Lisbon Trip Overview
Come and visit Portugal with us, enjoy different places, in habits and customs, in tradition, discover our excellent gastronomy and our fantastic wines, on a tour without strict schedules that can be programmed with your companion every day, to know the our history represented by our ancient monuments that are the testimony of our past!
Additional Info
* Duration: 9 days
* Starts: Lisbon, Portugal
* Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Lisbon, Central Portugal, Portugal
Come and visit Portugal with us, enjoy different places, in habits and customs, in tradition, discover our excellent gastronomy and our fantastic wines, on a tour without strict schedules that can be programmed with your companion every day, to know the our history represented by our ancient monuments that are the testimony of our past!
Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Lisbon Hotel – Lisbon City Private Tour
Stop At: Se de Lisboa, Largo da Se, Lisbon 1100-585 Portugal
Visit to the exterior of the monument, entrance is optional and not included
The Castelo de São Jorge is one of Lisbon’s most distinctive monuments, being situated on the city’s highest hill.
The oldest known fortification at this spot dates from the 2nd century BC, although some of the remains found here date from as far back as the 6th century BC. Archaeological evidence has also made it possible to discover traces of the presence of Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Muslims, confirming the human occupation of this area since very remote times.
The castle itself was founded in the 10th and 11th centuries, when Lisbon was an important Moorish port. In 1147, the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, captured both the castle and the city from the Moors. The castle enjoyed its most important period between the 13th and 14th centuries. It was also here, in the 16th century that the king Dom Manuel I received Vasco da Gama after his sea voyage to India and that the first Portuguese theatre play, written by Gil Vicente, was performed to mark the birth of the king Dom João III.
Declared a National Monument in 1910, the castle underwent major restoration work in the 20th century, which left it with its present-day appearance. It is one of the most important places in the city and a very popular leisure space amongst the people living in the neighbouring area. It is generally agreed to afford the best view over the city and the River Tagus.
Inside the walls, you will find a museum, where you can see a presentation of the history of Lisbon, and the Torre de Ulisses (the Tower of Ulysses). The city’s legendary founder has given his name to the former Torre do Tombo, which now houses a camera obscura with a giant periscope that allows you to enjoy a 360º panoramic view of the city in real time.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Alfama, Lisbon Portugal
Alfama is the oldest and one of the most typical neighborhoods in the city of Lisbon. Currently, it covers part of the parish of Santa Maria Maior and another part of the parish of São Vicente. Its name derives from the Arabic al-hamma (الحمّة), which means ‘hot water source, good water’.
The most spectacular views of Alfama are from the public promenade formed by the viewpoints of Portas do Sol, the Tower of the Church of Santa Cruz do Castelo (the highest Tower in ancient Lisbon) and Santa Luzia. Above and surrounding Alfama are the hill of Castelo de São Jorge, fortress and royal palace until the 16th century, and the hill of São Vicente. In addition to the Castle, the main monuments in the area are the Cathedral, the Church of Santo Estêvão and the Church of São Vicente de Fora.
Alfama is a very peculiar neighborhood in that it resembles an old village not only in appearance but also because it has a relatively small and close community. The neighborhood is frequented daily by Portuguese and foreign tourists, being considered as the smallest of the whole city of Lisbon. from 12 to 13 June.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Se de Lisboa, Largo da Se, Lisbon 1100-585 Portugal
Visit of the monument dating from the 12th century
Dedicated to the Mother of God since 1147.
Dedicated to the Mother of God, Lisbon Cathedral is one of the city’s gems and one of the most significant monuments in the country, due to its historical, religious and artistic value. Its construction began in 1147, when the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, reconquered the city from the Moors. It was built on a Muslim mosque – which in turn, as the archaeological excavations confirmed, had been built on a previous Visigothic Christian temple.
Although the city had already been a bishopric since at least the fourth century, and still had a Christian bishop at the time of the Christian Reconquest in the 12th century, the English crusader Gilbert de Hastings was appointed to this role and works were started under his guidance. The first architect was Mestre Roberto, a Frenchman likely of Norman origin, who also worked on the construction of Coimbra Cathedral and the Santa Cruz Monastery in the same city. At the time, D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, ordered the relics of the martyr St. Vincent de Zaragoza to be brought from the Algarve and placed them in the Cathedral.
