In Lisbon we can find two of the first World Heritage Sites listed by Unesco in Portugal, in 1983: The Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery.

Introducing the city of Lisbon, we will start by a walking tour in the historic center of the city, where we will be introduced to its entire history, from the beginning of Lisbon to the present day.

This introduction will open the doors for us to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Lisbon, which are located in the Belém quarter, standing at the entrance of the Lisbon harbor:
1 – The Tower of Belém, reminding the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world.
2 – The Monastery of the Hieronymites, commemorates Vasco da Gama’s expedition, whose construction began in the early 16th century, exemplifies Portuguese art at its best.

Morning:

Pick up at the hotel in Lisbon
Nossa Senhora do Monte viewpoint
Castle of São Jorge
Walking through Alfama and Lisbon Cathedral
Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta
Lunch in Belém

Afternoon:

Guided visit of the Jerónimos Monastery (PMH)
Visit and Tasting of Pastéis de Belém
Guided visit of the Belém Tower (PMH)
Walking through the Discoveries Monument
Drop off at the hotel in Lisbon

On this day our tour starts in Sintra at the Pena National Palace, which was the center of the European romantic architecture in the 19th century.

In Sintra mountain we find a perfect combination of parks and gardens, blending local and exotic species of trees, where a ruined Monastery was transformed into a Moorish, Renaissance, Egyptian and Gothic style castle, by Ferdinand II, which gave rise to a unique architectural landscape that influenced all of Europe.

After this visit we will pass by all the other Monuments in Sintra that define its cultural landscape such as the Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate Palace, and Sintra National Palace. The latter is located in the centre of the village, where we will have a magical tour through the village of Sintra, worthy of a fairy tale. Sintra was the first European site listed by UNESCO as a Cultural Landscape in 1995.

Going to Mafra, we come across the imposing quadrangular building, which King João V started at the beginning of the 18th century, designed to be a Royal Palace for kings and queens, with a royal chapel, a Romanesque Baroque style Basilica, a Franciscan Convent and a Library that contains up to 36000 volumes.
This complex also includes the Cerco Garden with a geometric layout and the Royal Hunting Park. The Royal Mafra Building defines the shape that marked the power and wealth of the Portuguese empire at that time, from which artistic models and commissioned Italian works of art stand out, making Mafra a monument of exceptional value, Listed by Unesco in 2019 as a World Heritage Site.

Morning:

Pick up at the hotel in Lisbon
Departure to Sintra (WHS)
Guided visit of the Pena Palace and Park
Village centre where is located Sintra’s National Palace
Sightseeing of the Moorish Castle, Regaleira Estate and Monserrate Palace
Lunch at the centre of the village

Afternoon:

Departure to Mafra
Guided visit of the Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (Tapada) (WHS)
Departure to Lisbon
Drop off at the hotel in Lisbon

Évora is a museum-city listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1986. Its historic centre is marked by 20 centuries of history, dating back to Roman times. From the Roman times we can find roman remains among its ruins and a Roman Temple.

This city reached its golden age in the 15th century when the Portuguese kings moved their residence and began the construction of Convents such as Santa Clara Convent, São Francisco Convent and Lóios Convent, with its São João Evangelista Church. The Royal Palace King Manuel was also built during this time. These are remarkable monuments that characterize the Manueline style.

Its unique architecture of the streets, identified by the whitewashed houses decorated with glazed tiles and wrought-iron balconies, dating from the 16th to the 18th century, strongly marked the Portuguese architectural influence in Brazil.

Morning:

Check-out and pick up at the hotel in Lisbon
Departure to Évora (WHS)
Guided visit of the São Francisco Church and Bones Chapel
Walking through Giraldo’s Square
Guided visit of the Évora’s Cathedral
Typical Lunch in Évora

Afternoon:

Guided Visit of the Roman Temple
Guided Visit of Évora’s Museum
Visit of a Wine Estate with Wine Tasting in Alentejo Region
Drop off and check-in at the hotel in Évora

Elvas has remains dating back to the 10th century, having been extensively fortified from the 17th to 19th centuries, when Portugal regained independence in 1640, representing the largest bulwarked dry-ditch system in the world, designed by a Dutch Jesuit priest Cosmander.

