Treasures of Portugal

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Coimbra. Along the way, stop in Aveiro, located on the west coast, set on a lagoon and often called the “Venice of Portugal” for the colorful barcos moliceiros (boats traditionally used to harvest seaweed) traversing its canals. Experience the city’s urban heritage and culture while strolling its narrow, old quarter streets and admiring its pastel-hued homes. Continue on to Coimbra, an ancient city and the first capital of Portugal in the 12th century. Your evening is at leisure.

Following breakfast, we'll tour the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Established in Lisbon in 1290, it moved finally to Coimbra in 1537, atop a hill overlooking the city. Visit the Royal Palace, where we’ll find the Great Hall of Acts (the school’s ceremonies are held here), the Private Examination Room (once the King of Portugal’s bedroom, it now hosts graduate exams), and the Arms Room (the former Academic Royal Guard’s weapons are on display). Step into St. Michael Chapel and the Baroque Library, both jaw-droppingly exquisite, from floor to ceiling. Next, you’ll have a Jewish tour through Coimbra and the former Jewish quarter, with emphasis to Santa Cruz Monastery, the Holy Inquisition Courtyard and the New Cathedral, born by the will of the Jesuits. The rest of the day is at leisure.

We'll depart after breakfast this morning. Stop in Tomar, built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century. Tomar is a city of great charm for its artistic and cultural wealth, whose greatest expression is in the Convent of Christ (visit of its interior), one of the chief works of the Portuguese Renaissance. Next, we'll journey to Fátima, the famous Catholic site where three shepherd children reported visions of the Virgin Mary and the Miracle of the Sun occurred in 1917. Today, Fátima attracts millions of pilgrims annually, from all over the world. Later, arrive in Évora. Check-in and dinner at your hotel.

After breakfast, we'll travel to the city’s highest point to visit the Cathedral of Évora and its Cloisters. The cathedral began construction in 1184 and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Continue to the Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones, part of the Royal Church of St. Francis. In this 16th-century chapel, we'll be awed by the décor: meticulously arranged stacks of human bones, as well as entire bodies. Next, we’ll discover the cork industry, a top export of Portugal. From its harvest to its transformation in art objects, learn about this fabulous tree. Afterward, we’ll celebrate life’s pleasures by indulging in a wine tasting with snacks. The balance of your day is at leisure.

Depart for Lisbon this morning. Dive in to Belém, Lisbon’s riverside district. Reflect on the 16th-century Monastery of Jeronimos, a prime example of Manueline-style (Portuguese late Gothic) architecture. Check out iconic Belém Tower, where soldiers once watched the Tagus River for incoming invaders. Together, the monastery and tower are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pass the Monument to the Discoveries, honoring Portugal’s navigators who explored trade opportunities with the Orient and India. Visit of Ajuda National Palace, a former Royal residence that still lends its glamour to the ceremonies of the Presidency of the Republic. We end the day with a cooking lesson in a Lisbon restaurant where we'll have the chance to learn how to make the typical Portuguese “pastéis de bacalhau”. This degustation is served with a glass of Portuguese wine. The balance of your day is at leisure.

Today is free to discover intriguing Lisbon independently or we might consider an optional excursion to Sintra. Tonight, we’ll delight in a farewell dinner with a Fado show of traditional folk music that is traceable back to the early 1800s and typically features mandolins, guitars and a melancholic tune.

Today we'll trek outside Lisbon to captivating Obidos, a medieval, walled town characterized by cobblestone streets lined with bookstores, whitewashed homes with splashes of blue and yellow paint and a well-preserved hilltop castle. This afternoon, return to Lisbon with an evening at leisure.

Our tour comes to end after breakfast this morning.