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SOUTHERN PORTUGAL & GLIMPSE OF SPAIN 15 day tour inc. arrival/departure days 'Meu Amorzinho', or 'My Little Love', as Portugal is known affectionately by its adoring residents, is one of those corners of Europe that has, thankfully, been neglected by the mass tourist. This is a tour of contrasts - the intriguing Lisbon, the historic Évora, the scenic and traditional coastal belt and the popular resorts of the Algarve. In addition, we spend three days across the border, with Seville as our base, for explorations of some contrasting features of Spain, including the fabulous Alhambra, the sherry region of Jerez and the mediaeval Córdoba. DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR YEAR 2008
Cost: $3849 USD per adult sharing a twin/double; single $4409 USD What your tour price includes: Your accommodation for 14 nights while on the tour including breakfast daily and dinners as listed below. Your price also includes all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, services of driver/guide-companion and all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide. Pre and post tour airport transfers and accommodation are not included but can be reserved at a specially discounted price. TENTATIVE ITINERARY Day One You arrive at Lisbon airport and will be met by your Back-Roads Touring Co. guide who will transfer you to our first night base at Setúbal, a town famed for its muscatel wine and orange marmalade. Alternatively, should there be any flight delays being experienced by other tour participants, you may have the option of enjoying a few unstructured hours in Lisbon, perhaps window shopping, or simply unwinding with a glass of wine at a pavement bistro. This is a day for relaxation and recovery from your flight. Once in Setúbal, you'll have the afternoon free to explore this interesting town where narrow alleys of the old town contrast with wide modern avenues of the newer parts of the town. In many ways, it's the perfect introduction to Portugal. NIGHTSTOP: Setúbal
Day Two This morning we'll complete our explorations of Setúbal before driving eastwards to Montemor-o-Novo. This will prove an ideal place for a lunch break, with time set aside to tour the town before continuing to Evora where we'll spend our afternoon and evening getting acquainted with this ancient city. The walled city owes its existence to the Romans but is attractively Moorish in character with alleyways, brilliant white houses and lovely terraces and gardens. Amongst highlights of our day and a half in Évora will be the 12th century cathedral, the 2nd century Roman Temple of Diana, the beautiful 'Jardim Público', the museum of ancient art, and an evening stroll to view the mediaeval and Renaissance palaces which are often floodlit by night. NIGHTSTOP: Évora
Day Three To do justice to Évora requires another complete day which we'll spend continuing our discoveries amongst which will be a visit to nearby Evoramonte, the little fortified town with an outstanding panoramic view of the surrounding countryside where olive groves and dazzling white painted villages dot the land as far as the eye can see. NIGHTSTOP: Évora
Day Four This morning we'll drive to Arraiolos, a typical village of this Alentejo region. The town is precariously perched on a hillside and is famed for both its traditional Portuguese sausages and its carpets. You'll try the former and perhaps see the latter being woven in one of the town's eight carpet workshops. Inevitably, some attempt will be made to sell you one! Later, we'll continue to Vila Viçosa where a tour of the magnificent Palace of the Bragança's, the last Royal Family of Portugal, will remind us of the country's rich heritage. Continuing onward across the Alentejo plain, our final highlight of the day will be the delightful hill top and walled village of Monsaraz where, once again, a climb to the summit rewards us with magnificent views, in this case stretching into Spain. A cautionary note for those contemplating this and other Iberian tours: there will be considerable walking, and up some steep inclines and steps, demanding a degree of mobility and fitness. NIGHTSTOP: Évora
Day Five Today will be a relaxed touring day as we drive first to Estremoz, a pleasant city standing in the centre of this region of marble quarries, and still possessing its 17th century ramparts. The city has architecture dating from the 13th century but is better known for its pottery, especially for pottery figurines of religious subjects such as saints and biblical characters which are vividly coloured if naive in style. Through a countryside dominated by cork trees, 'sombreiros', a drive brings us to our next stop, Castelo de Vide. This is a small spa town owing its attraction to the old white washed houses stepped high up the hillside along winding alleys brilliant with flowers. NIGHTSTOP: Castelo de Vide