Within its walls, the town contains resident buildings, as well as barracks and other military buildings, churches, and monasteries. You can also find the Amoreira aqueduct, built to allow the fortress to withstand long sieges. The Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications were listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2012.

Morning:

Check-out and pick up at the hotel in Évora
Departure to Elvas (WHS)
Guided visit of the Elvas Castle
Walking tour through the old Elvas Jewish neighborhood
Walking tour through the centre of the city
Guided visit of the Military Museum
Typical lunch in Elvas

Afternoon:

Guided visit of the Nossa Senhora da Graça Fortress
Guided visit of the Santa Luzia Fortress
Departure to Tomar
Drop off and check-in at the hotel in Tomar

On this day we will visit 3 Monasteries located in the center of Portugal, all of them related to the independence of the territory and with the identification of the culture of the Portuguese people and nation.

The Convent of the Knights Templar of Tomar was built during the Christian reconquest, which served as their headquarters for warfare and for the practice of their spirituality and later was transferred to the Knights of the Order of Christ, when one Order was extinguished and the other Order was created. Due to its symbolic importance, during the Manueline and Renaissance period it underwent expansions and improvements, in order to project Portugal’s success among other civilizations, as well as to leave the mark of its commissioners. The Convent of Christ in Tomar was one of the first monuments in Portugal being listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1983.

The Monastery of the Our Lady of the Victory of Batalha was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Castilians, at the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. It was the main project of the Portuguese monarchy during the following two centuries, originally Gothic style and later influenced by Manueline Style. This monument was also one of the first monuments in Portugal being listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1983.

The Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça was founded by the first King of Portugal, Afonso I in the 12th century. It is considered a masterpiece of the Cistercian Gothic style implemented throughout the territory of this order, which is characterized by its greatness in size, both the building and the territory that was entrusted to the care of this same order. This Monastery was listed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site in 1989.

Morning:

Pick up at the hotel in Tomar
Guided visit of the Convent of Christ (WHS)
Departure to Batalha
Lunch in a typical restaurant in Batalha

Afternoon:

Guided visit of the Batalha Monastery (WHS)
Departure to Alcobaça
Guided visit of the Alcobaça Monastery (WHS)
Taste of Conventual Sweets in Alcôa in Alcobaça
Drop off at the hotel in Tomar

The Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley (Portugal), listed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site in 1998, are located on the banks of the rivers Águeda and Côa, tributaries of the Douro River, documenting continuous human occupation from the end of the Paleolithic Age. Hundreds of panels with thousands of animal figures (5000 on the Côa River) were engraved over several millennia, representing the most remarkable set of open-air Palaeolithic art in the Iberian Peninsula.

Morning:

Check-out and pick up at the hotel in Tomar
Departure to Vila Nova de Foz Côa
Guided visit of the Côa Museum

Afternoon:

Guided visit of the Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in Côa Valley (WHS)
Drop off and check-in at the hotel in Douro

In the Alto Douro region, located in the Douro River Valley, wine has been produced by private landowners, using traditional methods, for at least 2000 years. Since the 18th century, Port Wine has become its most famous and appreciated product, both in England and around the world. This long winemaking tradition has given rise to a cultural landscape of unparalleled beauty, which reflects its technological, social, and economic evolution. The Alto Douro Wine Region was listed by Unesco as a Cultural Landscape of outstanding beauty in 2001.

Morning:

Pick up at the hotel in Douro
Visit to the Douro Valley (WHS)
Visit of a Douro Wine Estate with a wine tasting
Guided tour of the vineyards and the cellar with a presentation of the history of the Estate and the Region
Lunch at a Winery with a Wine Pairing

Afternoon:

Small Douro River Cruise in Pinhão (1h)
Guided visit of the Olive Oil Museum in Casal de Loivos
Tasting of Olive Oil, Honey and Wine
Viewpoint of Casal de Loivos
Drop off at the hotel in Douro

The Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, listed by Unesco in 2019 as a World Heritage Site, is located on the slopes of a mountain in Braga, illustrating the creation of Sacri Monti (sacred mountains), encouraged by the Catholic Church after the Council of Trent in the 16th century.

