Spain and Portugal

Product Description

ITINERARY

DAY 01 OPORTO

Arrival in Porto, reception and transfer. Rest of the day at leisure for a first contact with this beautiful city. Free time to enjoy the Portuguese capital. As long as your flight arrival time allows, you will meet your escorting guide at the hotel reception at the end of the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 02 OPORTO

Breakfast Panoramic tour, with local guide to know the historic center considered World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as well as some emblematic monuments of the city as the square of the Allies, the Church Se da Lapa, whose interior we will visit to know the mausoleum where the heart of D. Pedro I of Brazil and IV of Portugal is located, which was offered to the city by the widow Empress Amelia de Beauharnais, who thus fulfilled the wish of her husband. The Cathedral, a building of Romanesque structure, from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, which underwent major renovations in the Baroque period, etc… Rest of the day at leisure or if you wish you can make an optional excursion: visit of a winery with tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia and a boat trip on the Douro River where we will enjoy the views over the most important bridges: Freixo, Dona Maria, San Juan, Infante, D. Luis I and La Rabida. In the afternoon, you can take a very interesting optional excursion to Guimaraes and Bom Jesus. The town of Guimaraes is considered the cradle of Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and preserves an interesting medieval streets. Bom Jesus, with its spectacular baroque staircase is considered the second religious center of Portugal, after Fatima and we will go up in the oldest funicular in Europe. To finish the day and back in Oporto, we propose an optional excursion to the area of Gaia to enjoy a dinner and a show of fados and folk dances, all washed down with good wine of the region.

DAY 03 OPORTO – DUERO VALLEY – CENTRAL – VILA REAL – COIMBRA

Breakfast. Departure to the Douro Valley, arrival to Vila Real, a Portuguese city founded by peasants and shepherds to create a place to live near the crops. Then, we will visit the Solar de Mateus, where the wine of the same name is produced. We will visit this charming baroque palace from the middle of the 18th century surrounded by vineyards and decorated with splendid gardens where we will see a great variety of exotic species. Our route will continue through the heart of the Douro Valley, among the terraced vineyards that stretch between Pinhao and Peso da Régua, admiring spectacular landscapes, with hills that reach the banks of the river. Afterwards, we will go to Coimbra, one of the most important university centers in Europe. Overnight stay.

DAY 04 COIMBRA – FATIMA

Breakfast Panoramic tour of the city with local guide, where we will visit Santa Clara the New, where the tomb of St. Isabel, patron saint of the city is located and continue through the Upper Part of Coimbra or Almedina, where since the 12th century lived the aristocrats, the clergy and, later, the students. We will also visit the courtyards of the university (entrance included), the Chapel of S. Miguel and the Joanina Library, to continue walking towards the lower part, the area of commerce, artisans and neighborhoods along the river. Then we will go to Fatima, a city well known in the world for the apparitions that the Virgin Mary made on May 13, 1917 to three shepherd children near the Cave of Iria. Since then, thousands of pilgrims and visitors from all over the world come to visit the Chapel of Apparitions built in 1919. Free time to visit this important Marian center. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 05 FATIMA – TOMAR – OBIDOS – LISBON

Breakfast. Departure to Tomar, the city of the Knights Templar, a magical place, full of splendid architecture and of great historical relevance, where we will have the opportunity to visit the Castle, convent of Christ of Tomar (entrance included), declared a World Heritage Site and that will bring us closer to the history of the Knights Templar and the Portuguese exploration period, because we must take into account that Tomar was the home of Henry the Navigator, who drove the explorations to the New World. Our next destination will be Óbidos, free time in this beautiful town full of charm where strolling through its streets is like going back to legendary times, we can enjoy its medieval castle that today houses an inn, its walls with beautiful access doors, as well as its picturesque white houses, adorned with blue tiles that contrast with the vivid colors of the flowers that adorn their windows. Continuation to Lisbon. Overnight stay.

