LISBON

ITINERARY

1st Day | Lisbon & Alentejo

25th April Bridge

Constructed in 1966, it’s the link between Lisbon and Almada, crossing the Tagus estuary at its narrowest point.

Évora

The Capital of Alto Alentejo (one of the Portuguese Regions) and classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1986.

San Francisco’s Church

The Convent of St. Francis in Évora, was the first house of the Franciscan Order in Portugal and was founded in the 12th century. The Church of the convent was remodeled at the end of the 15th century, between the years of 1480 and 1510, is an example of Gothic-Manueline architecture. It is related to the events that marked the period of the maritime expansion and is one of the most beautiful churches in Portugal.

Bones Chapel

Built in the 17th century by the initiative of three Franciscan friars in order to convey the message of the transience and fragility of human life. At the entrance, the warning: “We bones here laid, for yours we wait”. The walls and the eight pillars of the church are covered with about 5,000 human skulls and countless bones from the city’s cemeteries.

Évora’s Roman Temple

The Roman Temple of Évora was built in the early 1st century and is located in the historic city center, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, in 1986, is one of the most famous landmarks of the city and a symbol of the Roman presence in Portuguese territory.

Évora’s Cathedral

Better known as Sé de Évora, it’s the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal. Its construction began in 1186 and consecrated in 1204, was completed later on, in 1250. It is a fascinating monument in granite that marks the transition from the Romanesque style to the Gothic style.

Local vineyard and winery

Get to know more about the wine production with a guided tour of a local winery. You’ll learn more about the daily life of a winery and at the end have a wine tasting with local ‘tapas’ such as cheese, sausage, olives, and bread.

Store and cork factory

Cork is plant material, 100% natural, from the bark of the cork oak. It can be extracted every 9 years and has several uses such as floor coverings, musical instruments, decoration, and clothing. Considered the most important industry in Portugal, with an area of ​​730 thousand hectares of cork oak, it is responsible for more than 50% of the world’s cork production.

S. Pedro do Corval

It’s an Alentejo small village widely known for its handmade pottery. With about 35 pottery factories São Pedro do Corval is known as the Capital of Pottery (it’s the Portuguese largest pottery center).

Monsaraz

Medieval village conquered by the Moors in the 12th century. It played, over the years, a very important role in monitoring the Guadiana River, after the border with Spain. The beauty and state of conservation of the village of Monsaraz are impressive, making it a museum village, unique in the region. From the top of the castle walls, built by D. Dinis in the 14th century and classified as a National Monument, we can see the whole village with houses painted white and slate roofs and the Alqueva dam.

Elvas

A World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Elvas houses the World’s largest collection of bulwark fortifications and other military buildings as well as churches and monasteries of unique beauty.

Overnight in: Alentejo

2nd Day | Mérida, Cáceres, Trujillo & Madrid

Mérida

Founded in 25bC, one of the best-preserved archaeological places in Spain. Mérida has several testimonies of the Roman occupation, like its theater and amphitheater dedicated to the Goddess Diana or the Roman bridge over the Guadiana River.

Cáceres

Where you will find an impressive City with imposing monuments such as palaces, towers, and churches.

Trujillo

Located in the valleys of the River Tagus and Guadiana, Trujillo holds an important collection of churches, castles, and stately homes that are built around its ‘Plaza Mayor’.

Madrid

Panoramic tour around the City illuminated monuments.

Overnight in: Madrid

3rd Day | Madrid

Monument of the Escorial

Built in the 16th Century, during the reign of the King Filipe the 2nd. The Escorial is a large and imposing complex that includes a palace, a monastery, a museum, and a library, located about 42km from Madrid.

‘Valle de los Caídos’

A memorial in honor of those who lost their lives in the Spain civil war, built between 1940 and 1958. At this site, you can dazzle the majestic Basilica and also enjoy the impressive 150 feet tall Cross (its arms measure 46 meters and the cross has two bases).

