GÄRTEN UND PARKEN von PORTUGAL
Day 1
Lisbon citytour including St Jorge castle to admire the views. Followed by a visit to the tile museum from where we will proceed to the Jardim da Ajuda. Leaving Belém we drive along the Lisbon coast to Cascais where we visit Casa da Pérgola, an english manor house and its delightful gardens. After lunch return to Lisboa, through Queluz, a former royal palace, built in the 18th century and its formal and informal gardens.
Day 2
First stop at the gardens and palace Marquês da Fronteira, built 1670, the only surviving suburban private house and garden from this period and still retains its features in a very portuguese style. Then visit of Jardim Tropical de Lisboa, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, the tour proceeds to the Estufa fria and Estufa Quente, 2 greenhouses in the heart of Lisbon.
Day 3
Visit of Sintra, the mountain resort of royalty, where we visit the whimsical gardens of Monserrat. After lunch in the historical center, a visit to Quinta da Regaleira. Return to Lisbon by way of Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe.
Day 4
Departure of Lisbon heading north to visit the roman ruins at Conimbriga. Already in Coimbra, visit of the University town. Then follows a tour of the Botanical Gardens of the University. A short distance from Coimbra, lies Buçaco Hotel, surrounded by exuberant vegetation that includes subtropical species from all over the world. Dinner tonight is a culinary delight, featuring the renowned cuisine of the hotel and wine from its winecellars.
Day 5
Today travel leads to Douro River region, classified world heritage by Unesco. First stop at Vila Real, visit of Solar de Mateus, a baroque style manour house made famous by the label of Mateus rose wines. Port wine tasting in a Quinta. Overnight in the selected hotel.
Day 6
Depart to Penafiel to visit Quinta da Aveleda, with its spectacular gardens. Lunch and sample of wines.Return to Hotel.
Day 7
Transfer to Pinhão to take a traditional boat to cruise on the Douro river to the town of Peso da Régua. During the journey the beautiful vineyards and Quintas that dot the hills of Douro. Wine tasting and continuation to Porto to visit the Cristal palace, a garden set in the heart of the city and the Casa de Serralves, in the style of Art Deco, from the 1930s. Visit of the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Day 8
Today we will tour the Minho region. Stop at one of the most famous shrines in Portugal, The Bom Jesus do Monte, nearby Braga. Lunch is recommended at the Hotel do Elevador nearby. After the journey follows to the town of Braga. Visit of the Gardens at the Casa dos Biscainhos and the Santa Barbara Gardens. On the way to Porto, stop at the Paço de São Cipriano, a private garden in a manor house, located nearby Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal first king.
WEINE UND GASTRONOMIE TOUR
With this tour you may experiment a selection of qualified Portuguese products.
Day 1
Visit to Colares wine cellars with wine tasting. During the day we shall discover Sintra and the Estoril coast.
Day 2
South of Lisbon, beyond Tagus river, we reach Azeitão where we visit the wineries of José Maria da Fonseca and local dairies at Quinta do Anjo. We continue to visit the village of Sesimbra. Follows the Natural Park of Arrábida.Accommodation in Évora.
Day 3
Monsaraz, is a walled medieval town overlooking the largest artificial lake of Europe, Alqueva.Lunch and visit to Esporão wine cellars. Cooking lesson in Portel. Accommodation in the Hotel Refúgio da Vila.
Day 4
Visit to a selected winery in Estremadura province, such as Quinta do Sanguinhal. Continuation until the center region, Bairrada. Lunch in one of the suckling pig restaurants of Mealhada or the Palace Hotel of Buçaco, a former hunting lodge of King D. Carlos, built inside the lush wood of Bussaco.
Day 5
City tour of Porto. Port wine visit and tasting at Vila Nova de Gaia.
Day 6
Departure to Douro valley, the first demarcated wine region of the world. Cruise from Pinhão to Régua. Lunch with wine tasting in one of the Quintas at Douro. Return to Porto.