Bom Jesus is centered at the top of the Via Crucis and includes a series of chapels that house sculptures evoking the Passion of Christ, as well as fountains, allegorical sculptures, and gardens. The Church was built between 1784 and 1811, in granite and has whitewashed stucco facades, with exposed stonework moldings. The famous staircase of the Five Senses, with its steps, fountains, statues, and other ornaments, represent the most emblematic Baroque work of this entire architectural ensemble.

The historic centre of Guimarães is related with the foundation of the portuguese nationality in the 12th century, particularly well preserved and a true example of the evolution of a medieval village into a modern city. Its typology of buildings illustrates the development of the portuguese architecture from the 15th to the 19th century, handling popular building techniques and materials. The Historic Centre of Guimarães was listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, in 2001.

Morning:

Check-out and pick up at the hotel in Douro
Departure to Braga
Guided visit of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte and the Five Senses Staircase (WHS)
Walking tour in the city centre of Braga and by the Cathedral of Braga
Lunch in typical restaurant Braga

Afternoon:

Departure to Guimarães (WHS)
Guided visit of the Residence of Dukes of Bragança and Church of São Miguel
Guided visit of the Castle in Guimarães
Walking tour in the Historic Centre of Guimarães – Square of São Tiago, Toural Square and Oliveira Square with the Old Town Hall Building
Departure to Porto
Drop off and check-in at the hotel in Porto

The city of Porto, built across the slopes of the Douro River, has magnificent scenery with a 2,000-year old history. The Historic Centre of the City of Porto listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996, comprises the entire former walled area of the city, along with the Luís I Bridge, and the Monastery of Serra do Pilar.

Porto was the stage of important events that defined Portugal’s international trade, from the beginning of the discoveries and its investments in navigation for the maritime explorations, that started from this city by the hands of Prince Henry the Navigator. The military success in defense of the entire nation, during the French Invasions, the Peninsular War and the Civil War between the absolutists and the liberals, ended with the approval of the Liberal Constitution in the 19th century.

In this city, many monuments and different architectural styles can be appreciated, from the Romanesque former Cathedral, the Convent and Church of Santa Clara in the Gothic-Portuguese Manueline style, to buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, where the English Palladian neoclassical style emerges, such as the Stock Exchange Palace.

Morning:

Pick up at the hotel in Porto (WHS)
Walking tour through the Clérigos Tower and Church
Lello Bookshop
Walking in Avenida dos Aliados
Guided visit of São Bento Train Station
Visit to the Porto Cathedral and Saint Claire Church
Stock Exchange Palace and Saint Francis Church
Lunch in a Typical restaurant in Porto

Afternoon:

Douro River Cruise – 6 bridges tour (1h)
Guided visit to one Porto Wine Cellar with a Wine Tasting at the end
Luís I Bridge and sightseeing of Ribeira in Porto
Drop off at the hotel in Porto

The University of Coimbra and its colleges are located on a hill overlooking the city and are surrounded by the old city for more than 7 centuries. University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia was listed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site in 2013. The university’s buildings include the 12th century Old Cathedral, the Santa Cruz Monastery and some 16th century colleges.
The University was installed in the Royal Palace in 1537 and the Joanina Library was created by the King João V in the 18th century with rich Baroque decor.
Coimbra offers an extraordinary example of a University integrated in a city, with a certain urban setting. The University is a part of the culture of Coimbra, the students’ ceremonies and traditions have been part of the life of this city over the years.
Return to Lisbon and end of our program.

Morning:

Check-out and pick up at the hotel in Porto
Departure to Coimbra (WHS)
Guided visit of the University of Coimbra and Saint Michael Chapel
Guided visit of the Joanina Library and the University Royal Palace
Typical Lunch in Coimbra

Afternoon:

Guided visit of the Romanesque Former Cathedral
Guided visit of the Santa Cruz Monastery
Departure to Lisbon
Drop off and check-in at the hotel in Lisbon