The original building followed the canons of the Romanesque style, but between the 13th and 14th centuries it suffered its first changes. During the reign of D. Dinis, the cloister was built, in Gothic style. Later King D. Afonso IV ordered the construction of the ambulatory for his family pantheon, which made the Cathedral more apt to receive pilgrims who came to see the relics of St. Vincent. The ambulatory gave rise to ten chapels that have various names, some of them linked to the Virgin: the Chapel of Our Lady of Penha de França, the Chapel of Santa Ana, that of Saint Mary Major, and that of Our Lady of the Conception.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, work was done in Baroque style, particularly in terms of decoration on the altars and in the main chapel. During the first half of the 20th Century, the Cathedral’s medieval character was restored.
Inside, the chapel of Bartolomeu Joanes, an important bourgeois of medieval Lisbon, should be visited; excavations of the cloister exposed the successive occupations of this area. Although much of its former estate is preserved in museums (such as the Museum of Ancient Art), the Cathedral includes a collection, called the Treasury of the Patriarchal See, which can be visited.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Rossio Square, Praca Dom Pedro IV, Lisbon 1100-026 Portugal
Reborn out of the wreckage of the 1755 earthquake, this lovely Lisbon square marks the northern reach of the Pombaline Downtown. It stretches out in a quadrilateral form dominated by the neo-classical harmony of the D. Maria II Theatre, built on the site of the former House of the Inquisition.
According to the Marquis of Pombal, the Praça do Comércio would be the centre-point of the city and symbol of the new social order he wished to create for the Nation.
However, as time moved on, it was Rossio, a bright and welcoming square, which established itself as the bourgeois forum for Lisbon.
The square took on life with its hotels (now disappeared) that were filled with travellers, stores and tobacconists. There was also no short supply of that very Portuguese institution – the café. These would be the forums for talk, conspiracy, politics and the arts.
Life has long since changed, but Café Nicola (on the western side) and the Pastelaria Suíça (the eastern) remain to bear testament to times gone by.
At the centre is the 28 metre high column that was erected in 1870. On top is king Pedro IV who holds the Constitution in his right hand.
Two monumental fountains were added in 1889, where florists now set out their wares.
To the south, observe how the gracious arc forms the connection with the Rua dos Sapateiros. It is a fine piece of Pombaline architecture from the end of the 18th century with ornamental embellishments including a fine window with its veranda opening out onto the Square. Its construction was paid for by businessman Pires Bandeira and later became known as the Arch of Bandeira.
The entire square recently underwent a complete makeover restoring the splendour of the original Portuguese cobbling with the central area featuring a combination of blue and white stones tracing the waves of the sea.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Parque Eduardo VII, Av. Sidonio Pais, Lisbon 1070-051 Portugal
Stop at the top of Parque Eduardo VII to see a fantastic view over Lisbon
The Eduardo VII Park lies in the Parish of São Sebastião da Pedreira, north from Avenida da Liberdade, and offers panoramic views over the city. Originally known as Parque da Liberdade, the gardens were rechristened with the name of the British King Edward VII on his visit to Lisbon in 1903.
Since their earliest times the gardens have been a stage for fairs, exhibitions and various types of entertainment. Their design, with a central swathe of lawn flanked by Portuguese cobbles pavements, was by Keil do Amaral, and form one of the landmarks in the development of Lisbon.
Here we can find a Sports Pavilion built in 1932 in the João V style, renamed the Carlos Lopes pavilion as a tribute to the famous Portuguese athlete, a Greenhouse with an enormous variety of plants from all over the world, lakes, and various statues including a bust of King Edward VII and a monument to the 25th April Revolution by João Cutileiro.
There is also a children´s playground, a viewpoint, a bandstand, a picnic area, the Club VII sports complex with tennis courts, gymnasium and swimming pool, and a restaurant.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, Praca do Imperio Belém, Lisbon 1400-206 Portugal
Visit to the exterior of the monument, entrance is optional and not included
On the banks of the Tagus is an apogee of Manueline architecture.
In the spot where the Jerónimos Monastery stands today, next to the old Belém beach, was originally a small hermitage dedicated to Santa Maria that had been built by the Infante D. Henrique, in 1452. At the start of the 16th century King Manuel I’s intention to have a large monastery erected there was acknowledged by the Holy See, and which was donated to the Order of the Friars of St. Jerome. The epitome of Manueline architecture and intrinsically linked to the Discoveries, this monastery is the most remarkable Portuguese monastic ensemble of its time and one of the main European churches.
Construction on it began in 1501, lasted for a hundred years and was spearheaded by a remarkable group of architects and master builders both national and foreign. With an initial design by Frenchman Boytac, the work was continued by other Masters, namely João de Castilho and, in the middle of the century, Diogo de Torralva. After the arrival of the Portuguese in India, the Portuguese crown was able to fund the venture with money coming from trade with the East. King D. Manuel I channelled much of the so-called “Vintena da Pimenta” (a ‘Spice Tax’, approximately 5% of revenues from trade with Africa and the East, equivalent to 70kg of gold per year) to finance construction work.
In this monument, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, it is worth noting the facades, the church and the cloisters. On the south facade, one can admire the portal painted by João de Castilho, where the figures are arranged according to a specific hierarchy: below, Infante D. Henrique guards the entrance, the Virgin of Bethlehem blesses the monument, and Archangel Saint Gabriel, the protector of Portugal, completes the arc. The western portal, through which one enters the sacred space, is the authorship of Nicolau Chanterenne. To the left, protected by St. Jerome, is the statue of King D. Manuel, which is said to be a realistic portrait, and to the right is that of Queen D. Maria, his wife, protected by St. John the Baptist.
Inside there is the church-hall, a Manueline masterpiece by João de Castilho. Note how, in a remarkable architectural achievement, the beautiful vault of the transept is not supported by any columns. At the entrance, after the lower-choir, are the cenotaphs of the poet Luís de Camões, author of the epic poem “Os Lusíadas”, and of Vasco da Gama, commander of the armada that in 1497 went to India. The kings, princes and descendants of D. Manuel I are buried in the side chapels. In the main chapel, later reconstructed by Jerónimo de Ruão, are the tombs of D. Manuel I, his son D. João III and their wives. Worthy of special mention is the solid silver tabernacle, a work of Portuguese silversmithy from the mid-17th century.
The church visit is free
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Torre de Belem, Avenida Brasilia – Belem, Lisbon 1400-038 Portugal
Visit to the exterior of the monument, entrance is optional and not included
The harmony and delicate ornamentation of the Tower of Belém suggests a finely cut jewel to all laying eyes on her. However, its contemporaries took a rather different perspective: a formidable and imposing bastion defending the entrance to the Tagus and capable of combining firepower with the St Sebastian tower on the other bank of the river. Its construction was ordered by king Manuel I (1495-1521) and it was built by Francisco de Arruda between 1514 and 1521. The tower was built on a basalt island that was close to the right bank of the Tagus in front of Restelo beach. However, with the gradual change in the course of the river, the tower has ended practically swallowed up by the bank.
The tower takes on a quadrangular shape reminiscent of medieval castles and has a polygon bulwark, a defensive feature that meant it could withstand heavy bombardment from out at sea. The watch posts, complete with burgeoning cupolas and located on each corner, demonstrate the influence of Moroccan fortifications. Apart from such Moorish influences, the decoration otherwise takes on the Manueline style in the surrounding stone layouts, the heraldic designs and even the famous rhinoceros, the first stone statue of the animal in Europe.
The most highly decorated side of the Tower is south facing, with its narrow balcony. On the cloistral wall that rises above the bulwark, there is a sculptured image of the Virgin with Child dating back to the 18th century, forming the prow of the tower.
The interior is worth a visit simply to get up to the top floor with the effort paid back many times over by wonderful views over the river Tagus estuary and the western side of a city that is still able to evoke the Era of Discovery in Portuguese history.
In 1983, the Tower of Belém was classified World Heritage by UNESCO.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Padrao dos Descobrimentos Avenida Brasilia Belem, Lisbon 1400-038 Portugal
Visit to the exterior of the monument, entrance is optional and not included
The imposing Monument to the Discoveries stamps its mark on the riverside at Belém. It was designed in 1940 to commemorate the “Exposition of the Portuguese World”, promoted by the Salazar government to celebrate the eighth and third centenaries of the founding and restoration of the Portuguese nation (1140 and 1640 respectively). However, it was only built in 1960 for commemorations marking 500 years since the death of Prince Henry the Navigator. Designed by architect Cottinelli Telmo, it features the work of sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida.
52 metres in height, the monument symbolises a caravel, headed by the figure of Prince Henry the Navigator followed by a cortege of 32 leading figures from the Era of the Discoveries including, for example, king Afonso V (1432-81), the driving force behind the first discoveries, Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) who discovered the maritime route to India, Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467-1520), who discovered Brazil and Fernando Magellan, who completed the circumnavigation of the globe in 1522, among others.
