EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Discover memorable highlights of Portugal including the Royal Palace at Queluz, Sintra the summer residence of kings and the resort town of Cascais. As you depart Lisbon, enjoy the panorama of the River Tagus with views of the Monument of Discoveries, Jeronimos Monastery and the Tower of Belem. Drive to the Portuguese Royal Palace at Queluz. The simple exterior belies the lavishness within of the Throne Room and the Hall of Ambassadors. The sculpted gardens, with rows of hedges, artistically carved shrubs and huge magnolia trees are impressive.

You’ll visit Sintra, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Portugal. The Royal Palace is the dominant architectural feature, located right in the center of town. You’ll enjoy some free time here to stroll the charming narrow streets lined with bakeries, craft shops and small boutiques. Continue to the resort town of Cascais, it was developed during the late 19th century around a charming town. Enjoy some free time in the historical center with its narrow cobbled streets and interesting architecture.

Follow a local guide on an enlightening walk through Lisbon’s most atmospheric districts, pausing at various venues to sample Portuguese delicacies. In the Baixa district, you will stop at Manteigaris Silva, a delicatessen that dates to the 19th century. Chances are, you will sample local ham and cheeses such as Serra da Estrela. You will then head to Mouraria, a Moorish-influenced district that is considered the birthplace of the music genre fado. There you will be served a sweet, cherry liqueur known as ginja. A tram ride with the locals will bring you to the historical Graça district, where you will become even more familiar with daily life in Lisbon. While pausing for photos at the more than 100-year-old Villa Bertha, you will enjoy superb views of the city and the Tagus River. One last stop will be made at a café, where you will sample Portuguese products such as cod fish pastry and cornbread with sausage, perhaps with another glass of ginja.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Walk through Lisbon’s historical districts and stop on occasion in the cafés.
• Snack on an array of Portuguese specialties, such as ham, cheeses and traditional beverages.
• Ride the tram through the capital city for an authentic slice of daily life.

This is your opportunity to visit Fatima, an important world pilgrimage site, known by many as the Lourdes of Portugal. Your guide will describe the legendary story behind the region’s fame en route during your approximately two-hour drive.

Fatima was a very poor and forgotten parish until an apparition of the Virgin Mary was seen by three peasant children back in 1917. The little village was transformed almost overnight into a pilgrimage town that grew around the imposing modern basilica and shrine. You'll stop at the modern basilica and square, which is larger than St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Here, enjoy about two hours of free time to explore the area on your own.

Visit the most romantic village in the country, Obidos, a perfectly preserved 13th-century village that for centuries was the love offering of Portuguese kings to their queens. This village enjoys a privileged hilltop setting above a peaceful valley of vineyards.

Enjoy a scenic drive through beautiful countryside to the medieval town of Obidos, dating back to 308 BC. Since the day that King Diniz gave his young bride Isabel of Aragon the town, it has been the wedding gift to all of Portugal's queens. You’ll feel as if you are travelling back in time as you enter through its arched gates. Visit the 17th-century Parish Church of Santa Maria, with its magnificent interior decorations in blue and white tiles.

Explore the narrow cobblestone streets at your leisure and feast your eyes on the colorful houses.There are lots shops to browse in, or you may wish to hike up to the castle, now a hotel or explore the old lookout path on top of the city wall.

Use your Attraction Pass to explore the top destinations in Lisbon without the hassle of arranging transportation, waiting in lines or having to pay the entrance fees. It’s the best way to maximize your time in Lisbon and get a genuine feel for the city’s history and culture. The options include the richly ornamented Jeronimo’s Monastery, the Belém Tower from which so many Portuguese explorers set sail. Learn all about the history of craft-making of decorative ceramic tiles in the National Tile Museum, then our next stop will be at the National Museum of Ancient Art, we will go ahead to enjoy Rua Augusta Arch. You will be marveled by the History at Pasteis de Belem where you will have a tasting of a traditional Portuguese tart.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Use the Attraction Pass to see Lisbon’s best attractions at no additional cost.
• Ride a bus around town, stopping at the attractions most appealing.
• Enjoy at Pasteis de Belem the most wonderful traditional Portuguese tart.
• Port Pick up and drop off.
• Our team will provide all the relevant information to the guests during the tour.

Get acquainted with the highlights of the beautiful city of Lisbon and stop for photos at some of its most iconic landmarks. Drive to the historical Belem quarter by the river Tagus and stop for photos at the Monument of Discoveries and the Tower of Belem. The area is closely linked to the era of discoveries when the Portuguese navigators sailed in search of new lands. Drive to the Jeronimos Monastery and from the outside, admire this impressive building, representative of the Golden Age of the Portuguese Discoveries.

Continue on to Alfama where you’ll visit the Lisbon Cathedral -its construction started in 1147 when the city was reconquered from the Moors, by the first king of Portugal. Follow your guide for a walk through this area and immerse yourself in the architecture, sounds and aromas of old Lisbon. It is the oldest and most fascinating area of the city.