DAY 06 LISBON

Breakfast Panoramic tour with local guide. The Portuguese capital is one of the most evocative in Europe. Lisbon is many cities in one, we will know: the Eduardo VII Park with the viewpoint over the city, the Marques de Pombal Square, Liberdade Avenue, Restauradores and the Rossio located in the Baixa district, to continue along Rua do Ouro and Praça do Comércio, to reach the famous Alfama district where we will take a walk, our sightseeing tour will end in the surroundings of the Belem Tower, where we will also know the monument of the discoverers and the Jeronimos Monastery. Free afternoon or optional excursion to the Lisbon Coast we will visit emblematic places close to the capital. First stop Sintra holds the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in a spectacular natural park, in addition to strolling through the streets we will visit the interior of the National Palace, one of the most impressive expressions of the romantic architecture of the nineteenth century and one of the seven wonders of Portugal. We continue our tour along the coast to stop in the visual and aristocratic Cascais, refuge of kings and nobles. In the vicinity of Cascais is the Boca do Inferno, a beautiful place that recalls a beautiful legend and Estoril known internationally for its Casino. Return to Lisbon. As a farewell to our trip and to have the opportunity to enjoy the nightlife of the capital, we offer the opportunity to make an optional night tour of the liveliest neighborhoods of Lisbon. Overnight stay.

DAY 07 LISBON

Breakfast. Free day. We suggest you visit the Castle of St. George, the Church of St. Anthony and the Cathedral or get lost, walking aimlessly through its evocative neighborhoods Alto, Baixo and of course, the bohemian district of Chiado.

DAY 08 LISBON – MÉRIDA – MADRID

Breakfast Departure to Merida, one of the most important places in Spain during the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. Founded by Octavian Augustus in 25 B.C. with the name of Emerita Augusta and declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993 due to its important archaeological and monumental site. Free time to visit the fabulous legacy, which highlights its theater of excellent acoustics and still in operation today. Continuation to Madrid. Free time at leisure. Arrival in Madrid, reception and transfer. Rest of the day at leisure for a first contact with this beautiful city, and enjoy its people, or take a break in one of the many terraces that dot the city, enjoying the lively streets of Madrid. As long as the arrival time of your flight allows it, you will meet your guide at the hotel reception at the end of the afternoon. If you wish, in the evening you can take an optional evening stroll with our guide through the most emblematic places of the city, having the opportunity to get into the lively nightlife of Madrid savoring some typical tapas.

DAY 09 MADRID

Panoramic tour with local guide of the most characteristic buildings and monuments of the capital of the Kingdom of Spain: Cibeles, Spain and Neptune Squares, Puerta del Sol, Gran Vía, Calle Mayor, outside Las Ventas bullring, Alcalá street, Paseo del Prado, Paseo de la Castellana, etc. Rest of the day at leisure to continue exploring the capital of Spain. Also, if you wish, you can make a very complete optional visit to Toledo, in which we will make a bus tour around the perimeter of the city, from which we will have a splendid overview of its artistic heritage and stroll through its most emblematic streets and squares, including the entrance to the interior of the Cathedral, considered one of the masterpieces of Spanish art and as a finishing touch to this day in the evening you can optionally attend a flamenco tablao where we will know the musical roots of Spanish art.

DAY 10 MADRID – CORDOBA – SEVILLE

Breakfast. Departure to Andalusia, crossing the lands of Don Quixote through Castilla La Mancha and the historic Despeñaperros pass. After a brief stop on route we arrive in Cordoba. The city became one of the largest in Europe during the 10th century, when it was the capital of the independent Caliphate, hence the importance of its mosque built by the Emir Abd-. al-Rahman I, and that after several extensions reached 24,000 m. Cordoba is also known for its well-preserved Jewish quarter and its typical courtyards. Free time or if you wish you can take an optional guided tour of the city with entrance to the Mosque. Continuation to Seville.

DAY 11 SEVILLE

Breakfast. Panoramic sightseeing tour with local guide. We will make a complete tour of the capital of Seville, highlighting: Plaza de España, located in the heart of the famous Maria Luisa Park and built on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of 1. 929, Barrio de Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter which today is one of the most characteristic neighborhoods of the city, streets in adarve, whitewashed houses with typical trellises and small squares, the exterior of the Giralda was the old minaret of the mosque and today is part of the cathedral complex, the Cathedral of Seville is the largest in the world built in Gothic style. On our tour we will also pass by the old Archivo de Indias, the Torre Del Oro, the gardens of Murillo, the Maestranza and the Triana district, birthplace of great artists. Free afternoon at your disposal to continue walking and enjoying this beautiful city. If you wish you can make an optional visit: boat trip on the Guadalquivir and typical flamenco show with a drink, where through dance and song you can learn the essence of the Andalusian people. Lodging.

