Portugal

One of the oldest traditions in Portugal is wine. With fantastic history of rich winemaking, Portugal produces its wine vintages from over 500 different native grapes. The sheer abundance of varieties means that the country produces a wide selection of wines, and every single one of them has its own distinctive taste. The “Route of São Mamede” is the area covered by the Natural Park of S. Mamede mountain range, and includes some of the most beautiful and typical Alentejo cities, such as Portalegre, Marvão, Castelo de Vide, Crato, Alter do Chão, Avis and Sousel.

We propose an itinerary to discover this evocative corner of the Alentejo, rich in heritage, art and good wine. This tour will allow you to discover a little bit more about Portuguese identity, through its history, its traditions and its wine!

Includes

• 06 nights’ accommodation as mention in the itinerary (3 nights/BB in Lisbon + 3 nights/HB in Portalegre)
• Official English speaking guide for the whole circuit
• Visit + wine tasting at Herdade do Mouchão (Sousel)
• Visit + wine tasting + lunch at “Abreu Callado Foundation”
• Visit + wine tasting + lunch at Herdade da Torre do Cuco
• Visit + wine tasting at Adega Mayor
• Lunch at Restaurant Apertazeite or Similar
• Visit at Royal Stud Farm (Alter do Chão)
• Lunch at a Restaurant at Alter do Chão
• Deluxe motor coach for the entire program + driver and all necessary expenses, taxes and tolls

Don’t Includes

• Lunches in Lisbon
• Porters at Hotels or airport
• Tips & Extras
• Entrance fees other than those mentioned in “package rates include” (please consult our table of supplements)
• Everything else not mentioned in “package rates include”

Program

Program (#D&A – Cool)

Day 1 – Portugal (Lisbon)

Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Transfer from Lisbon Airport to a Hotel in Lisbon. Accommodation at a Lisbon Hotel.

Day 2 – Lisboa / Sousel / Avis / Portalegre

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. Departure to Sousel, where we will visit the “Herdade do Mouchão” – the winery is an elegant and functional building, the “Adega”, shaded by tall eucalyptus trees, works much as it did when it was first built, a century ago. The interior is cool and dark with beamed ceilings reaching 15 metres in height. The current cellar-master is the third generation of a family which has worked at Mouchão for over 80 years. Visit of the winery and wine tasting.

We will then follow to Avis, to “Abreu Callado Foundation”, where we will have lunch. After lunch visit of the whole Foundation – we will visit the vineyards and the cellar (depending on the conditions dictated by the season), the Rural Museum, the former wine-mats, the rooms Stage wines, Tasting Room (formerly of Slaughter House) and other rural attractiveness. There is also the Wine Shop where new visitor receive a free cup of white or red wine or liqueur as a courtesy of the Abreu Callado Foundation.

After the visit of the wine store we will continue to Portalegre. Portalegre is one of the largest manufacturers of tapestries in Europe, and there is a modern and fascinating tapestry museum located in the old part of the town. The castle, which dates back to the fourteenth century, has been largely destroyed to accommodate the modern town, though parts can still be seen forming archways over streets or walls of houses. There is also a cathedral which was founded in 1556. Also in Portalegre is the Robinson cork factory and museum.

Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Portalegre.

Day 3 – Portalegre / Monforte / Marvão / Portalegre

Breakfast at the hotel in Portalegre. Departure to Monforte. Monforte was a Neolithic hill town that was taken over by the Romans so both Neolithic and Roman remains abound in the area. Nearby are the ruins of a Roman town and of a fourth century Roman/Christian basilica. Here we will visit the “Herdade da Torre do Curvo” – Torre do Frade means ‘The Friar’s Tower’ and indeed this large estate had a very long monastic history. As far back as 1384, the land was given to the Hermits of the Order of Saint Augustin. The friars founded a convent here, which flourished until 1834, when religious orders were expelled from Portugal.

The descendants of the family that bought the estate in 1839 still farm here – three branches of the family working together. As well as wine, they produce the famous black pigs and Alentejano cattle, sunflowers, various cereals, cork and honey. The first wines were made in 2004 in a 17th century Italianate building. After the visit we will have lunch including some of the local wines.

