The enchantment of Portugal’s capital city, extensive planes dotted with cork oaks, olive trees and vineyards, walled towns and World Heritage Sites, dramatic coastal scenery, Atlantic broad sand beaches, Moorish influence noticed in the local architecture and folklore revealing a melancholic state of mind, impressive casinos and a wide choice of 18 hole championship golf courses.
Package Accommodations
Enjoy its interior in a comfortable way that preserves a lot of the 17th century.
Itinerary
Day 01: Lisbon – Palmela
Arrival.
Pick-up your car at the car company’s office and drive to Castelo de Palmela Pousada, just 41 km away via Vasco da Gama Bridge. Check-in and some time to rest. In the afternoon we suggest visits to the charming village of Sesimbra and the beaches of Portinho da Arrabida, Figueirinha and Troia. This area is famous for its excellent wines and food and unique natural landscape. Return to Palmela for overnight stay.
Day 02: Palmela – Arraiolos (visit) – Estremoz (visit) – Borba (stop) –Vila Vicosa
Arraiolos is renowned for its hand-made tapestries, a tradition that dates back from the 16th Century. This is a typical Alentejo place, protected by a castle positioned on the top of a hill. Arraiolos also boasts an interesting pousada housed in a 16th Century convent situated in a valley. Then on to Estremoz, Alentejo’s largest marble town. The town’s castle, built in the 13th Century, originally the residence of King Diniz and his wife Queen Saint Isabel, is now another historic pousada. Borba also features a castle and city walls. The local marble was also largely used on its construction. Sao Bartolomeu church, full of marble treasures and religious paintings and the town’s white marble tank and fountain should not be missed. A short drive takes us to Vila Vicosa. Check in at Pousada of D. Joao IV, our home for tonight. After settling down visit the local Royal Palace with its rich collections of English, Flemish and French tapestries, Chinese porcelain and Brazilian ebony furniture. The palace also keeps an armory with weapons and suits of armor and a coach museum.
Day 03: Vila Vicosa, Redondo (short visit) – Evora (visit) – Monsaraz (visit) – Portel – Alvito.
Today we will visit briefly Redondo, another delightful village, before arriving in Evora, World Heritage by UNESCO. Evora is a museum city with a Roman Temple and pre-historical monuments. Some extra time might be needed to absorb all the beauty and history of this ancient city and its historical center: Giraldo Square, Santo Antao Church, Loios Convent (nowadays a popular pousada), museums, palaces, gardens, the Aqueduct, St. Francis Church with its chapel of bones. Monsaraz, a white village with a castle built on a high point, with winding narrow streets and lining white washed houses, on our way to Alvito, should not be missed. Pass by Portel before arriving to Alvito for overnight. Alvito is a quaint village with less than 2,000 inhabitants, with white washed houses decorated by “Manueline” arches that make a unique example of the Alentejo’s rich heritage. The pousada is housed in a 15th Century Castle, a mixture of the Portuguese Manueline and Arab Mudejar architectural styles. . The village also features various ancient churches and chapels and some grottoes resulting from stone extraction since the 13th Century.
Day 04 & 05: Alvito – Faro (Estoi)
Our short drive today takes us to Estoi and to our pousada for the next two days. Estoi is an inland village featuring the Roman Ruins of Milreu that depict a 3rd Century home, and a parish church of the 16th. Century. It is the ideal location to explore the Algarve with its world famous beaches and all the other many attractions. Along the coast, to the East, there is the Ria Formosa Natural Park, one of the 7 natural wonders of Portugal. There are also beautiful beaches like Fuzeta, Tavira and Montegordo, just to mention the most popular ones. We can even extend our visit to the neighboring Spain. To the West we will find Armacao de Pera, Carvoeiro, Ferragudo, Rocha, Alvor, Lagos, Dona Ana (Lagos) just considered one of the most beautiful in the world by the Huffington Post, and many enchanting little coves…splendid 18 hole golf courses, and first world seaside resorts. Enjoy these two nights at your own pace.
Day 6: Estoi – Lisbon.(Days 6 & 7)
Today a 4 hour drive will take us back to Lisbon, the gracious capital city of Portugal. Check-in at Hotel Portugal right in downtown Lisbon, our home for two nights. Here we would suggest a full day visit to the Golden Triangle that includes the charming villages of Estoril, Cascais and Sintra, and a half-day tour of Lisbon. For more details please refer to Lisbon and the Center option. JM Vacations offer a wide choice of escorted sightseeing tours for your convenience, if you do not feel comfortable driving in the Lisbon area.
Day 08: Lisbon
Morning departure to Lisbon airport, about a 20 minutes’ drive from our hotel. Please return your car before checking in.
End of our services.
Pricing
For more information and pricing, please contact us.