DAY 12 SEVILLA – ANTEQUERA – GRANADA

Breakfast. Departure to eastern Andalusia, stop in Antequera, beautiful town in the province of Malaga has an interesting historic center located at the foot of the Alcazaba, the typical whitewashed houses and streets makes it part of the so-called white villages, so characteristic of Andalusia. After a brief visit, we continue on our way to Granada, the destination of many travelers who come to Spain. The city is located in a spectacular enclave at the foot of the Sierra Nevada and sits on the courses of the Genil and Darro rivers. What was the last bastion of the Nasrid kingdom is known worldwide for the monumental complex of the Alhambra, which we will visit accompanied by a local guide (entrance fee included). Its name derives from the Arabic term “Qa’lat al-Hamra'”, Red Castle, one of the most important symbols of Muslim Spain, with a privileged strategic location in front of the Albaicín and Alcazaba neighborhoods. During this visit we will discover all its secrets, its legends, its towers, its fountains, its rooms, its courtyards and gardens that will transport you to a legendary era. After the visit, transfer to the hotel. In the evening you can make an optional visit, night walk to know two typical neighborhoods of the city: Sacromonte and Albaicin, where we can also enjoy the best views of the Alhambra. Lodging. Due to the current restrictions on the entrance to visit the interior of the Alhambra, eventually it will be substituted by a guided visit to the interior of the Cathedral and the tomb of the Catholic Monarchs.

DAY 13 GRANADA – VALENCIA

Breakfast. We will leave early in the morning to head towards the Spanish Levante, until we reach Valencia. Our first contact with the city is an experience enjoying a typical paella on the Malvarrosa beach. After lunch we will take a panoramic tour with a local guide. Valencia is internationally known for the Fallas festival, which is celebrated every year in mid-March. The city has more than 2000 years of history and the walk through its historic center reminds us of it, with places as impressive as: The Cathedral, the Basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados, the Central Market and Lonja de la Seda, a jewel of civil Gothic. On the banks of the Turia is an amazing architectural ensemble that has been, for years, an emblem, we are talking about the City of Arts and Sciences and the Oceanographic. To continue enjoying the city, we propose an optional visit: a boat ride on the Albufera (Important, the ride only takes place during the spring and summer coinciding with sunset) Transfer to the hotel.

DAY 14 VALENCIA – PEÑISCOLA – TARRAGONA – BARCELONA

Breakfast. Departure to Catalonia, we continue enjoying the Mediterranean essence with stops in emblematic towns, such as Peñiscola. Its history is linked to the figure of Pope Luna, who lived in the iconic castle by the sea, the beauty of its streets and its privileged location have made it the setting for many films and television series. The next stop will be in Tarragona, the ancient Tarraco of the Romans, preserves an important heritage of the imperial era, from the promenade we can enjoy a unique view in which the beauty of the Mediterranean merges with the ancient Roman Theater. Free time for a stroll and departure to Barcelona. Barcelona is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, to know it we will make a panoramic visit with a local guide. In Montjuïc we will start the tour to admire the views over the city. To say Barcelona is to say the Rambla, the colorful and lively promenade that connects the Plaza de Cataluña with the Plaza de Colón, has outstanding places such as: the Boqueria market, the Liceu or the Plaza Real. At the end of the 19th century, a new concept of urbanism emerged in Barcelona, shown in the Eixample and a new architectural style, called Modernism, another hallmark of the city. It will always be linked to the figure of Gaudí, leaving samples of his creativity in the famous Casa Milá, Park Güell and the unfinished Sagrada Familia. The port, a vibrant and lively center, beaches such as Barceloneta or Camp Nou are also symbols of the city.

DAY 15 BARCELONA

Breakfast. Day at leisure. Possibility of optional excursions: Visit of the Gothic Quarter and the Sagrada Familia (entrance included) excursion that offers us the opportunity to enjoy the oldest part of the city, built during the late Middle Ages, where monuments such as the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, and on the other hand one of the most amazing works in Europe, the Sagrada Familia, designed by Gaudí is the great unfinished work of the author and undoubtedly an icon of the city. In the afternoon we can visit the Camp Nou, the emblematic stadium of Barça. Overnight stay.

DAY 16 BARCELONA

Breakfast and at the scheduled time transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of our services.