Description
A tailor-made holiday including seven nights self-drive program with a suggested itinerary. Spend the first night in Lisbon, the Portuguese Capital, and travel north passing through beautiful towns and regions. Stay in the amazing city of Porto (recognized as the “Best European Destination 2017”) and spend some time visiting the north of Portugal, including Barcelos and learn about the national symbol, “Galo de Barcelos”. On the fourth day travel south and stay in Coimbra, the university city. Visit Fatima, one of the largest pilgrimage destinations in Europe and travel through the Alentejo- a region of flavors, landscapes, tradition and historical legacies and stay in Évora, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Return to Lisbon and discover this historical city full of stories to tell and famous for its hospitality. Explore a city full of authenticity where tradition and history intersect with cultural entertainment.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Lisbon
Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Pick–up your car at the Airport rental station and drive to your hotel in Lisbon, the Portuguese Capital. Overnight in Lisbon.
Day 2 – Lisbon / Óbidos / Nazaré / Porto (360 Km)
After breakfast departure to Óbidos (medieval village, an authentic museum carefully preserved, surrounded by high walls and winding streets) . Proceed to Nazaré (attractive and picturesque fishing village, with busy narrow streets where you can find fishermen and women wearing typical multicolored costumes). Lunch at leisure. Continue to Alcobaça (see the 12th century Monastery and one of the most beautiful Cistercian Abbeys dating from the middle Age) and / or Batalha (visit the 15th century Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria, a masterpiece of the Portuguese Gothic Architecture and UNESCO World Heritage site. Head north to Porto and overnight.
Day 3 - Porto / Guimarães / Braga / Barcelos / Porto (168 Km)
After breakfast spend some time visiting Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, known by the many and varied monuments: the neoclassical Stock Exchange Palace, the Cathedral and its Romanesque choir, the Portuguese Manueline-style Church of Santa Clara. Visit a wine cellar and try the well know Porto wine. Lunch at leisure. Proceed to Guimarães (the cradle of Portugal with the unique historical centre, considered World Heritage by UNESCO). Continue to Braga (one of the oldest religious cities in the world, called the Archbishops city. Visit the sanctuaries that constitute the faith triangle: the Cathedral and the Sanctuaries of Sameiro and Bom Jesus). Drive to Barcelos (visit the town that was the first county in Portugal). Return to Porto driving by the coast and passing Vila do Conde. Overnight in Porto.
Day 4 – Porto / Aveiro / Coimbra / Fátima (230 Km)
After breakfast departure from Porto to Aveiro and visit the “Portuguese Venice”, the city of the river channels (see the 15th century Cathedral and the ‘Convento de Jesus’). Lunch at leisure at a local restaurant in Aveiro center. Proceed to Coimbra (visit the University, one of the oldest in the world, with its magnificent baroque library and its unique atmosphere characterized by ancient traditions and customs such as the black cape of the students and the melancholic fado music. See the 12th century fortified Cathedral and the ‘Santa Cruz’ church known by its Manueline main portico). Continue to Fátima, one of the largest pilgrimages centers in Europe (visit to the Catholic shrine of Our Lady, one of the most famous in the world, see the Candlelight Procession every night from 13th May to 13th Oct). Overnight in Fátima.
Day 5 - Fatima / Tomar / Castelo de Vide / Estremoz / Évora (298 Km)
After breakfast Leave Fatima and drive to Tomar (visit the Castle with its imposing bulwark, the Convent of Christ – The Templar Order’s own headquarters, one of the finest architectonic works existing in Portugal) . Proceed to Castelo de Vide (visit the surrounded quarter of the castle and the Synagogue) continue to Marvão (a medieval small town on a mountain top, with beautiful views over the Alentejo region) and Estremoz (famous by its original ceramic handicrafts and the medieval Castle). Continue to Évora. Overnight in Évora.
Day 6 - Évora / Lisbon (132 Km)
After breakfast time to visit Évora , considered World Heritage by UNESCO. Walk along the narrow streets lined with white whitewashed houses (suggested monuments: the Roman Temple, the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, Saint Francis Church whit the “Bones Chapel“, and the University). Along the visit you may also admire the diversity and authenticity of local handicraft with cork, ceramic and copper objects. Lunch at leisure .
Departure to Lisbon. Overnight in Lisbon.
Day 7 - Lisbon / Sintra / Lisbon (80 Km)
After Breakfast spend you last day visiting Lisbon, the amazing Portuguese capital known as the city of ‘seven hills’. Here you may start your visit through the Alfama typical quarter and Saint George Castle, the Chiado and Bairro Alto quarters and Lisbon downtown, Praça do Comercio. Continue to see the Belem Tower, Discoveries monument and Batalha Monastery. Stop for a coffee and taste the beautiful and famous ‘Pasteis de Belem’ pastry.
In the afternoon, drive to the charming village of Sintra (UNESCO World Heritage Site) that enchanted kings and inspired poets (see the majestic and romantic Pena Palace, an astonishing fairytale castle, located in one of the highest peaks of Sintra mountain range). Walk through the narrow streets and appreciate the several handicraft shops and stop at a tea-rooms to taste the delicious local sweets like the "queijadas" or the “travesseiros”. Continue to Cabo da Roca, the most western point in Europe and enjoy the unique scenery of the Atlantic Ocean. Return to Lisbon passing Cascais and Estoril.
Overnight in Lisbon.
Day 8
Departure to Lisbon Airport. Return your car and flight check-in.