The façade facing down to the ground takes on the form of a cross decorated by the Sword of the Order of Aviz, the main financial sponsor of the voyages.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Praca do Comercio (Terreiro do Paco), Avenida Infante Dom Henrique 1C, Lisbon 1100-053 Portugal
This is one of the most beautiful squares in all Europe, opening southwards onto the huge Tagus estuary.
Until the era of mass aviation, this was Lisbon´s great reception hall for visitors arriving by sea even better able to enjoy its beauty from their vantage points on slowly docking vessels.
It was at the dock here that the Kings and Heads of State would disembark when visiting Portugal.
Prior to the 1755 earthquake, it was called the Terreiro do Paço (Royal Yard). The Royal Palace had been sited on the western side of the square since the 16th century when king Manuel transferred the court down from the Castle of São Jorge (St. George).
In 1580, Filipe I of Portugal ordered the building of a new square with the work the responsibility of Filippo Terzi and Juan Herrera (the architect responsible for the Escorial).
Everything was destroyed by the earthquake. The name Praça do Comércio (Commercial Square) belongs to the Pombal era and represents the new social order that the minister to king José I wanted to favour and promote: the trading, financial and bourgeois classes that had contributed so much to rebuilding the city.
In the geometric centre of the Square, and facing the river, there is a statue of José I, mounted on his horse Gentil, the work of sculptor Machado de Castro.
It was unveiled with all due pomp and circumstance on 6th June 1775, the king´s birthday. He discreetly viewed the event from one of the windows in the Customs building. The celebrations lasted three days and included a gigantic banquet for all the people of Lisbon.
On a pedestal by the riverside, there is a likeness of Pombal (removed when the minister fell into disgrace but replaced by the Liberals in 1834) raised onto the royal shield. The sculpted figures on either side represent Triumph, with a horse, and Fame, with an elephant, in a clear allusion to Portugal´s overseas possessions. On the rear side of the pedestal, in low relief, there is an allegoric representation of royal generosity towards a city in ruins with Commerce opening up a chest full of money that is placed at the disposition of this royal generosity.
Underneath the northern arcade, right by the entrance to Rua do Ouro, make sure you stick your head into the Martinho da Arcada café-restaurant. This is a reference for the city and a most cultured destination.
Before heading up Rua Augusta, which leads onto Rossio, take a moment to look at the Triumphal Arch which overlooks the thoroughfare.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Parque das Nacoes, Parque das Nacoes, Lisbon, Lisbon District, Central Portugal
Panoramic tour through the most modern district of Lisbon, Parque das Nações
magine a site that offers some of the most daring examples of contemporary architecture, the Oceanarium, one of the largest in Europe, delightful thematic gardens, exhibition centres, shows and events. All located along a breathtaking 5 km stretch of the Tagus riverfront, in the heart of Lisbon, with easy access and parking, and benefiting from a wide array of shops, restaurants and bars.
Only five minutes from Lisbon International Airport, Parque das Nações builds on the heritage of EXPO’98 – the last world exposition of the twentieth century. An invented city turned into reality.
Duration: 30 minutes
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré and Óbidos Private Tour
Stop At: Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, 2495-402 Fátima, Portugal
The Shrine of Fatima, formally titled by the Catholic Church as Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, is a Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, located in the place of Cova da Iria, in the city of Fatima, municipality of Ourém, in Portugal. .
The Shrine of Fatima is, par excellence, a place of Christian pilgrimage and Catholic devotion, preserving the memory of the events that led to its foundation, namely the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherds – Lucia dos Santos, Francisco and Jacinta Marto – in 1917 Its magnitude and relevance from a religious point of view has long been consensually recognized, nationally and internationally. By express will of the Holy Apostolic See, this is a National Shrine. It is also one of the most important Marian shrines in the world belonging to the Catholic Church and the largest international destination for religious tourism, receiving about six million visitors a year. He was distinguished with three papal golden roses and visited by Pope Paul VI (1967), John Paul II (1982, 1991 and 2000), Benedict XVI (2010) and Francis (2017).
Its construction began in 1919 with the construction of the Chapel of the Apparitions; Over the years the sanctuary has been expanded to include two basilicas, representing a significant increase in the capacity of sheltering pilgrims indoors. However, the various urban plans created to order their growth have had little practical effect, and the complex that we see today is the result more of timely interventions that met the needs of the moment than of unified and long-term planning. On the other hand, the powerful impetus generated by the Fatima Shrine was responsible for the exponential growth of a previously undeveloped area of the country.