Day Six We cross the frontier into Spain and drive to Cáceres where we'll stop for a leisurely lunch, sampling the traditional 'tapas' before exploring the old town. Should time allow, our next stop will be at Trujillo, a small village said to have been founded by Julius Caesar and dominated by extraordinarily beautiful monuments, one being of Francisco Pizzarro, native of the village and conqueror of Peru. NIGHTSTOP: Mérida
Day Seven Mérida is perhaps the finest place, outside of Italy, to be introduced to the power and the glory that was the Roman Empire. Here are undoubtedly the most stunning reminders of the Roman era, such as the amphitheatre, the hippodrome, the river bridges, the Milagros aqueduct, and superb museums. We'll spend a complete day discovering this magnificent town's past at leisure. NIGHTSTOP: Mérida
Day Eight From Mérida we drive to Seville. This is an interesting scenic drive and we'll make short stops en route to discover local Spanish traditional villages. We'll aim to arrive in Seville mid-afternoon, as the locals are ending their 'siestas', and after checking into our lodgings, will take an orientation tour of the city. The rest of the afternoon and evening will be free to explore this wonderful, vibrant and romantic city. Tonight, you may enjoy an optional visit to a local Flamenco performance. NIGHTSTOP: Seville
Day Nine A choice is offered for today. Some Back-Roaders will prefer to remain in Seville to fully discover its many charms including the incredible cathedral, built to such a grand scale that 'those who come after us will think us madmen'. Art lovers may enjoy visiting the Museo Provincial de Belas Artes which houses a collection of Spanish masters second only to the Prado. And, of course, a visit to the Alcazar, the palace rightly famed for its stunning, intricate tilework and resplendent gardens, is a must. Other travellers may enjoy a day tour to Córdoba, a city of whitewashed houses, patios and narrow streets which captures the essence of Spanish Andalusia. NIGHTSTOP: Seville
Day Ten Today's tour takes us the short distance south to Jerez. This is a town and region famed for its aperitif wine, of course, better known as sherry. We'll visit a traditional 'bodega' and enjoy a sample! Jerez also has a fascinating clock museum which some may enjoy visiting. NIGHTSTOP: Seville
Day Eleven Our tour now turns back for Portugal and our first stop is the frontier town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, a town created from new by the Marquis de Pombal in 1774. Classical style houses, streets line with orange trees, and the black and white mosaic pavements, all contribute to making this a pretty town. It's also one of the largest fishing ports on the Algarve, a region we'll now explore. Our next stop will be at the pleasant and historic port town of Tavira, devastated but not destroyed, by the 1755 earthquake. Our final highlight, and destination, is Faro, capital of the Algarve and popular resort. NIGHTSTOP: Loulé
Day Twelve Today you've the choice of spending a day at leisure in Faro, perhaps on the beach, or visiting the excellent local museums or, alternatively, taking our tour of local fishing villages and the beautiful Algarve hinterland. NIGHTSTOP: Loulé
Day Thirteen Today's first destination is Lagos. This now popular resort town once served as Prince Henry the Navigator's principal maritime base. Inevitably, as base for all of the early African expeditions, it was also once the slave capital of the world and the old slave market still exists as a reminder of a terrible trade that so greatly contributed to the ancient wealth of Portugal. We drive next to Sagres, the most south westerly point of Europe, and Columbus's last stop upon the way to discover the New World. Finally, we reach Vila Nova de Milfontes, our nightstop base. NIGHTSTOP: Vila Nova de Milfontes
Day Fourteen Our final touring day sees us following the coastal road back to Lisbon where we'll arrive in mid afternoon giving you time to visit some of the more famous sights of this charming city. Tomorrow you may continue with your explorations by staying a while longer here on and independent city extension. NIGHTSTOP: Lisbon
Day Fifteen Airport transfers or extend your stay in Lisbon.
This tour is operated by Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd |
