PANORAMA OF PORTUGAL – MAY & SUMMER 2025 – 8 DAYS

Meeting at the airport and direct flight to Lisbon. Arrival in Lisbon and departure by road to Coimbra, the first University Campus in Portugal and one of the oldest in the world. Our first stop is the great center of Catholicism, Fatima, located 142km north of Lisbon. Fatima became known for the miracle of the appearance of the Virgin Mary in 1917 to three shepherd children in the “Cova Da Iria” valley and has since emerged as one of the largest religious pilgrimages in the world. Arrival in Coimbra where we will tour the University area and the streets of the city of poets with its much-sung Montego River. We will also find ourselves in the courtyard of the church of Santa Clara La Nova where we will have a panoramic view of the entire city of Coimbra. Check-in at our hotel. Overnight.

After breakfast departure for Porto. Our first stop is at the Busaco Forest, the national forest of the Portuguese and one of the richest in Europe in plants. On our way we will make a stop in the city of canals, the “Venice of Portugal” Aveiro, where we will admire the boats that resemble traditional Venetian gondolas. Then departure for Porto, a city that represents tradition, human values, hard work and the strength of the soul of the Portuguese nation. The city also gave its name to the famous wine of the same name “Porto” which is produced from the cultivation of grape varieties following the guidance of a British community that developed in the city’s port. Overnight.

After breakfast, we will tour the impressive city that is built on the banks of the Douro River and spreads harmoniously over the hills, still maintaining its medieval appearance. In the Ribeira area, along the river, the old districts extend with many traditional shops and the open market located on the dock, from where the characteristic boats used to load the wine of the same name. In the upper city, we will tour the Cathedral area and the old railway building. Then we will visit the gold-plated church of St. Francis and the Bolsa Palace, which houses the Chamber of Commerce and formerly the stock exchange. Finally, we will visit an old winery in the city, where the famous “PORTO” wine has been maturing for many years and we will have the pleasure of tasting its wonderful flavor and rich aroma in a specially made “calice” glass. Overnight stay.

After breakfast departure for a full-day excursion to the Minho province. The first stop on our route will be Braga where we will admire the cathedral and the sanctuary of Jesus which presents important examples of Baroque style. Then we will visit Guimarães, the cradle of the Portuguese nation. which was the first capital of Portugal. It is the birthplace of the Portuguese nation as well as the city in which the first king of Portugal, "Afonso Henriques", was born. We will see the castle of the region and the historic center, which are UNESCO historical heritage monuments. Return to Porto. Overnight.

Departure in the morning for Lisbon. Our first stop is the temple of Batalha, a world cultural heritage monument under the protection of UNESCO. Then we will go to the tourist fishing village of Nazaré on the Atlantic. An experience that will remain unforgettable for you because of the cordiality and liveliness that you will receive from its inhabitants as well as the unique feeling that a small village that is steeped in tradition creates for you and where we will have the opportunity to try the local cuisine. Finally, we will also visit the beautiful medieval village of artists Obidos. We will walk through the narrow alleys between white houses decorated with colorful flowers and enjoy a panoramic view from the 13-meter-high walls that surround the village. Arrival in Lisbon late in the afternoon and check into the hotel. Overnight.

Our tour today is dedicated to the picturesque and hospitable city, which despite the continuous raids of barbarian peoples for many centuries, has retained its glorious Latin character to this day. One of the most famous sights of the city and perhaps the most beautiful and elaborate in the world is the Museum of the Royal Carriages, where we will admire a unique collection of luxury and wealth dating back to the 17th and 19th centuries. We will visit the Jerónimos Monastery, the most impressive symbol of Portuguese power and wealth, built in 1502 by order of King Manuel I to honor the memory of Vasco da Gama for his successful return from India. Finally, we will visit the Monument to the Discoveries as well as the characteristic Tower of Belém, from where the Portuguese navigators set off for the ends of the earth. This famous tower, which looks more like a miniature castle, was built in 1515 near the banks of the TEJO River to protect the river's estuary and has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In the evening, we recommend enjoying the traditional Portuguese fado songs, made famous throughout the world by the famous singer Amalia Rodriguez. Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel and we depart for a particularly enjoyable excursion to the outskirts of Lisbon, to Sintra, the summer residence of the kings, Cascais, which is a very beautiful fishing village, Estoril, the tourist resort of Portugal, and Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of the European continent and Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean. Return to Lisbon where we will end our today's excursion to the Park of Nations, which was built for the EXPO 1998 International Exhibition, from where we will be able to admire, among other things, the VASCO DA GAMA bridge. In the same park there is also the Lisbon Aquarium, OCEANARIO. Overnight.

Today is our last day in the capital of Portugal. Full of memories we fly back to Greece. Arrival in Athens.