Southern Portugal – Lisbon & the Alentejo

Group transfer from Lisbon airport to the hotel. You will stay for the next three nights in a four-star hotel in the city center. Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is one of the most beautiful capitals of Europe. It is a quiet city where you can enjoy walking in the narrow streets of the old quarter, resting in the elegant and busy esplanades of downtown, or taking the tram uphill. Here, you can visit impressive monuments of very different eras, Roman times up until modern days, not forgetting the era of the discoveries and the commercial contacts with Asia and India. Lisbon's history is not only in museums but in its streets and buildings. It is a great walking city. (Ladies are advised to wear comfortable shoes and avoid high heels) 05:30 pm – Meet Sam and our local tour host Inês for orientation at Hotel Lisboa Plaza, in Lisbon 06:30 pm – Dinner at a local restaurant within walking distance.

10:00 am – Tuk-tuk and gastronomic tour around the city. A four-hour tour through the city gastronomy and culture, walking and by tuk-tuk, and visiting the most emblematic neighborhoods of Chiado, Baixa, and Graça. We will have the opportunity to savor Portugal’s gastronomy, get acquainted with our traditions, and learn about the history of the country and the city of Lisbon. The rest of the day is free. Dinner on your own. We will have restaurant recommendations.

09:15 am—Today, we will take a minibus to Sintra, Portugal’s most romantic town, located close to the ocean, 40 minutes drive from Lisbon. Upon arrival, guided visit to Sintra National Palace. This is the oldest National Palace in Sintra. It was built over the centuries, probably in the 10th century, when Sintra was still a Moorish town. The king's presence in the palace was frequent over the centuries, not only because it was much cooler than Lisbon but also because hunting was abundant in the area. Today's palace is a mixture of styles, making it a great palace to introduce Portuguese History. The visit should end by 11:30 a.m. You will have free time to explore Sintra and the small local shops. Eventually, you will visit the Palácio da Regaleira on your own, a private palace with a mystic garden and park. You will have lunch in one of the local restaurants. 03:00 pm – Group meeting and departure to the Colares Winery, the oldest Cooperative Winery in Portugal, dating from 1931. Colares wine region is the smallest in Portugal. It is also one of the oldest demarcated wine regions, dating from 1908. Tasting of two of these unique wines, along with tapas from the region. 06:00 pm – Transfer back to your hotel in Lisbon. Meals included: Breakfast, wine, and tapas tasting. Dinner on your own. We will have restaurant recommendations.

09:00 am – Check out. Time to say goodbye to Lisbon and drive south. The first stop will be just 45 minutes south of Lisbon, in the region of Alentejo, for a wine tasting. The wine tables from this region are quite appreciated, but most foreign people will immediately recognize the Setubal Moscatel. We can choose to visit the José Maria da Fonseca Wine Cellar or the exquisite Bacalhoa Wines, which taste can be made in the beautiful Renaissance palace, surrounded by beautiful gardens and Portuguese tiles. Wine tasting will include tasting the delicious bread and cheese of the region. After this visit, we can drive directly to Evora, approx. 1h30 drive, or stop for a fresh fish lunch on our own at Setubal (not included). The drive to Évora is pleasant, on the highway, across the green plains of the Alentejo. Arrival to Évora: We will stay in a 4-star hotel in Évora's old town center for the next four nights. Minibuses are prohibited in the city center but can stop 200 m from the hotel door. We will have porters, but each guest is requested to take his/her hand luggage. 04:30 pm – Evening walking tour in the city center with a local guide. Évora is the capital city of the province of Alentejo, in the south of Portugal. Due to its well-preserved old town center, still partially enclosed by medieval walls, and many monuments dating from various historical periods, including a Roman Temple, Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network. The history of Évora is more than 2000 years old. It was known as Ebora in the period of the Celts; the Romans conquered it in 57 BC and expanded it into a walled town. Ebora became a flourishing city, as it lays at the junction of several main routes. During the barbarian period, the city declined. Still, with the arrival of the Moors in 715 AD, it slowly began to prosper again and developed into an agricultural center with a fortress and a mosque. The current character of the city provides evidence of this Moorish influence. In 1165, Évora was conquered by the Portuguese, which has had an important role in Portuguese history ever since. The walking tour will end in one of the small local restaurants, serving delicious local food. (sunset will be at 05:35 pm)

09:00—Departure by minibus. Today, we will discover how much the Romans and the Moors' presence has influenced the local culture over the centuries. This is true in the architecture, with the small, white-washed houses, and in agriculture, wine production, and crafts. A 40-minute drive will take us to a small village known for its traditional pottery. We will then visit some pottery workshops. Continue to another small town where the millenary wines of Talha are produced the same way as the Romans did. Visit a local winery and tasting of this unique wine. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit the factory where the traditional wool rugs and blankets are handmade, using the same artisanal methods they used when they first started in the 16th century. 03:30 pm — We should be ready to visit the small medieval walled village of Monsaraz, which is on top of a mount and offers amazing views over the plains and the artificial Alqueva Lake. Monsaraz has nice craft shops and some bars, where people can sit and relax over a glass of wine. It is a great place to watch the sun fade before returning to Évora. (sunset 05:36 pm) The trip back to the hotel should take approx. 50 minutes. Meals included: Breakfast, wine tasting, lunch

09:00 am – Departure to a wine and cork estate located 40 minutes away from Évora. Upon arrival, we will be greeted and taken on a 4x4 tour around the property, which will explain all about wine and cork. Wine and local product tasting. After this tasting, our hosts will take us to a local restaurant for a delicious local lunch. After lunch, we will proceed to Estremoz, a beautiful town with a castle on top of a hill. Time to visit the Estremoz Puppet Interpretive Center (small clay figures, representing the local culture and professions) or just wander on your own. Before leaving for our hotel, time for the last wine tasting of the day, a local producer in this region. We will not visit the winemaking area, only the cellar and the shop. Transfer back to the hotel will take approx. 40 minutes. Meals included: Breakfast, Wine Tasting, and lunch.

10:30 am – Departure from your hotel. 11:30 am – Arrival to Herdade do Sobroso. Wine tour and light lunch with wine pairing. Return to Évora after lunch to allow free time in the city for last visits or shopping. Dinner in a local restaurant.

10:00 am – Departure to Lisbon 11:30 am – Arrival to your hotel in Lisbon. The rooms will be available only after 03:00 pm. This day will be a holiday in Portugal, but most shops will be open. You can use this day to visit Belém Monuments on your own. 07:00 pm – meeting at the hotel lobby for our farewell dinner. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Group transfer out to Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)