THE NORTH 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)

HHave 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)

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