Stylistically diversified, incorporating revivalist buildings alongside other more modern ones, the Fátima Sanctuary is composed mainly by the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Prayer Hall (outside), the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the respective Colonnade, the vast Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, the retreat houses of Our Lady of Carmo and Our Lady of Sorrows, a Way of the Cross in the Valinhos and the Paul VI Pastoral Center. It also has cultural spaces and several other buildings for the administrative sectors, pilgrim reception, medical care, commerce, meetings and congresses, and other activities. The sanctuary also had the contribution of artists of various generations, national and international, who made a numerous and diverse set of works there.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Basilica da Santissima Trindade, Cova da Iria – Santuario de Nossa Senhora de Fatima, Fatima 2496 Portugal
This Basilica is the latest construction of the Fatima Sanctuary complex and is dedicated to the worship of the Holy Trinity. The intention of building a new temple there dates back to 1973, as it was found that the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima was no longer large enough to welcome all the pilgrims, particularly on Sundays and other days of medium affluence. In 1997, through Monsignor Luciano Guerra, the Shrine of Fatima organized an international competition for the design of a new building next to Pius XII Square, with a scale appropriate to the real needs. The laying of the first stone took place on June 6, 2004, Solemnity of the Holy Trinity; Three years later the work was completed, and the church was dedicated on October 12, 2007 by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, then Vatican Secretary of State and Benedict XVI’s legacy to close the 90th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady. On 13 August 2012 the church was elevated to the category of Basilica.
The new church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity for a number of reasons, including the following: the apparitions of the Angel of Peace, with his insistent invitation to worship God, the Holy Trinity; the words of John Paul II in May 1982, spoken in the Chapel of Apparitions, by which he raised his thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity; the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, also dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Valinhos Sanctuary, Via sacra, Aljustrel Portugal
The Valinhos correspond to the lands that the three little shepherds of Fatima traveled from their houses in Aljustrel to the Cova da Iria for the grazing of their herds. It was here that two of the apparitions of the Angel of Portugal (or Angel of Peace) took place in 1916 (and where the children even learned the Prayers of the Angel), and an apparition of the Virgin Mary on August 19, 1917. .
Today, the Valinhos are visited by thousands of Portuguese and foreign pilgrims who travel along the Via Sacra to the Hungarian Calvary, visit the St. Stephen’s Chapel of Hungary and from there to visit the House of Lucia and the House of Francis. and Jacinta Marto in the village of Aljustrel.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Batalha Monastery, Largo Infante Dom Henrique 2440, Batalha 2440-484 Portugal
Santa Maria da Vitória Monastery, better known as Batalha Monastery, is a Dominican monastery located in the village of Batalha, in the Centro region, Beira Litoral province, in Portugal, which was built in 1386 by King D. João I of Portugal as thanks to the Virgin Mary for the victory against the Castilian rivals in the battle of Aljubarrota. This monastery of the Order of Saint Dominic was built over two centuries until about 1563, during the reign of seven kings of Portugal, although the first Dominican friars had lived there since 1388. An example of late Gothic Portuguese architecture, or Manueline style, is considered a world heritage site by UNESCO, and on 7 July 2007 was elected as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. In Portugal, IPPAR still classifies it as a National Monument since 1910. Since 2016, it has the status of National Pantheon.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Nazare, Nazare, Leiria District, Central Portugal
Nazaré beach, with a mild climate and natural beauty, has one of the oldest traditions in Portugal linked to the fishing arts.
The long, crescent-shaped sandy beach, which is also the city’s seafront, is known for its grandeur and the brightly colored awnings that decorate the white sand beach in contrast to the blue water.
This is the beach in Portugal where the fishing traditions are more colorful and it is not uncommon to meet the fishmongers who still wear the seven skirts, as tradition dictates. On a late Saturday afternoon in the summer months, it is essential to sit on the wall watching the interesting show of “Arte Xávega” in which the nets loaded with fish come from the sea and the women shout their trading sessions. If we don’t understand the words exactly, it is nothing to worry about. These are codes that often only they know.
Facing the sea, on the right side, we see an impressive promontory. This is Sítio, where we have one of the best known panoramic views of the Portuguese coast. There are 318 meters of rock falling to the sea, which can be reached on foot, for the bravest, or ascending by elevator. At the top, we find the small Hermitage of Memory, which tells the legend of the miracle that Our Lady did by preventing the horse of a nobleman, D. Fuas Roupinho, from jumping on the precipice. True or not, at the Suberco Viewpoint the sign left on the rock by the horseshoe is shown, on this foggy morning of 1182. At the Site, we can also visit the Nossa Senhora da Nazaré Sanctuary and not far away, the Dr. Joaquim Manso Museum to find out more details about Nazarene traditions.
