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DAY 1 - PORTO
Arrival in Porto. Private transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Hotel Dom Henrique Downtown 4* or similar.
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DAY 2 - PORTO
Start of the visits, with a visit to Palácio da Bolsa with the wonderful Arab Room (visit subject to events) and S. Bento Station, a building built at the beginning of the 19th century, in the place where the Convent of São Bento de Avé-Maria existed, built in the Manueline period. Visit to Livraria Lello, built in 1906 in the neo-Gothic style and voted the third most beautiful bookstore in the world. 1-hour boat trip on the Douro River with lunch included. There is still time to visit one of the most renowned and traditional Port Wine Cellars. Accommodation.
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DAY 3 - PORTO – RÉGUA – PORTO
Departure towards Régua, with a visit to the Douro Museum, created in 1997, the museum is a place to welcome and represent the memory, culture and identity of the wine region – consecrated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as a cultural, evolutionary and living landscape. Continuation to Quinta da Pacheca, one of the oldest, most emblematic and well-known farms in the Douro region, notable for being the first to bottle wines under its own brand. Lunch, followed by wine tasting and visit to the Quinta and its wine cellar. Return to Porto. Accommodation.
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DAY 4 - PORTO – COIMBRA – NAZARÉ
Departure towards Coimbra, a riverside city in central Portugal and the country’s former capital. Morning dedicated to visits to the historic center of the city of Coimbra and its main monuments. Highlights include the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, one of the oldest in Europe and classified as a World Heritage Site, the City Council building and the Church of Santa Cruz, today the National Pantheon, which houses the tombs of the first two Kings of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques and D. Sancho I. Free time on Ferreira Borges street, one of the city’s main arteries. Lunch. Departure towards Nazaré, a location famous for its giant waves and Garret McNamara. Accommodation at the Hotel Miramar Sul 4* or similar.
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DAY 5 - NAZARÉ – BATALHA – ALCOBAÇA – ÓBIDOS – LISBON
Visit to the Batalha Monastery, or Convent of Santa Maria da Vitória, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2007, one of the greatest Portuguese architectural jewels, and also the most striking symbol of the Avis Dynasty, considered the great monument of the late Gothic Portuguese and the first where “Arte Manuelina” debuted. Continuation to Alcobaça, dominated by the grandeur of the Monastery. This impressive work was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and named one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal in 2007. The Alcobaça Monastery was the first fully Gothic-influenced building built on Portuguese soil and rests there, in delicate tombs, D. Pedro and Inês de Castro, known for their tragic love story. Lunch between visits. Continue to Óbidos, a town that holds centuries of history within its walls. Visit with emphasis on the village door, dating from the 17th century. XVII and completely covered in white and blue tiles, whose designs have as their theme the passion of Christ; the Church of Santa Maria, and the Óbidos Castle built in the 17th century. XIII, one of the seven wonders of Portugal and currently operates as a guesthouse. Departure towards Lisbon. Accommodation at Hotel Turim Europa 4* or similar.
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DAY 6 - LISBON
Panoramic view of the capital’s main points of interest, with emphasis on the historic area and downtown Pombalina, Parque Eduardo VII, Bairro de Belém, Torre de Belém (World Heritage Site by UNESCO), a 17th century fortress. XVI and departure point for caravels and navigators who gave new worlds to the world; Monument to the Discoveries, inaugurated on the 500th anniversary of the death of Infante D. Henrique – the Navigator and the Jerónimos Monastery (World Heritage Site by UNESCO), a masterpiece of the “Manuelino style”. Small stop to taste the famous pastel de nata. Also noteworthy are Praça do Rossio and Chiado. Continuation to the Augusta Arch Street and climb to the top of the Arch, which offers a unique panoramic view over the city of Lisbon. Return to the hotel. In the evening, typical dinner in a local restaurant accompanied by a Fado show. Accommodation.
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DAY 7 - LISBON – SINTRA – CASCAIS – ESTORIL – CABO DA ROCA – LISBON
Day dedicated to the town of Sintra and its famous Pena Palace, a fantastic monument and notable example of Portuguese Romantic architecture. Extremely fanciful, the architecture of the Pena Palace captures influences from Moorish, Gothic and Manueline styles, but also the Wagnerian spirit of the Schinkel castles in central Europe. On July 7, 2007, it was elected as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, being the first romantic palace in Europe. Lunch. In the afternoon, return to Lisbon, following the panoramic coastal road, passing through Cabo da Roca, the western point in Europe, Estoril with its emblematic Casino and Cascais, famous for its beaches and bay. Accommodation.
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DAY 8 - LISBON – ÉVORA – ELVAS
Departure towards Évora, a city classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit to the historic center of this city, with emphasis on the Walls, Giraldo Square, the central square of the historic city, political and religious center, currently the largest space for social activity in the city. Visit to the Temple of Diana, a Corinthian-style Roman temple, built at the beginning of the century. I AD; the Évora Cathedral, the largest medieval cathedral in the country, dating from 1186, with a Romanesque style plan with Gothic structure and decoration, highlighting its portal – one of the most beautiful examples in Portugal; the Capela dos Ossos, built in the 17th century. XVII, one of the best-known monuments in this city which is located in the Church of São Francisco and was built in the 17th century. XVII with the aim of transmitting the message of the transience of life. Lunch at Ervideira wine cellar, with a special experience that combines wine and traditional flavors and aromas. Afterwards, continue to Elvas, one of the hidden gems in the Alentejo region. At night, walk to see the Amoreira Aqueduct, one of the most important examples of hydraulic architecture in Portugal. Accommodation at the Hotel Vila Galé Collection Elvas 4* or similar.