Mingle with the locals at a vibrant marketplace and with fishermen along the waterfront in Setubal. The city sits atop a Roman fishing town that a tsunami destroyed in the 5th century, and parts of it have been excavated. Fishing is still essential to Setubal, as you will discover at a bustling downtown market. Sardines, cuttlefish, oysters—they are all here on display, fresh from the docks where the fishermen have brought their morning’s catch. The guide will point out some of the most unusual species and introduce you to the vendors. While walking along a nearby promenade, you will likely see fishermen tending their nets. This will present another opportunity to interact with the locals and ask about their traditional livelihood, which new technology continues to influence. For a taste of the seafood that comes into Setubal, you will dine at a restaurant in town. The menu will include the local specialty “choco frito,” which is fried cuttlefish.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Gain an understanding of how the sea has influenced the village of Setubal for centuries.
• Browse a seafood market in Setubal and meet some of the vendors and local fishermen.
• Indulge in a delicious seafood lunch, featuring the day’s catch in traditional dishes.

Discover the off the beaten path areas of the Sintra Hills which can only be explored by 4x4. Feast your eyes at the endless landscapes dotted with picturesque villages and stop at a wine lodge for a tasting. In the hands of skilled drivers, you’ll experience all the thrills of off-road driving, in Sintra’s parks and reserves, while enjoying magnificent views. You’ll learn something about its back country, convents and country villages, on this fun-filled trip.

Sintra dominates the first part of the route, then head you’ll for the heart of the Sintra Hills, with dense foliage, crossing small water courses. Travel to dusty trails, leave the woodlands and head for Alto da Memoria, where you’ll see an endless landscape, an immense ocean and the Pena Palace. Continue to the typical country village of Penedo.

In the village of Colares, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a wine tasting in a regional wine lodge. Stop at Fojo da Adraga, an impressive natural well dug out of the cliffs and watch as powerful waves crash against the bottom. Travel to Europe's most westernmost point - Cabo da Roca.

Discover beautiful landscapes, small villages and savor the wines that have made Portugal famous. Cross the bridge over the Tagus River towards Sesimbra, a busy fishing village with a fleet of brightly colored boats all moored in the port. High above the town is a Moorish castle.

Travel to the town of Azeitao, best known for its wine, especially the famous Moscatel de Setubal. Here you'll taste the local wines and learn how they are made during your visit to a charming and prestigious wine lodge.

You’ll continue towards Arrabida Natural Park which covers a small range of limestone mountains, the road across the top offers remarkable views. The park was established to protect the wild, beautiful landscape and rich variety of birds and wildlife. The name Arrabida derives from Arabic, meaning a place of prayer, and the wooded hillsides are indeed a peaceful retreat.

OVERVIEW

Dine on Portugal’s beloved national dish of bacalhau in an atmospheric restaurant that masterfully prepares it in dozens of ways. Pastel de Belém has been similarly revered in Lisbon since the pastry was introduced in 1837. You will sample one of these delicious egg custard tarts before taking a panoramic route to the restaurant. Along the way, you will pause for photos of the Belém Tower – the marine gateway where Portuguese explorers once set sail on their voyages of discovery – and the Vasco da Gama Tower, the tallest building in Lisbon. A leisurely dinner at A Casa do Bacalhau follows, during which you will enjoy bacalhau, which is salted cod, cooked in so many ways that your head will be swimming. The dishes will likely include cod pâté, codfish pastries, codfish carpaccio and a tasting of three other cod concoctions as the main course. Complementary wines will also be served.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy balcalhau or salted cod creatively cooked in a surprising number of ways.
• Dine at A Casa do Bacalhau restaurant, the renowned House of Cod.
• Savor a Pastel de Belém pastry – a Lisbon staple since 1837 – as an appetizer of sorts.
• Pause at landmarks such as Belém Tower on the panoramic drive to the restaurant.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

A drive through the city introduces you to Lisbon - historical and beautiful, Portugal's capital is full of surprises and you'll see many of the city's main landmarks from your coach. A few photo stops allow you to take home some memorable images.

Drive to the historical Belem quarter by the river Tagus and stop for photos at the Monument of Discoveries and the Tower of Belem., two iconic landmarks of the city. The area is closely linked to the era of discoveries when the Portuguese Navigators sailed in search of new lands.

Drive to the Jerónimos Monastery and from the outside, admire this impressive building, representative of the Golden Age of the Portuguese Discoveries. A scenic drive takes you to Alfama and towards downtown Lisbon, with views of Liberdade Avenue, Restauradores and Comercio Squares and the always busy heart of the city, Rossio Square.

Explore the oldest, most fascinating part of Lisbon on foot and ride the Gloria Funicular - an iconic symbol of the city. After your visit to the cathedral, follow your guide down to Alfama one of the oldest sections of the city, where you walking tour begins. Discover its cobbled labyrinth of narrow alleys, honeycombed with steps and archways and the houses decorated with wrought iron balconies and panels of tiles.

Spreading out along the right bank of the Tagus, Lisbon is the city of the seven hills. Walking towards the city center, stop in front of the D. Maria Theatre in Rossio Square. Reach the funicular that connects Restauradores Square and the Bairro Alto or High Quarter. The ride takes approximately five minutes and brings you to Sao Pedro de Alcantara Belveder for stunning views of the city. You’ll walk down to Chiado, an area with elegant shops and old style cafés and enjoy some free time here.