da Aveleda estate spans the centuries and generations who have preserved the Portuguese traditions of wine making and proud legacy of the Guedes family. The architectural heritage of this cherished estate is only matched by its wines, produced, and nurtured as the largest Vinho Verde exporter and family-owned winery.

Bottles & Corks

BELMONTE: Visit the Jewish Museum. Enjoy an olive oil tasting.

CASTELO DE VIDE: Walk through the Jewish quarter with free time to browse.

EVORA: Visit a traditional cork factory. (B/D) 236 mi / 380 km

LOCAL FAVOURITE - LOCAL TASTES: Discover the tradition and taste of authentic Portuguese olive oil in a 20th-century olive-oil-factory-turned-museum in Belmonte. See the machinery which farmers used to transform olives into oil and taste the delicious fruits of their labours. Perhaps take home a gift of wine, olive oil, or jam to commemorate your visit. Later, visit a Cork Factory in Evora to learn about this traditional artisanship of Portugal.

Gothic Grandeur

EVORA: Guided walking tour includes the Gothic cathedral, the Sao Francisco Church, and the Ossuary Chapel. Free time for lunch.

ALGARVE: Free time late afternoon and evening (B) 162 mi / 260 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - CULTURE & TRADITION: Walk back in time to the Roman era of Evora - a city with roots firmly planted in the 16th century in the home of Portuguese kings. See the white houses, architectural tiles, and embellished balconies with a stroll through the Gothic sites of the cathedral, church, and chapel.

Cliffs & Coastlines

ALGARVE: Join an excursion to the Promontory of Sagres, Cape St. Vincent, and Lagos. (B) 81 mi / 130 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - PICTURE PERFECT: Take in the breathtaking views of the sweeping southern coastline of Portugal in Algarve. Stand on the Promontory of Sagres and Cape St. Vincent to gaze at the glorious beaches, postcard-perfect fishing ports, and towering cliffs along the sea.

Peninsula Miles & Painted Tiles

Scenic drive along the Serra da Arrabida with views of the Troia Peninsula.

AZEITAO: Visit a traditional tile workshop.

LISBON: Enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel. (B/D) 180 mi / 290 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ART & ARTISTRY: Enter a world of authentically handmade Portuguese tiles at the Sao Simao Arte workshop and gallery in Azeitao. It is here that distinguished antique collector Antonio Soares Franco creates his ceramic masterpieces by hand in the style of his ancestors.

Safe travels until we meet again!

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)