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DAY 9 - ELVAS – SEVILLE
Departure towards Seville. Arrival and visit, by foot, the Sta. Cruz neighborhood, including the interior of the largest Cathedral in Spain and the Royal Alcazares of Seville, a palace complex, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit to one of the most beautiful churches in Seville: the Church of the Divino Salvador, a jewel of the Andalusian Baroque. We will end the day with a panoramic view of the city, highlighting Mª Luisa Park, Plaza de España, Barrio de la Macarena, Macarena Church, Expo 92 Zone (Cartuja Island) and Murillo Gardens. Typical dinner with Flamengo show. Accommodation at the Illunion Alcora Seville 4* or similar.
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DAY 10 - SEVILLE – CÓRDOBA – GRANADA
Departure towards Córdoba. Visit to the interior of the Mosque-Cathedral, a unique landmark of the cultural fusion of Arab and Christian civilizations. The original mosque was a work commissioned by Abd al Rahman I and carried out between 785 and 787. It was progressively expanded during the following centuries, under the orders of Abd al Rahman II, al Hakam II and al Mansur, who engraved their own styles and personalities in the monument’s architecture. Visit to the Alcácer dos Reis Cristianos, with more than six hundred years of history, this building served as a military barracks, royal residence, prison and much more. Then, walk through the Jewish and Arab Quarters in the historic center of Córdoba. Continuation to Granada. Dinner and accommodation at the Hotel Occidental Granada 4* or similar.
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DAY 11 - GRANADA
Guided visit to Granada, by a local guide. A wonderful Andalusian city, located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, acquired importance in the Arab era and preserves one of the most visited palace-monuments in Spain, which in itself is worth a visit to this city: the Alhambra and El Generalife. Its construction started in 1248, by Ibn-al-Ahamar, and was completed more than a century later, in 1353. The monument would serve, after that date, as a residence for the Moorish kings of Granada. Lunch. Free afternoon for personal activities. Accommodation.
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DAY 12 - GRANADA –VALÊNCIA
At a time to be agreed, departure towards Valencia, city of architect Santiago Calatrava. Dinner. Accommodation at the Hotel Catalonia Excelsior 4* or similar.
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DAY 13 - VALÊNCIA
During the morning, visit, by foot, the historic center of the city, highlighting the Torre de Serranos, one of the twelve doors that formed the old city wall; the Valencian Cortes; the Palacio de la Generalitat, a Gothic-style building and seat of the Valencian government (exterior visits). Visit to the Cathedral, where we highlight the altarpiece of the main altar painted by Fernando Yánez de la Almedina, disciple of Leonardo da Vinci. Visit the interior of the Lonja de la Seda, the most representative Gothic-style monument in the city, and we will end at the Central Market, one of the oldest in Europe and a jewel of the city’s modernist architecture, declared a World Heritage Site. Lunch. In the afternoon, visit the City of Arts and Sciences, one of the largest scientific and cultural dissemination complexes in Europe, designed by Santiago Calatrava, where various conferences, exhibitions, visits and workshops related to science, technology, nature and art. Highlight to L’Oceanogràfic, the largest oceanographic aquarium in Europe, which houses the most important ecosystems in the world. Continuation of external visits with special emphasis on the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum; the Hemisfèric, a unique building that, on its exterior, resembles the human eye and functions as a cinema room; L’Umbracle, a space surrounded by sculptures and surrounded by nature; the Reina Sofia Palace of Arts, an important venue for musical shows, opera and theater. Brief passage through the Exhibition Bridge, a work also designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. Accommodation.
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DAY 14 - VALÊNCIA – BARCELONA
Departure towards Barcelona, capital of Catalonia. City open to the sea, world-renowned for its avant-garde architecture, with multiple attractions and an intense cultural and nightlife. On this day, we will pass by Montjuic, the Olympic city and castle with an excellent panoramic view of the city, Plaza de España, Avenida Diagonal, Plaza de Catalunya, Promenade de Grácia with the famous jewels of modernism (Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller, Casa Lleó-Morera and Casa Milà or La Pedrera). Dinner. Accommodation at the Hotel NH Collection Constanza 4* or similar.
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DAY 15 - BARCELONA
Day dedicated to visiting the city with a local guide. Highlights including Casa Milà or La Pedrera, Sagrada Família (interior visit), one of the ex-libris of Antoni Gaudí’s work, and continuation of the visit with special emphasis on the Gothic Quarter, named for its countless monuments from the 17th century. XIII, XIV and XV, Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Eulalia and Santa Cruz, installed in the Gothic Palaces of Berenguer de Aguillar y del Barón de Castellet, a museum that brings together numerous works by the artist and all the other medieval palaces and squares in this neighborhood. Then visit Park Güell. Farewell lunch between visits. Accommodation.
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DAY 16 BARCELONA FLIGHT
At a time to be agreed, transfer to Barcelona airport. End of trip.
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