08D/07N 2023-24 Memorable Experiences of North Portugal

    Memorable Experiences of North Portugal           private touring
     

    Taste Porto wines, Cruise the Aveiro Channels and the Douro River
    8days/7nights, Lisbon/Lisbon (also available from Porto)                                              
    2023-24 depart: year round 
    Cost from: $2380  pp twin share for minimum 4 participants
    Supplement for 2 participantsapplies
    Also availbale  from Porto

day 01 Lisbon-Arrival
Arrival at Lisbon airport and welcomed by our local tourism driver and transfer to the hotel.
day 02 Lisbon-Coimbra-Aveiro-Porto
From Lisbon (or Porto), relax on a comfortable coach and enjoy the drive north, past fields of fruit trees and windmills. Our first stop will be at Coimbra, home to one of the oldest universities in the world with a beautiful, Baroque-style library. After a tour of the university, we visit the Church of Santa Clara and Coimbra's town center, where shops display local ceramic works. Free time for lunch at a local restaurant (own expense), and then relax on the coach drive to Aveiro. Famous for the beauty of its natural water channels, which dissect the city and connect the river with the sea, Aveiro is now one of the most interesting cities on the Portuguese coast. Climb aboard a typical boat called a “Moliceiro” and enjoy a 1h cruise along Aveiro channels, with local traditional sweets and a glass of sparkling wine served on board. These colorful boats display hand-decorated motifs which relate to the local culture — agriculture, fishing, religion and nature. We will follow to Portugal’s second-largest city, Porto, a beautiful city built on the hillsides of the Douro River mouth.
day 03 Porto
Have breakfast at your hotel and get ready for a full day in Porto. Elected Best European Destination on 2012, 2015 and 2017 by the European citizens, Porto, is history, is architecture, culture, gastronomy, trade, encounters and discoveries. Start with a walking tour through the lovely streets and see landmarks like the Stock Exchange Palace (Palácio da Bolsa), with its beautiful Arab Room, St Francisco Church, the Clérigos Tower, designed by Nasoni, and the imposing Cathedral of Porto, one of the oldest buildings in the city, dating back to the 12th century. We will then visit one of the oldest and most typical places in town - Ribeira – a place of contrasts and the perfect meeting point with the Douro river. Free time to have lunch (own expense). After lunch our tour will proceed with the experience of “Port wine”, visiting one of the wine cellars and tasting the port wine with all your senses (included).
day 04 Porto-Braga-Guimarães
After breakfast at your hotel, get ready for a day in the beautiful Minho region, where historic monuments, lush landscapes, delicious pastries and vinho verde (wine) blend harmoniously. Depart towards Braga, where you will visit the Cathedral of Braga and the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, known for its fascinating Baroque stairway. We will continue to Guimarães. Arriving at Guimarães you will have free time to have lunch (own expense). After lunch we will visit the city, starting by the northern part of the city with a visit to the imposing 10th century castle and the majestic Dukes of Bragança Palace. Our visit will proceed with the historical Santa Maria road leading us to the charming square in the heart of the old town, Largo da Oliveira. Our tour will end at the Hotel, where we will sleep tonight.

day 05 Guimarães-Lamego-Viseu
We start our morning with a visit to the stunning Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, located near Pinhão and are integrated in the Demarcated Region of Douro since its inception in 1756. Located in the middle of a propriety with 120 hectares alongside the Douro river more than one kilometer, with superb views to the river and to the terrace in vineyards. During this visit, guests will have the opportunity to learn in detail the wine production and also visit the underground cellar. Lunch will be served at the Quinta Nova restaurant, local gastronomy paired with its own local wines. Sat on a beautiful terrace under the sun, with stunning scenery and enjoy a fabulous meal. Continue to Lamego, an attractive town with Renaissance and baroque mansions overlooked by two hills. On one of the hills you can see the ruins of a 12th century castle, on the other is the monumental baroque Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. A marvelous granite staircase decorated with tiles, allegorical fountains, small chapels, and statues leads to a baroque church with views over the town. Today’s tour will end at Viseu, a bustling town with historical buildings, set high on a plateau near the famous Dão vineyards, where we will be staying overnight.
day 06 Viseu-Linhares-Serra da Estrela
After breakfast at your hotel, we will visit Viseu, an ancient city, built of grey stone but at the same time green, lively and welcoming. Our tour will start in the preserved historic centre. Several narrow streets with traditional shops spread out in a mediaeval layout. It’s well worth a browse through them and discovering the 16th century houses which retain gargoyles and Gothic windows. Visit of the Cathedral and the Grão Vasco Museum.
Depart from Viseu to Linhares, a 12th century medieval village that will transport you to ancient times where Christians and Jews lived together in harmony. The stunning view from the castle on the Mondego valley dazzles everyone. The town grew around its walls, full of narrow streets and granite houses, the old medieval Jewry and the manor houses in Baroque style. The town tells its History through the stones of its buildings. After lunch (own expense) we will continue to Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain in Portugal and one of the most inhospitable places in the country. A magical paradise for lovers of nature and the mountains.
day 07 Serra da Estrela-Castelo Novo-Castelo Branco-Lisboa
After breakfast at your hotel, we will visit the Historic village of Castelo Novo. Castelo Novo is one of the many fortifications given by the Portuguese kings to the Knight Templar to assist in the protection of the region. All over the village, when you walk through its winding streets, you’ll discover architectural details small marks which tell the story of its inhabitants. We will then follow to Castelo Branco, a place which combines tradition and novelty.
After lunch (own expense) we still have time for a walking tour over the city gardens. Depart towards Lisbon (or Porto). Arrival around 19h00.
day 08 Lisbon-Departure
Our tour comes to an end after Breakfast with your transfer from the hotel to Lisbon Airport.

Inclusions: twin share at quality 4* hotels, buffet Breakfast daily, English speaking professional tourism driver/guide for the whole circuit, travel by private deluxe a/c mini-van during the entire program, fresh water, wi-fi inside the mini-van, 1h cruise along Aveiro channels (with traditional sweets and sparkling wine on board), visit & wine tasting at Port wine cellar, entrance fees: Coimbra University, Stock Exchange Palace, St.Francis Church, Guimarães Palace, visit, lunch and wine tasting at Quinta Nova wine estate at the Douro Valley, Ride in Bom Jesus de Braga lift , all applicable taxes according with Portuguese law.
Hotels: Lisbon-Fenix Urban, Porto-Pestana, Guimarães-Príncipe Perfeito, Viseu-Pousada Serra da Estrela( or similar)
Excluding: porterage, gratuities, other entrance fees, personal expenses, mini-bar, phone calls and everything else not mentioned in “inclusions”, additional entries to be paid locally.

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