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Description: Portugal, the Land's End of Europe, formed and grew to the rhythm of the Atlantic ocean lapping its shores. This small country, conquered by the Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and then the Arabs, very quickly forged its national identity, enhanced by the age of discoveries. This golden chapter in its history books gave rise to the Manueline style, epitomising the Lusitanian civilisation, in the same way as the baroque azulejos and gilded woodcarvings.

Tour programme: the visits and excursions mentioned in the programme may be changed or the order reversed, according to local constraints (such as weather conditions, road traffic, peak periods at the sites visited, and so on) and the return flights on the first and last days; in addition, visits to certain monuments are sometimes restricted to the outside surroundings, when tourists are temporarily denied access due to high visitor levels, renovation work or local events (such as village fairs and church masses).

Hotel rating: the hotels selected during the tour have been awarded a 3 or 4-star rating in accordance with local standards.

Note: tour by private coach. Some town visits will take place as a stroll.

Air transport (information subject to change by the tour operator): flights are operated by Portugal's scheduled airlines - Air Luxor and TAP Air Portugal (indirect or non-stop flight).

Programme

DAY 1: PARIS/PORTO

Flight for Porto. Transfer to the hotel and lunch. Porto is known throughout the world for its wines. In addition to its reputation as a large trade-developed industrious city in the north of the country, it is also steeped in art with a magnificent display of monuments. In the Santa Casa da Misericordia, we will discover the famous painting Fons Vitae, one of the major works in Portuguese painting. We will then check out the church of Sao Francisco, whose nave is famous for the rich baroque decorative style of its gilded woodcarvings. Afterwards, we will go for a walk in old Porto, where we will see the 18th century Clerigos Tower, the highest steeple in Portugal. Then we will visit the Romanesque cathedral. Dinner and night in Porto.

DAY 2: GUIMARAES/BRITEIROS/BRAGA

In the morning, we will travel to Guimaraes, which was Portugal's first capital city. We will tour the city, passing through the Largo do Toural, one of Portugal's most beautiful squares, and will visit the 15th century Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, tastefully restored and richly furnished, and then the Martins Sarmento museum.
Afterwards, we will go to Briteiros, where we will stroll through the ruins of a Celtic citania dating back to the Iron Age. The huts have been updated and partially rebuilt. Then we will visit the sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. The exuberant baroque staircase is rightfully famous. After lunch, we will visit the church of Sao Frutuoso on the outskirts of Braga, which is one of the rare reminders of Visigothic Portugal. Then we will head to the charming town of Braga for a stroll through its streets. Braga is actually nicknamed the Rome of Portugal due to its countless churches and chapels. Return to Porto. Dinner and night in Porto.

DAY 3: COIMBRA/CONIMBRIGA/TOMAR

Morning departure for Coimbra. The town, a remarkable hotbed of art, owes its renown to its university founded in 1307 and installed by John III in the old royal palace in 1537. We will pay a visit to the library, one of the masterpieces of the Portuguese civil baroque, as well as the sala dos Capelos. We will then check out the Sé Velha, an old Romanesque cathedral. We will round off the morning by discovering the Manueline-style monastery of Santa Cruz.
After lunch, we will go to Conimbriga, a Roman site housing a remarkable set of mosaics, before heading for Tomar. The Convent of Christ is famous for its magnificent window, which features an amazing Manueline decoration. Founded by Henry the Navigator, the monastery stands as a true museum of national architecture from the 12th to the 17th century. Dinner and night in Fatima.

DAY 4: BATALHA/ALCOBACA/OBIDOS

We will set off for Batalha, where we will visit the monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria, a symbol commemorating Aljubarrota's victory over Castile in 1385. Home to the tomb of the Aviz dynasty, it has become Portugal's national monument. We will stop off in the fishing village of Nazaré for lunch.
Then we will visit the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria in Alcobaça, founded in 1153 by the first king of Portugal, Alfonso Henriques of Burgundy. We will finish the afternoon in Obidos, a medieval city surrounded by fortifications. Dinner and night in Lisbon.

DAY 5: LISBON

Lisbon, the queen of the Tagus and capital of a vast empire at the time of Manuel I, was remodelled by the Marquis of Pombal after the earthquake of 1755. After a whistle-stop tour of the city by coach, we will head for the Alfama district, overshadowed by Sao Jorge (Saint George) Castle, a fortification dating back to the Reconquest. We will visit the convent of Madre de Dios, home to the Azulejo Museum, and we will finally discover the Sé, a beautiful Romanesque cathedral. Lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the Gulbenkian Foundation, harbouring some wonderful collections, from Rembrandt to Guardi… Late afternoon, we will stroll through the Baixa district or through the charming alleys of Bairo Alto. Dinner and night in Lisbon.

DAY 6: SINTRA/LISBON

We will leave in the morning for Sintra, nestled at the foot of the Sierra in a magnificent setting.
We will visit the National Palace, which stands out with its Gothic and Manueline features. Then we will go to Quéluz, whose royal palace is reminiscent of Versailles. Return to Lisbon for lunch. Afterwards, we will visit the Belem district, where we will discover the Hieronymites' monastery built to celebrate the major discoveries. Finally, we will admire the Belem tower, a masterpiece of Manueline style. Dinner and night in Lisbon.

DAY 7: LISBON/PARIS

At the museum of ancient art, we will take time to gaze at the Polyptych of St Vincent, the masterpiece by Nuno Goncalves and a true portrait of the court at the end of the 15th century. Lunch and transfer to the airport. Flight for Paris.

• Tour 1: Portugal: Through its Art and History
   
• Tour 2: Portugal: the Land's End of Europe
   
• Tour 3: Portugal's Monasteries