We will proceed our trip to Marvão – Marvão sits 1000 metres above the plain, on a mountain top with sheer precipice all around. It is totally walled and its 13th century castle is at the tip of the pinnacle. The far reaching views in every direction are simply spectacular.

Return to Portalegre. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Portalegre.

Day 4 – Portalegre / Campo Maior / Portalegre

Breakfast at the hotel in Portalegre. Departure to Campo Maior. Campo Maior’s chief attraction is its Capela dos Ossos, a smaller version of the Chapel of Bones in Évora. Nearby, the 18th-century church of St John the Baptist contains good marble work.

The famous Flower Feasts are already a great highlight of this Alentejo town. However, a few years ago, a new attraction emerged in Campo Maior: the Coffee Museum, describing the history of this drink and the memories of the roasting’s built here by the Nabeiro family.

More recently, in 2007, the wine cellar Adega Mayor opened its doors, consisting of an innovative project conceived by architect Siza Vieira.

We will participate in a wine workshop, by visiting the Adega Mayor (where the visitor will have contact with the process of vitivinification, meet the building designed by Siza Viera, near and inside, and enjoy the wine produced in this winery. At the end, the visitor has at its disposal the Mayor shop where he can find many surprises and quality products); visiting the Coffee Museum; and have a nice lunch at the “Aperta Azeite” Restaurant (closed on Mondays). At the end of this workshop it will be offered to all the participants a pack of 2 bottles of Monte Mayor wine, coffee blend Mayor, sugar and chocolate.

Return to Portalegre. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Portalegre.

Day 5 – Portalegre / Alter do Chão / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Portalegre. Departure to Alter do Chão. Situated at a crossroads at the village centre, Alter do Chão castle is more a castle-like palace than a fortress.

Near the council’s headquarters, we find the famous Royal Stud Farm (visit), founded in the reign of King John V in 1748 to breed horses for the royal horsemanship. After being refurbished, it has recovered the Lusitano horse, Alter Real breed, while ensuring the continuation of the Alter breed, a horse with remarkable qualities for haute “école”. In this stud there is a training school, a museum and falconry.

Lunch at a nearby restaurant.

After lunch we will proceed to Lisbon. Rest of the day free. Accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 6 – Lisboa / Sintra / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. In the morning half-day guided tour of Lisbon: starting with a panoramic of the main streets and squares of the city: Marquis de Pombal Square, Avenida da Liberdade and the Rossio square. We will continue to one of the oldest quarters of the city: Alfama (walking tour, passing to Lisbon Cathedral). Our the last stop here we’ll taste a typical Portuguese drink (Ginginha – cherry liquor). We will proceed to Belém, stopping by the Belem Tower and the Discovery Monument for photos. Still within Belém quarter we will visit the Jeronimos Monastery. Free time for luch.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sintra (visit of National Sintra Palace), Estoril and Cascais, returning to Lisbon by the coastal route.

Accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 7 – Lisboa

Free morning. Transfer to Lisbon Airport.

Have a nice trip back home!

Tours opcionais (indicados no roteiro) – Min 20 pax

• Half-day tour (tarde) de Sintra – 70,00 € (incluindo transporte + guia oficial)
• Half-day tour (tarde) do Parque das Nações (Lisboa) – 55,00 € (incluindo transporte + guia oficial)

Entradas nos monumentos:

• Jerónimos Monastery (Lisbon) € 27,00 p/ pax
• National Palace of Sintra € 27,00 p/ pax

Note: these rates are subject to confirmation (valid until 31.12.2019; they can suffer changes without any prior notice and we cannot guarantee them for now).

Other Suggestions:

• Fado Dinner at restaurant in Lisbon (3 course set menu with drinks); transfer to & from restaurant included – Min. 20 pax € 80,00 p/ pax

Applying conditions to the mentioned rates

• Above rates are, per person in DBL room – based on Hotel Fénix Urban 4* in Lisbon, BB + Hotel 3* in Portalegre, HB);
• The mentioned hotels are subject to availability;
• Above rates include all taxes accordingly with Portuguese law;
• These prices are valid from January to October 2019, except Easter period;
• Reservations are all “on request

Video