THE BEST OF PORTUGAL

After breakfast, travel along a landscape rich in windmills and fruit trees and arrive in Obidos, a town surrounded by medieval walls where you can admire the harmony of the architecture, the diversity of the handicrafts, and taste the famous ‘ginginha’ (bitter cherry liqueur). Visit Alcobaca and Nazare before heading on to wondrous Fatima, home to the famous Marian Shrine. Consider joining in the Candle procession this evening. Overnight in Fatima. (B)

Have breakfast at your hotel and then depart for Coimbra where you will visit one of the oldest universities in the world, featuring a magnificent baroque library and a unique ambiance characterized by ancient traditions and customs, such as the black capes of the students and the melancholic ‘fado’ music. Stop at St. Clara Church, where the tomb of Queen St. Isabel is found, protagonist of the “miracle of the roses.” In the afternoon continue to Aveiro, known as the Portuguese Venice, where you can see the graceful boats “moliceiros” and taste the local sweets “ovos moles.” Overnight in Porto. (B)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel then venture out to discover riverside areas, old houses, palaces, churches, and famed Port wine. Continue to Minho, in the northwest region of Portugal, with its verdant nature and sparkling “green wine.” Starting in the medieval center of Guimaraes, visit the Sacred Hill, crowned by the Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganca. Drive to Braga, known as the Portuguese Rome, for its concentration of religious architecture before returning to Porto. (B)

 After breakfast at your hotel, set off for Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia and the pilgrimage hub at the end of the Santiago Way. In 1985, UNESCO declared Santiago de Compostela a World Cultural Heritage site. Take time to discover this fascinating city at your own pace with an entire day at leisure. Wander its historic streets and learn about its most extraordinary monuments before sampling some of the traditional local dishes. Overnight in Porto. (B)

After breakfast, departure to Amarante, with the great Serra do Marao rising above the city and the River Tamega below. Next, drive to Vila Real – visiting the gardens of the manor of Mateus, whose facade is still depicted on the well-known Portuguese Rose wine bottles. Then, enter the Port wine region, traveling through the vineyards and the breathtaking landscapes of the Douro Valley. Stop in Lamego, featuring one of Portugal's most important shrines “N. S. Remédios” with its magnificent baroque style staircase. Continue through the mountainous hinterland to Viseu, center of the Dao Vineyards. Head on to Urgeirica for overnight. (B)

Savor breakfast at your hotel and then drive to Bussaco well known for its luxuriant forest. Continue on to Tomar, a city closely linked to the Order of the Templars, who 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 centerpiece of the city and is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. From here you will head on to Lisbon. (B)

Rise and shine with breakfast at your hotel and get ready for a day of adventuring. Visit the palace of Sintra and walk through this charming village. Enjoy an amazing view from the westernmost point of Europe (Cabo da Roca). Along the coast we pass by one of the most famous surfing beaches, the incredible Boca do Inferno, the cosmopolitan Cascais, and the gardens of Estoril Casino. Return to Lisbon. (B)

A day of discovery awaits you in the town of Evora with its mosaic of culture, history and tradition. In the narrow streets of the whitewashed town, stroll along visiting some of the most important monuments: the Roman Temple, the Romanesque-gothic Cathedral, Saint Francis Church with its “Bones Chapel“, and the University. At the market, delve into the rich culinary products used to prepare the elaborate gastronomic delights of Portugal. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to discover the city and Portugal’s culinary scene on your own. Overnight in Evora. (B)

Have breakfast at your hotel and enjoy part of the morning at leisure in Evora, then drive southward passing Beja where you will see the highest tower of Portuguese Medieval castles. Crossing small mountains, we enter the Algarve. After passing fields of orange trees, we arrive in Silves, the renowned town dominated by its red sandstone castle. Continue to the golden sands of the Algarve by Praia da Rocha before reaching Lagos. (B)

After breakfast at your hotel head on to “Ponta da Piedade” and admire the magnificent view over the Atlantic Ocean. Continue to Sagres, a fishing port, for a visit to the fortress where the “navigation school” is forever linked with Prince Henry the Navigator during the first days of Atlantic navigation and the discovery of the African coast. Proceed along to the cliffs to Cabo Sao Vincente, the most southwestern point in Europe. This afternoon, take time to savor the flavors of Lagos, a cosmopolitan town with a marina and fishing port where you can taste delicious Algarve dishes, such as fish and shellfish cooked in a copper pan (cataplana) or fine sweets, such as the famous marzipan almond and fig cakes. Overnight in Lagos. (B)

This morning, take a last look at the water while traveling along the coast as you say farewell to the Algarve. The return trip to Lisbon will take you by the city of Setubal, a major port and industrial center on the north bank of the Sado estuary. Next, travel the scenic route over the Arrabida Mountain Range, an area preserved as a Natural Park with amazing scenery and unique vegetation at the gates of Lisbon. Crossing the bridge over the Tagus River, we arrive in Lisbon. (B)

Savor breakfast at your hotel before your departure transfer to Lisbon Airport for your flight home. (B)