Lisbon Trip Overview
Coimbra, the city of knowledge, was the capital of Portugal until 1255. From the banks of the Mondego river to the University hill, the city of Coimbra is intellectual, also peculiar, full of mysticism but also picturesque landscapes. Here we will visit the Johannine Library considered by the British newspaper “The Telegraph” the most spectacular library in the world.
Next our tour takes us to Porto, and we will start by the seaside, at Matosinhos beach and at the mouth of the Douro. We will drive upriver towards Porto’s most famous monument, the Clérigos Tower, in the historic center and then visit one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, the Lello’s Bookstore, that inspired J.K. Rowling to write the adventures of Harry Potter. The next must-see spots in Porto are ST. Benedict Train Station, with its fabulous ceramic tiles covering important passages of Portugal’s history, and the Gaia Caves that keep all the secrets of the world-famous Porto Wine.
Additional Info
* Duration: 9 to 12 hours
* Starts: Lisbon, Portugal
* Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Lisbon, Central Portugal, Portugal
Coimbra, the city of knowledge, was the capital of Portugal until 1255. From the banks of the Mondego river to the University hill, the city of Coimbra is intellectual, also peculiar, full of mysticism but also picturesque landscapes. Here we will visit the Johannine Library considered by the British newspaper “The Telegraph” the most spectacular library in the world.
Next our tour takes us to Porto, and we will start by the seaside, at Matosinhos beach and at the mouth of the Douro. We will drive upriver towards Porto’s most famous monument, the Clérigos Tower, in the historic center and then visit one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, the Lello’s Bookstore, that inspired J.K. Rowling to write the adventures of Harry Potter. The next must-see spots in Porto are ST. Benedict Train Station, with its fabulous ceramic tiles covering important passages of Portugal’s history, and the Gaia Caves that keep all the secrets of the world-famous Porto Wine.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Coimbra, Coimbra, Coimbra District, Central Portugal
The city of Coimbra recognized internationally for its prominent university (one of the oldest in Europe), was the capital of Portugal until 1255. The city of Knowledge, as it is known, breathes culture everywhere, from the banks of the Mondego River to the hills where the university is located. Here we will visit the Johannine Library, considered by the British newspaper “The Telegraph”, the most amazing library in the world. Its construction was commissioned by King Joao V. This baroque-style library of indescribable beauty and wealth, was the result of the cultural vision of the richest monarch in Europe at that time. His royal safes were overflowing with gold from “Minas Gerais” in Portugal’s colony ,Brazil. Free time to walk around the center of town and visit the Santa Cruz Church where we can find the tombs of the first king of Portugal, King Afonso I and of his son King Sancho I.(Entrance fees apply)
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Porto, Porto, Porto District, Northern Portugal
Porto is one of the most beautiful European cities. We will start our visit with a panoramic view of the seafront at the beach in Matosinhos, travelling along the coast until we reach the “Foz”, the mouth of the Douro River, passing through the old medieval city district of Miragaia and arriving at the Clérigos Tower.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Clérigos Tower, R. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto, Portugal
Tower of Clerigos – Lello’s Bookstore – Carmo Church (Igreja do Carmo)
Here we can photograph the symbol of this city: the Clérigos Tower. Built-in 1754, the Tower is 75 meters high and at the time, the tallest building in the city of Porto. Next, we will visit the Lello’s Bookstore where author JK Rowling found the inspiration for her best-selling book “Harry Potter”. It’s without a doubt one of the most outstanding bookstores in the world. Lello’s beauty is a great attraction for a vast number of tourists. We will stop for photographs at Carmo Church (Igreja do Carmo) noted for its marvelous exterior facades decorated with blue and white tiles.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Sao Bento Railway Station, Praca Almeida Garrett, Porto 4000-069 Portugal
Sao Bento Train Station and Cathedral (Estacao de Sao Bento e Catedral)
The train station of Sao Bento is internationally renowned for its interior tiles that depict important events in the history of Portugal. Another stop on our tour is the Porto Cathedral which began construction in the 12th century. It is one the city’s oldest monuments built in the Romanesque style architecture and its location, high above the city, is a perfect place to see the fantastic views of the Douro River and the bridges that join its two banks.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Vila Nova de Gaia, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Northern Portugal
Here we can find the wine cellars of the famous Port wine. You have the option of a wine tasting visit to one of the cellars of the first demarcated wine region in the world: the Port Wine Region.
Rabelo boat tour
“Rabelo” was the name given to the boats that carried the wine barrels from the vineyards of the Douro valley to the wine cellars in Gaia. If you so choose, you can have the option of going on a pleasant 50-minute tour on one of these boats and ride along the Douro River to see the six bridges that cross it as well as enjoy the amazing panoramic views of the city of Porto.
Ticket fees apply
Duration: 2 hours
