Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet&Greet at Lisbon or Faro International Airport and transfer to Palmela Pousada. The great castle, rising at 238 metres (800 feet) on a spur of the wooded Serra da Arrábida and overlooking the Sado and Tagus estuaries and the surrounding plains, dominates the town of Palmela and is the county's most important monument. It was conquered to the Moors by Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, in the 12th century and altered over the ages until the 18th century: the fortified walls enclose a 14th-century monastery, the Church of Saint Mary, dating from the 12th century, the Church of Saint James (15th century) and a museum site installed at the former casemates and cistern to display archaeological finds. At the charming town of Palmela, other monuments attract visitors, like the beautiful 18th-century monumental fountain displaying the town's coat of arms, the 17th-century Town Hall, the medieval church of Saint Peter, with fine 18th-century painted tiles, and the Misericórdia Church, founded in 1566, among other sites.
(D) [Palmela Castle Pousada-Palmela]
Day 2: We’ll cross the Arrábida Mountain by it valleys, passing by vineyards, and local farms, a stop at handicraft tiles production, nearby the famous Wine Cellars of José Maria da Fonseca, where we taste wines after the visit to the old cellars. After a short visit to the Azeitão village we’ll proceed on the way to the Arrábida Mountain top road, for the amazing views from the Atlantic Ocean and Lisbon.
(B,L) [São Filipe Fortress Pousada-Setúbal] +-50km
Day 3: We’ll depart for a short river cruise, looking for the wild dolphins that live at the river. We’ll arrive in Tróia. Start our biking day on the way to Alcacer do Sal (A village with more than 5000 years of history the ancient village was an Episcopal Visigoth city in times gone by), rice paddies, the typical fishing villages by the river will be our guests.
The ancient town of Alcácer do Sal (al-kasr, from the Arab word for "castle", and do sal from its history of trade in salt), overlooking the river Sado, is dominated by the hilltop castle built on the site of a fortified construction dating from as early as the 6th century BC. It was used as a stronghold by the Romans and later rebuilt by the Moors who took the town in 715.
Alcácer has a peaceful atmosphere, with pleasant cafés along the riverside, houses with triangular frontons and volutes and several interesting churches. The small church of the Holy Spirit now lodges the local Archaeological Museum.
(B,L) [Dom Afonso II Castle Pousada-Alcacer do Sal] +-60km
Day 4: For a very beautiful biking day on the way to Alvito. A XV century fortress built in a variety of architectural styles, including Gothic, Manueline and Mudejar, will be our destiny. On an early arrival, free time to explore this particular southern village. Being a typically Manueline town, Alvito also boasts of an ancient and historical religious tradition confirmed by the number of churches (such as the 15th-century Mother Church, the Miserichord Church and the Chapel of St. Sebastian) and by the richness of priestly vestments and ornaments.
But its most famous monument is undoubtedly the castle, dating from the end of the 15th century and which was once the residence of the Marquis of Alvito and frequently visited by kings. Although not a defensive construction, it is imponent and striking, with a vast courtyard, circular towers and a massive keep. The town´s streets, lined with modest looking white-washed houses, are often embellished by beautiful and delicately carved stone portals from the 16th and 17th centuries.
(B,L) [Alvito Castle Pousada-Alvito] +-65km
Day 5: From Alvito village we depart, throughout the Moorish heritage in this region, megalithic stones, Moorish battles heritage, and the white washed southern villages will be part of the southern charm. Beja, the southern pearl, discover why. Dinner at the Pousada.
Dominating vast views of the golden plains, the capital of the Lower Alentejo is a major centre for the production of wheat, olives and cork, essential to the county. Beja is a city of historic and social importance, but it preserves the pleasant and unassuming aspect of an inland town with it narrow and cobbled streets of the old town stretch from the beautiful castle keep (late 13th century) to the Convent of St. Francis. Beja’s oldest church, Santo Amaro, has Visigoth origins and displays a collection of relics from this early period of Portugal’s history (415-711).
(B,L,D) [São Francisco Convent Pousada-Beja] +-45km
Day 6: Dedicated day to departures, tour connections or long stay. Contact your guide for more information. (B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Includes: Meals & Activities as per itinerary [(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch on tour, (D) Dinner at local restaurant], Accommodation at Pousadas, based on twin sharing room, All transfers as specified, Road Guide, Luggage Carrier, Support Vehicle, Bike and Helmet Rental, Insurance, VAT and Tourism taxes.
Conditions: Minimum 2 Pax
Details: Itinerary almost flat with one hilly day
Total biking kilometers ±220
Depart/End: Lisbon Airport/Lisbon Airport. Run year round with fixed departures every second Sunday of each month.
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Europe
Portugal
Bicycle Touring
Archeology/History
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