North of Portugal

NORTH OF PORTUGAL

Lisbon – Fatima – Coimbra – Porto – Braga – Amarante – Douro Valley
SEMI-ESCORTED TOUR
– 8  nights from $1595 per person –

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ITINERARY:

Day 1 Lisbon
Upon arrival at Lisbon airport you will be transferred to your hotel. Check-in at the hotel and free time to relax or explore Lisbon on your own. Overnight in Lisbon

Day 2 Lisbon- Óbidos- Alcobaça- Nazaré- Batalha- Fátima

After breakfast, we are leaving Lisbon and travel north to Obidos, city surrounded by medieval walls where we can admire the harmony of the architecture, the diversity of the handicrafts and taste the famous ‘ginginha’ (bitter cherry liqueur).Visit Alcobaça with the first and largest gothic church in Portugal with the tombs of D.Pedro and Inês de Castro, known by its love story. Stopping in Nazaré, a typical fishing village and seaside resort, with its traditions and legends. We continue to Batalha – visit the Monastery of Santa Maria de Victoria, a masterpiece of the gothic in Portugal where we can find the tomb of Henry the Navigator, promoter of the maritime discoveries. After, we arrive to Fátima, the famous Marian Shrine. Possibility to assist the Candle procession overnight in Fatima.

Day 3 Fatima – Coimbra – Aveiro – Oporto

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Coimbra – visit of the University, one of the oldest in the world, with its magnificent baroque library and its unique atmosphere characterised by ancient traditions and customs such as the black cape of the students and the melancholic ‘fado’ music. Stop at St Clara Church, where lies the tomb of Queen St. Isabel, the protagonist of the “miracle of the roses”. In the centre you can admire the exclusive ceramic of Coimbra. In the afternoon we continue to Aveiro, city of the canals, known as the “Portuguese Venice”, where you shall have time to see the graceful boats “moliceiros” and taste the local sweets “ovos moles”. Continue to Oporto. Overnight in Porto.

Day 4 Porto
Breakfast at the hotel. The present city of Porto occupies the site of the Roman town of Portus, sprawling down the long, steep north bank of the Douro, 6km from the sea. Today you have morning visit to discover the riverside area with its old houses, palaces, churches and Port wine, known worldwide. Afternoon free. Vila Nova de Gaia for Overnight.

Day 5 Porto – Guimarães – Braga – Barcelos – Porto
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour to the Minho, the northwest region of Portugal that offers natural green sceneries and the sparkling “green wine”. Starting by Guimarães – the cradle of the nation, birthplace of the first king of Portugal, where, walking along the historic center, for moments one is plunged back into medieval times. Visit the Sacred Hill, crowned by the Castle, as well the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, which original building dates back to the 15th centuries. Drive to Braga known as the “Portuguese Rome” for its concentration of religious architecture, as the oldest Cathedral of the country, and the “Bom Jesus do Monte” Sanctuary with famous baroque stairway and gardens. After we shall continue to Barcelos, an historical city rich in popular handicraft where the Galo de Barcelos (the rooster of Barcelos) legend was born becoming, the rooster, a Portuguese icon. Return to Porto.

Day 6 Porto – Amarante – Vila Real – Douro Valley – Lamego – Viseu – Urgeiriça
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Amarante, a pretty town proud of São Gonçalo known for the promotion of love and marriage were the monastery facing the river houses his tomb and his lively bustling market where you can find fruit, vegetables, chickens, cloths, and an immense variety of other popular items. After, drive to Vila Real – visiting the gardens of the manor of Mateus, which façade is still depicted on the well-known Portuguese Rose wine bottles. Then we enter in the Port wine region, travelling through the vineyards and the breathtaking landscapes of the Douro Valley. Stop in Lamego, overlooked by one of Portugal’s most important shrines “N. S. Remédios” with its magnificent baroque style staircase. Maybe you will try some of the local delicacies such as the local ham or the famous “Bola de Lamego” (a loaf baked in the oven with smoked ham). Continue to the mountainous hinterland to Viseu, centre of the Dão Vineyards and a city connected with Portugal´s oldest hero, Viriato, the Lusitanian chief. In the shadow of the Cathedral, narrow streets and doorways with coats of arms carved in granite make up the ancient town of Viseu. Along the centre we find a busy commercial area. Arrival to Urgeiriça..

Day 7 Urgueiriça – Bussaco – Tomar – Lisbon
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive through the heart of Portugal till Bussaco well known for the luxuriant forest, made up of a selection of rare trees and plants of exotic beauty, where was built a charming and romantic hotel, before a royal hunting lodge. We continue to Tomar. The development of the city is closely linked to the Order of the Templars, which received these lands in 1159 as a reward for the assistance they gave Dom Afonso Henriques (the First King of Portugal) in the Christian reconquers 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 centrepiece of the city and classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. We follow the journey till Lisbon. Arrival and accommodation in Lisbon.

Day 8 Lisbon
Breakfast. Free day at leisure or you can take an optional half day tour of Lisbon. Accommodation in Lisbon

Day 9 Lisbon / end of the services
After breakfast, transfer to Lisbon airport. End of our services.

INCLUDED :

Accommodation in 4* hotels (Lisbon – 3 nights, Fatima- 1 night, Porto – 3 nights, Urgerica – 1 night)
Transfers to/from Lisbon airport
Transportation by air conditioned bus or minivan, as per detailed itinerary
Experienced multilingual tour conductor (EN/PT/ES)
Entrance fees to the following monuments: Batalha Monastery, Coimbra University, “Palacio da Bolsa” (Porto), St. Francisco Church (Porto), Gardens of “Palacio Mateus”, Convento do Cristo (Tomar).
Daily breakfast
Hotel taxes & services charges

EXCLUDED :

International flight from Canada
Personal expenses
Beverages and meals not mentioned above
Tips
Everything that is not mentioned in the paragraph “INCLUDED”

NOTE: The rate of $1595 is per person in double occupancy, valid for departure on November 18th, 2016