From Sítio and with time for a walk, crossing Parque da Pedralva, you arrive at Pederneira, a natural viewpoint with an unmissable view over the coast of Nazaré.
Currently, the great attraction of this city are the waves and the surf, thanks to the “Canhão da Nazaré”, an underwater geomorphological phenomenon that allows the formation of giant and perfect waves. It is the largest submerged gorge in Europe, with about 170 kilometers along the coast, which reaches 5000 meters in depth.
Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara gave him world visibility when, in 2011, he made the biggest wave in the world on a sandy bottom, with about 30 meters, in Praia do Norte, winning the Billabong XXL Global BigWave Awards and breaking a record of the Guinness Book. Like him, surfers from all over the world visit Nazaré every year to venture into the sea, especially during the winter. Between November and March, we wait patiently for the biggest waves to reveal themselves, during a long stage of the world championship of giant waves, the Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge. On the beach, sunbathing is also appreciated and an excellent audience to appreciate the achievements of these young people.
In order to get to know Nazaré, a relaxed walk through the narrow streets, perpendicular to the beach, and a break at one of the restaurants to enjoy a dish of fresh seafood, grilled fish or an appetizing stew. And in the evening, there is nothing like enjoying the setting sun on any terrace overlooking the sea, while the lights come on and it gets dark.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Obidos Village, Obidos Portugal
Due to its excellent location by the sea and as the arms of the lagoon reached the hill, these lands have always been inhabited, which is confirmed by the Lower Paleolithic station of Outeiro da Assenta. Here was formed a Celtibero castro, facing west. The Phoenicians are known to have traded here, and today with more property than the Romans settled here, and it is likely that the south tower of the Facho originated from a Roman-built watchtower tower as the outpost of the city of Eburobrittium. , large urban city found and in the process of archaeological work.
On January 11, 1148, the first king, D. Afonso Henriques, supported by Gonçalo Mendes da Maia, took Obidos to the Arabs after the previous November siege. The Memory Cruise is a simple monument of the time, later restored. Obidos belonged to the defensive pentagon (of the five castles) of the center of the kingdom, idealized by the Templars.
With the offer of Óbidos as a wedding gift of D. Dinis to his wife D. Isabel, the village belonged to the House of Rainhas, only extinct in 1834, and here passed most of the queens of Portugal, leaving great benefits. D. Catarina orders the aqueduct and fountains to be built. The administrative reform of D. Manuel I gives to Óbidos in 1513 new Foral, being this time very intense in urban requalifications.
The 1755 earthquake made it feel strongly in the village, knocking down parts of the wall, as well as some temples and buildings, as well as altering some aspects of the Arab and medieval hull and layout. Óbidos was also the scene of the Peninsular War fights, having been here the great battle of Roliça, which in time belonged to the “term” of Óbidos.
More recently the village was the scene of the preparatory meeting of the April 25 Revolt, thus becoming linked to the brave and heroic movement of the captains.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Cascais and Estoril
Stop At: Park and National Palace of Pena, Estrada da Pena, Sintra 2710-609 Portugal
The fantastic Pena Palace is one of the greatest examples of the romantic revival of the century. XIX in Portugal.
Located in Monte da Pena, the Palace was built on the site of an old convent of friars of the Order of São Jerónimo. It was the result of the imagination of D. Fernando de Saxe Coburgo-Gotha, who married Queen D. Maria II in 1836. In love with Sintra, he decided to acquire the convent and the surrounding lands to build the summer palace of the royal family.
The consort king adopted Portuguese architectural and decorative forms for the palace, in the revivalist style (neo-gothic, neo-manueline, neo-islamic, neo-renaissance) and in the surroundings he decided to make a magnificent English-style park, with the most varied tree species exotic.
Inside, still decorated to the taste of the kings who lived there, the chapel stands out, where you can see a magnificent alabaster marble altarpiece attributed to Nicolau Chanterenne (one of the architects of the Jerónimos Monastery, in Lisbon). Also worthy of mention are the mural paintings in trompe l’oeil and the tile coverings.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Centro Historico de Sintra, Sintra 2710-616 Portugal
Time to stroll through the narrow streets of the village of Sintra and take the opportunity to taste its conventual confectionery.
The following are two options for viewing:
1 – National Palace;
2 – Quinta da Regaleira
A beautiful town at the foot of the mountain range of the same name, its unique characteristics have led UNESCO to
