Availability Period: May.
A seven night holiday based at the fine Hotel Tivoli Tejo in the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon we also visit Obidos, Coimbra and the royal town, palaces and tramway of Sintra.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Wednesday, 7 May: We leave Heathrow on the British Airways flight at 14.55. Flights also available from Gatwick, Luton, Bristol, Birmingham and Liverpool or overland travel from St Pancras
via the Eurostar (leaving on 6th). Our luxury coach meets us at Lisbon airport and takes us the short distance to the superb 4-star Hotel Tivoli Tejo. This hotel is right next to Oriente Railway station and overlooks the Parque das Nacoes (site of Expo 98) and the river and is our base for the next seven nights. In the evening we meet back in reception for our welcome dinner. Includes: (D).
Day 2, Thursday, 8 May: Leaving Orient station we head north up the main Linha do Norte passing through the rail center of Entroncamento and onward to the city of Coimbra, one of the finest in the whole of Portugal. Coimbra is the "Oxford" or "Cambridge" of Portugal, with the best and oldest University in the country dominating the skyline.
Coimbra holds affection with the Portuguese people like no other city. The name Coimbra coming from the nearby Roman city of Conimbriga. For visitor it still holds a wealth of historic interest. We have plenty of time for your own exploration before we return to Lisbon early evening. Includes: (B).
Day 3, Friday, 9 May: Today is a free day for your own exploration or to just relax beside the hotel pool. In the evening we join a vintage tram car for a tour of some of the city sights. Includes: (B).
Day 4, Saturday, 10 May: This morning we have our own private VIP rail car. Our destination is the medieval walled town of Obidos. This enchanting hill town with pretty whitewashed houses is enclosed
within 14th-century castle walls. Nowadays the town is preserved as a picture-postcard scene and no development is allowed within the walls.
The castle, rebuilt in 1148, dominates the town and is now a pousada. We will have time for your own exploration and time for lunch in one of the small local restaurants. We return to Lisbon mid afternoon. Includes: (B).
Day 5, Sunday, 11 May: A short metro journey from the hotel takes us to the start of tram route 15 for a journey along the waterfront to the area of Belém, for a visit to the 16th-century Mosteiro dos
Jerónimos. Here amongst many interesting areas we can see the Tomb of Vasco da Gama, the Cloisters and the tiled Refectory. A short walk from the monastery are the tropical gardens, a peaceful park with ponds and waterfowl and containing many rare tropical trees and plants.
After time for lunch in one of the local restaurants we take another vintage tram car to the area of Ajuda. Here we visit the Neo-Classical 19th-century National Palace of Ajuda. No expense was spared on this former royal residence, including the extraordinary Saxe Room in which every piece of furniture is decorated with Meissen porcelain. We also have time to relax in the nearby Botanical Gardens.
These were laid out on two levels in 1768 and include a 400-year-old dragon tree and geometrical box hedged gardens. Rejoining the vintage tram we travel across the city to the Moorish Castelo de São Jorge. This castle which dominates the city skyline offers the best views of the city. There are also pleasant gardens within the walls and a 12th-century church. We return to our hotel early evening. Includes: (B).
Day 6, Monday, 12 May: We travel by local train to the suburb of Benfica. A short walk brings us to the 17th-century Palácio Fronteira. The delightful country manor house was built as a hunting pavilion for João de Mascarenhas in 1640. Even today it still occupies a quiet rural spot. The palace is still occupied by the 12th Marquis and both the house and gardens have excellent azulejo (tile) decorations. Here we can see the library, several living rooms and the 16th-century chapel as well as the formal gardens.
After a break we then continue on to the Palácio de Queluz. This former hunting lodge was converted into a summer palace in 1747. The highlights include the Sala dos Embaixadores (ambassador's room) with its gold painted walls and ceiling, the royal family living rooms, Throne Room, royal bedroom and the hanging gardens. Also in the grounds is the unique azulejo (tile) lined canal. From Queluz our coach will take us across the city to the Convento da Madre.
The cloisters of this 16th-century convent now provide a stunning setting for the National Tile Museum. Tile panels are displayed throughout the convent and date back to the Moorish occupation of the 15th-century. Here we can also see the 16th-century church of Madre de Deus with its ornate decoration. We return to our hotel early evening. Includes: (B).
Day 7, Tuesday, 13 May: Again with our own private VIP rail car we visit the stunning Serra setting of Sintra, described by Lord Byron in 1809;- "Lo! Sintra's glorious Eden intervenes in variegated maze of mount and glen". This National Park and World Heritage Site is an area of wooded ravines, fresh water springs and a favorite summer retreat for the former kings of Portugal.
Here we have a pleasant walk down through the woods to the cobbled streets of the old town and the Palácio Nacional de Sintra. This royal palace was built by João I in the late 14th century and became the favorite summer retreat for the royal court continuing as a residence until the 1880s. The plain facade is dominated by the giant conical chimneys above the former kitchens.
Here we see the magnificent Sala dos Cisnes banqueting hall, chapel, kitchens and the majestic Sala dos Brasões with its domed ceiling and tiled walls. After time for lunch in one of the many restaurants in the town we are taken by road to the Pena Palace. The Palácio da Pena stands on one of the highest peaks of the Serra de Sintra and looks like something out of a fairy tale.
It was built in the 19th-century for the young Queen Maria II, in an eclectic medley of architectural styles. With the declaration of the Republic in 1910, the palace became a museum, preserved as it was when the royal family lived here. Among the many areas we visit are The Arab Room, Chapel, cloisters, Manual II bedroom, Ballroom and kitchens. Surrounding the palace is a huge park with hidden gazebos, follies and fountains.
From the Pena Palace our coach takes us the short distance to the third of the great palaces of Sintra, the Palace of Monserrate. The highlight here is the wild and romantic gardens of this once magnificent estate. This fantastic Moorish style palace was abandoned in 1856 and now stands eerily empty. We have a break of an hour here to explore the gardens at your own pace. Returning to Sintra we have a special trip on the restored Sintra Tramway.
This tramway was opened in 1904 and originally ran the 16km from the town of Sintra down to the coastal resort of Praia das Maças (Apple Beach). In recent years the tramway has been restored and the original tram cars now once again operate virtually the whole of the original route. Our tram car will take us down through the pine trees of this high class residential area to the beach and back. Before our coach returns us to our hotel in Lisbon. Includes: (B).
Day 8, Wednesday, 14 May: In late morning we return to Lisbon Airport for our flights home. You may if you wish stay additional days for your own exploration of this area of Portugal. Our guides can provide suggested places to visit such as the many castles and great houses in the surrounding area, all available as day trips from your base in Lisbon. If you are joining our Vintage Port tour then we catch the Alfa high speed train north to Porto. Includes: (B).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price:
- Full 7-night holiday to, from Heathrow in a shared room: 999;
- Full 9-night holiday to, from St Pancras via Eurostar: from 1199;
- Full 7-night holiday to, from Lisbon in a shared room: 849;
- Single room supplement: 300;
- Extra nights in Lisbon: 80 per room.
Price Includes:
- All trains and excursions as listed in the itinerary;
- Hotel accommodation with breakfast each morning;
- Services of our tour guides in Portugal (holiday is fully escorted).
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Portugal
Cultural Journey
Railway Trips
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