Portugal
Lisbon, Évora, Alcobaça, Nazaré, Óbidos
Day 1: Welcome to amazing Portugal, one of the lesser known and least expensive countries in Europe to visit. After landing at Lisbon’s airport and taking a taxi to your hotel, wander through Lisbon’s Bairro Alto neighborhood, starting with the spectacular view from Miraduro de São Pedro de Alcântara. You can get here by either taking the funicular or walking along the steep but short street next to the tracks until you reach the small park with the view. Afterwards, walk down the street a short distance to the São Roque Church, which has a remarkable painted wood ceiling. The highlight of the church, however, is the sumptuous Chapel of St. John the Baptist. The chapel was constructed in Rome, where it was used for one papal Mass and then shipped to this church in Lisbon. Look carefully at the three large paintings, which, in fact, are not paintings at all but exquisitely made mosaics (as is the floor). From the church, it is a short walk to the Convento de Carmo. The convent was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that leveled much of the city in 1755 but the remains of the structure were left to stand as a memorial. Close to the former convent is the Elevador de Santa Justa, which provides nice views of the city below and connects to the lower town. In the lower town, you can consider an early dinner and then return to the hotel to get some rest after a long travel day. Day 2: Today we will head to the Belém area to view a cluster of some of Lisbon’s best attractions, many of which are free on Sundays. You would be wise to plan around the free day if possible. Start your day at the National Coach Museum, where you can admire over 70 impressive coaches from Portugal’s past (including a coach from the 15th century). Afterwards, take a short stroll toward the Monastery of Jerónimos, but first stop by Casa Pasteis de Belém for one of Lisbon’s best taste treats, a pastel de nata (custard tart). The line can be long at times, but after you bite into a fresh warm tart, you’ll know it was worth the wait. The line at the magnificent Monastery of Jerónimos can also be long. If it is, walk toward the water and first visit the Monument of the Discoveries for soaring views of the Golden Gate Bridge look alike as well as the monastery. From the monument, you can also see the 500-year-old Belém Tower, but take the time for the short walk to the tower for a closer inspection. If the line is long, don’t bother going in, as there isn’t much to see inside. Next, head back to the monastery to see if the line has shortened. If the line is still long, go in the church first—which is just to the right as you walk toward the entrance—for a look at this Manueline masterpiece. If you have more time, consider a stop at the nearby Maritime Museum to learn more about Portugal’s early prowess on the sea. Finally, get in line for the monastery for a visit to its renown cloister. After your Belém visit, take a taxi or ride the often-crowded tram back into the city center for dinner and then head back to your hotel for the night. Day 3: Our destinations this day are rather spread out across the city, but don’t worry—Lisbon’s taxis are plentiful and inexpensive. First, we will take a taxi to the Gulbenkian Museum, the best of Lisbon’s art museums. The museum has some wonderful collections— including amazingly detailed Greek coinage, intricately designed Japanese boxes, and Renaissance paintings. Next, get some lunch and then take another taxi to the Ancient Art Museum, which houses paintings by some of Europe’s great masters including Bosch, Durer, and Rafael. In the evening, take a walk through Lisbon’s Baixa neighborhood from the Praça do Comércio to the Praça dos Restauradores, stopping to see the popular Church of São Domingos, which was rebuilt from the ruins of the 1755 earthquake when churches like this fell on top of many of the Sunday worshipers. For dinner, consider one of Lisbon’s many Brazilian barbeque restaurants. Day 4: Today, venture away from Lisbon on a daytrip to rewarding Sintra. After breakfast, take the 45-minute train ride from Lisbon to the Sintra station. Upon your arrival, take the bus up to the delightfully fanciful Pena Palace. After touring the 19th Century palace, stroll through the magnificent gardens and then down to the thousand-year-old Moorish Castle. Hike the quiet castle walls for soaring views over the city and Atlantic Ocean below. After, taking the bus back into Sintra and getting a late lunch, tour the National Palace, the oldest royal palace in the country, before taking the train back to Lisbon in time for dinner. Day 5: Today you say goodbye to Lisbon, but there is still much more to see in this beautiful country. Pick up your rental car and drive through the countryside to the town of Évora, just about 1.5 hours away. If you get an early start, you may have time for a quick stop at Cromeleque dos Almendres, a Stone Age circle two thousand years older than Stonehenge. Évora has a long history and was once a Roman town. Wander through the walled center, keeping an eye out for ancient Roman ruins, the highlights being the remaining columns of the Roman Temple. Make time to visit the 12th Century cathedral as well as the Church of St. Francis and its famous macabre chapel of bones (made of more than 5,000 human bones). When you get hungry, consider one of the town bakeries for some of the local favorites including queijada (sweet cheese tarts). If you have time before dinner, consider a stroll through the University of Évora, which was established in the 1500s and has courtyards and classrooms beautifully decorated in blue and white tile. Day 6: After breakfast, check out of your hotel and get back in your car for the three-hour drive to the town of Alcobaça and a look at another of Portugal’s magnificent monasteries, the Cistercian Monastery of Santa Maria. After parking in the town center, enter the towering Gothic church, which is the largest church in the country. While the church is grand, it is the monastery that leaves the lasting impression. The cloister, kitchen, dining hall, and dormitory give the visitor a glimpse of daily life for the inhabitants over the 600 hundred years that monks resided here. After a bite to eat, drive a few miles to the coast to the small town of Sitio, which sits on a hill above the crashing waves of the Atlantic and the town of Nazaré below. There isn’t much to do here, so just relax and enjoy the view. If you like, you can ride the funicular to the town and beach below or stay above and shop for handmade woolen products. Before the sun gets too low in the sky, get back in your car and drive about a half an hour to the charming walled town of Óbidos. After checking into your hotel, you can wander the cobbled lanes, searching out a quiet dinner spot. Day 7: On your last day, get up early and make sure to bring your camera for a stroll along the town walls. Óbidos is famously known in Portugal as the “wedding city” for all the people who come from around the country to take their matrimonial photos here. If your flight leaves today, then you’ll need to pack up for the quick 1.5 hour drive back to Lisbon. If not, then relax and savor this last stop on your week-long tour of one of the least known, but most magical, countries in Europe. |