Mudéjar Kunst
In the extreme west part of the iberia, we highlight Sintra, Alenquer or Santarém as towns deeper islamized. In those towns we select the following places more related with the arabs:
Arabic Tour of Lisbon May include visits to ;City MuseumNational Museum of ArcheologyCloister of the Lisbon CathedralS. Jorge CastleMoorish wallAlfama district
Moorish Sintra Tour Half an hour drive going west from the capital Lisbon, lies the charming Sintra where stands both moorish castle and royal national palace as testimony of the moors. Standing in one of the summits, Pena Palace, a landmark of the romantic period mixing neo-arabic with other architectonical styles. Montserrat with its gardens and palace also recalls us the moorish presence in Sintra.
Óbidos and Santarém Moorish Tour The medieval walled town of Óbidos remains well preserved showing mediterranean tradition, situated 70 kilometers north of Lisbon.Santarém dominates over the marsh plains of Ribatejo, periodically flooded by Tejo river, it has been referred by the chronicler Al-Himyari who compared it to the Nile. We do recommend the Municipal museum of S.João de Alporão which displays moorish remains, such as capitels from distint moorish periods.
FESTUNGEN VON SADO
The estuaries of Tejo and Sado were once linked, forming the island of the up-to-date Setúbal peninsula. The half island was remarkable for its mining richness, such as lumps of gold and mercury. The fishing activity was an essential part of life for locals, specially the cachalot. The marsh lands together with the Atlantic climate favoured the growth of dense umbrella pine trees. Trunks of cork trees that came from Zêzere would arrive here. All these aspects favoured the construction of Sado castles; Alcácer was reached by numerous ships. Here one can visit the castle and the museum, next to it. Palmela was an important base of military support. The municipal museum of Palmela within the castle walls shows structures of former homes and home artefacts.
TEPPICHE, WANDTEPPICHE UND PARADECKE
Portugal has a long textile tradition, so this is an itinerary focused in the following: Arraiolos carpets, Portalegre tapestries and Castelo Branco bedspreads.
Day 1 Visit to Arraiolos town, in Alentejo, linked with the famous portuguese rugs whose origins date back to the moorish presence. Continue to Évora, a city museum.
Day 2 Follow to Estremoz. In Portalegre, visit of the tapestries manufacture. Although it was founded middle XX century, the production remains totally manual. The patterns are based in an original work from a consecrated painter. Overnight in Marvão, a well preserved medieval walled town, perched on a hill, nearby the spanish border.
Day 3 Stop at Castelo de Vide. Continue to Castelo Branco. Visit of Museum Tavares Proença Júnior and Loja da Vila, to watch the famous Castelo Branco bedspreads. Those have oriental inspiration and from middle XVI century, would be the trousseau of any bride, noble or plebeian. Made with silk stitch on linen, its decoration is filled with peculiar simbology.
Wasser, Land und Luft
Choose a unique experience for one or more days. Do visit the places on spot, sail along the coast or climb up the sky, admiring Portugal from the heights.
Sailing Tours
Water and Earth
Sailing for 2 Exclusive experience for 2.Leaving from the yatch dock at Belém, accompanied by a skipper. No sailing knowledges required. Itinerary accordingly to weather forecast Sailing boat: Dufour 36 of 12 meters length, or First Class 8 of 7,98 meters. We transfer you to and from the harbour.
Sailing exclusive up til 8 personsHalf DayThis tour is made in a sailing boat Dufour 455, with 14 meters length, leaving from Belém dockland. Assisted by a skipper, you may learn the basics of sailing. In summer a dive in the ocean is allowed. Full DayTakes place between 10h00 and 18h30, departure from Belém dockland. Accompanied by a skipper, takes place in a Dufour 455, of 14 meters. You may learn the abc of sailing. Meals or drinks are not included but may be provided under request.
Flying Tours
Air and earth(Lisbon city tour combined with Lisbon and surroundings from the air)In the same day experience Lisbon from up and down, a privilege of few. The airplane departures form Tires aerodrome, about 30 minutes drive from Lisbon. From the sky you may glimpse the lush Sintra, the Estoril coast and the most emblematic monuments of Lisbon and its bridges.
Air and earth(Visit of Sintra and the Sintra mountain from the sky)
|