Royal Palace

The official residence of the Spanish royalty and Sabatini gardens surrounding the palace.

Moncloa Palace

Currently, the seat of the Ministry of Territorial Policy has been the official residence for the Prime Ministers of Spain, since 1977.

Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor was built in the 17th century and is a central plaza in the city of Madrid. Designed in a rectangular shape, is surrounded by three-story residential buildings having 237 balconies facing the Plaza and has a total of nine entrance ways.

Overnight in: Madrid

4th Day | Toledo & Madrid

Toledo

The former capital of Spain. Of a Huge monumental richness, Toledo is known as the City of 3 cultures due to their Christian, Jewish and Arab influences. Toledo preserves an artistic and cultural heritage in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques, and synagogues.

Gran Vía

One of the main streets of Madrid. The Gran Vía, considered as the Broadway of Madrid, it’s an important commercial, tourist, and leisure area. In Gran Vía there is a pedestrian area that you can enjoy getting to know Madrid and their squares. On this walking street, you can get to know the ‘Plaza Mayor’ and the ‘Puertas del Sol’.

San Miguel Market

Which was transformed into a culinary space where you can taste delicious traditional Spanish dishes.

Overnight in: Madrid

5th Day | Ávila, Salamanca, Zamora & Miranda do Douro

Ávila

The birthplace of St. Teresa of Jesus, better known as Teresa of Ávila, who founded the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Ávila is surrounded by a 2.5 km long wall that has multiple ports and 88 round towers, arranged from 20 to 20 meters.

Salamanca

Town of the students. This is one of the richest Spanish cities in monuments of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque and Classical eras, and its historic center is a World Heritage Site since 1988.

Zamora

Has an important legacy of Romanesque and medieval art with an impact on its immense palaces, temples, and walls.

Overnight in: Miranda do Douro

6th Day | Douro, Gerês & Braga

You’ll start the day with a panoramic tour along the Douro Valley

Peneda-Gerês Natural Park

It’s the only Portuguese protected area that has been classified as a National Park and one of the most important natural attractions in Portugal. It’s known for its natural beauty, ecological & ethnographic value, and home to a variety of fauna and flora including deer, ‘garrano’ horses, wolves, birds of prey, pines, yew trees, chestnut trees, oaks, and a variety of medicinal plants.

‘Geira’

Remains of the Roman Road that linked Braga to Astorga.

Sanctuary of São Bento da Porta Aberta

A major religious center.

Bom Jesus de Braga

Visited by thousands of people every day, it’s one of the most important monuments in Braga. To visit the basilica you’ll have to take a lift that is considered to be the oldest one in Europe and one of its kind in the world, which is still water-powered.

‘Santuário Mariano do Sameiro’

Situated in leafy woodland with truly spectacular viewing points.

Overnight in: Braga or Oporto

7th Day | Oporto & Fátima

Oporto

During this Oporto city tour, we will discover the history and charm of the city.

Cruise on the Douro River

Enjoy the fantastic landscapes on board of a typical local boat called ‘Rabelo’.

Port’s wine cellars

Port’s Wine is internationally acclaimed for its quality and although it is produced in the Douro Valley, the cellars are located in Oporto. Have a taste of this amazing and unique sweet Oporto’s wine.

Oporto’s Catedral

The Cathedral of the city of Porto, located in the heart of the historical center is one of the main and oldest monuments of Portugal.

Fátima

Portugal’s religious capital that attracts millions of pilgrims every year, due to its mystical power and atmosphere. It can hold about 300 thousand faithful at the same time and is twice the size of St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

Fátima Shrine

The Shrine of our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima is a place of pilgrimage, which celebrates the apparitions of Our Lady to the three little Shepherds: Lucia de Jesus, Francisco, and Jacinta Marto. At the Shrine you can visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity.

Shepherd houses

Around 2KM from Fátima in a small village called ‘Aljustrel’, you can visit Marto’s family house and Lúcia’s house.

Overnight in: Lisbon