Grand Tour of Portugal

Visiting :

Lisbon, Sintra, Capo Roca, Cascais, Estoril, Nazare,

Bathala, Fatima, Porto, Dauro Valley, Setubal,

Braga, Aveira, Figuera de Foz,  Cecilhas,

Arrabida Park, ....

Feel welcomed in Portugal as you land in Lisbon and start your short journey to your accomodation in a very comfortable hotel, at the Holiday Inn Continental.  During the first excursion, explore the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Join the local guide to understand and appreciate what this beautiful city has to offer.  Marvel at the magnificent and intricate architecture at Jeronimas Monastery before you admire the impressive building of Lisbon Cathedral.  Decide where to stop for coffee. Is it at the Rossio Square, once the place where revolts, celebrations, bullfights and executions took place or at Commerce Square, still sometimes referred to as Terreiro do Paco or in English, the Palace Yard, near the Tagus River? Proceed to the overwhelmingly beautiful Belen Tower, which like the Jeronimas Monastery, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Don’t miss out on Tagus River, the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula and the Vasco De Gama Bridge, the longest in Europe and without doubt the most impressive piece of engineering.  On the other hand, the architecture of the Gare do Oriente, which provides travel connections for the whole country, will remain imprintinted  in your mind. Remaining on the theme of transport, the Royal Coach Museum exhibits a fine collection of historical carriages in the world.  After lunch, join your tour leader to discover Alfama, the oldest district of Lisbon.

Amidst the pine-covered hills, you will discover and fall in love with the city of Sintra as you stroll around the place. Visit the Pena Palace, one of a kind with its colourful facade and located on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains.  Travel along the Cabo De Roca to arrive to your next destination, Cascais, primarily a small fishing village taken over by the King to develop his summer retreat.  Enjoy the bay before you proceed to Estoril, another town on the Portuguese Riviera.

Taking its town name from the River Alco and the River Baco, the next excursion will take you to the town of Alcobaca. Once you get acquainted with the town, a visit will be paid to the Monastery, a landmark set up by the first Portuguese King in medieval times. Move on to the interesting town of Batalha, the name meaning ‘Battle’. Amongst places of interest you will visit the Monastery of St Mary of the Victory, a Domnican convent. This ‘Monastery of Battle’ offers a spectacular example of a mixture of Gothic and Manueline architecture.  Grab the opportunity to join the group for dinner and an El Fado Show where you can appreciate Portuguese Music.

Another day, this time, a day with a difference. Get spiritual and start your morning with personal prayers and a special mass.  Your first visit will be to the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, followed by the Chapel of the Apparations and the Basilica.  A mini train ride will take you to Valinhos to experience the Via Crucia.  Your next stop will be at the town of Ajustrel, to visit the simple dwellings of Lucia, Jacinta and Francesco and understand where these children, favoured by Our Lady, dwelled.  

Look forward to Coimbra, a town with a vast amount of history to offer. Visit the well renouned University, less bubbly from students’ vibrant life in the summer months. The Church of Santa Cruz is worth visiting as is the Old Cathedral. Do not miss out on the imposing white building of the National Pantheon and the attractive Largo de Almedina. Compare and contrast the old city and the city’s modern side, attempting to decide which one you prefer would be a  difficult decision to make.  

Once you have changed location of your new lodgings  at Hotel Villa Gale 4 star in Porto, you can now explore  this lively city, where port is one of the its main export. Hence, one of the stops will be at a Port Wine Cellar. Porto will blast you away with the many tourists attractions such as the Porto Cathedral and the Baroque structured Clerigos.  The fantastic, coastal view from the Foz will surely win you over while the best place to stop for a coffee would be in the UNESCO World Heritage Square, Ribeira Square.

The beauty and the magic that the landscape of Douro Valley has to offer makes today’s journey an enchanted one. Following short visits to  wine estates in quaint little villages, look forward to relax and enjoy the natural setting on the  River Douro when you embark on a cruise where you are also served lunch.

Some cities blast you away, while others, like the city of Guimares, with its long history, will slowly win you over.  The different national monuments and the historic buildings, the most popular being the Braganza Palace, will make your short stay a very interesting one. Advance your travels to Braga, the ‘City of the Archbishops’. Get lost in the numerous religious monuments, a kind reminder of Jesus Christ. Admire the baroque fountains and buildings that this city proudly presents.

Most countries have a little Venice. Your next destination is at Portugal’s Venice, the delightful city of  Aveiro.  Make sure that your camera is charged as you will be disappointed not to be able to take loads of pictures of the canals full of colourful barcos moliceiros. They say that when in Rome,  do like the Romans do,  once here do not miss out on a relaxing ride navigating the canals. More colours to brighten your day at Costa Nova. Look forward to the vast site of salt at Aveiro Salinos. 

A change in your lodgings will ease the hassle of this trip around the most beautiful cities of Portugal. The Hotel Mercure will offer you comfort during your stay in Figueira Da Foz.  Discover the extensive beaches of soft white sand before your excursion to Bucaco Forest begins. Be bewitched by this forest, home to up to 700 species of trees, brought over to Portugal from Africa and America.  Come across the monastic retreat and the secret grottoes and waterfalls.