Pontevedra & Combarro
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Cruise : MEDITERRANEAN France, Spain, Portugal, Italy Cruise Ship: MSC MERAVIGLIA Departing from: Le Havre, France Itineraries: Vigo, Lisbon, Barcelona, Marseille Departure Date: 04/06/2017 Duration: 8 Days, 7 Nights Vigo Tue 6 June 2017 CITY TOUR PONTEVEDRA & COMBARRO - VIG05 Duration 4:30 h Give yourself a taste of Galician culture and lifestyle on this introductory tour to two of the regions most popular destinations, the city of Pontevedra and the charming fishing village of Combarro. After leaving your ship and the port, a 30-minute coach ride will take you to your first stop: Pontevedra, whose name means old bridge after a Roman bridge that once spanned the River Lérez. A guided walking tour of the main sights will illustrate the citys rich history and let you soak up its appealing ambience. Free time is then scheduled for you to explore at your own pace, after which the tour continues by coach to the nearby Combarro, a picture-perfect fishing village on the shores of the Ría de Pontevedra with one of Galicias best preserved historical districts. After paying this quaint part of town a visit, youll begin your return journey to Vigo and your ship. Please note: this tour is not suitable for guests with mobility limitations for long periods of walking on uneven ground. VIGO & BAYONA - VIG02 Duration 4 h After first making a brief stop at the Monte Castro vantage point to admire the beautiful view over the city, your tour then continues on to one of the most popular holiday destinations in Galicia, the pretty town of Baiona and its enchanting medieval centre, which is scenically situated by the outlet of Vigo Bay. You will have some free time to explore Baionas main sights, which include Monterreal Castle and the Monte Boi peninsula, the clock tower and the Princes Tower, the 13th-century Ex-collegiate Church and the 15-metre monument called the Virgin of the Rock. Your tour concludes with your return to the port of Vigo and your ship. Please note: this tour includes long transfers by coach. It is not suitable for guests in a wheelchair. CULTURE AND HISTORY SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA - VIG01 Duration 4:30 h From the port of Vigo on the Atlantic coast, a pleasant 1.5-hour coach ride will take you to the historical city of Santiago de Compostela, one of Spains most important religious centres. The citys splendid cathedral and old quarter are both listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. You will have an opportunity to amble through the streets, narrow alleys and tiny squares before continuing on foot to the Plaza do Obradoiro, which is situated at the heart of the city and was named after the stonemasons workshop that was established there while the cathedral was being built. An external viewing of the cathedral, an eclectic blend of various architectural styles including Baroque, gives you an opportunity to take some photos before you proceed with an internal visit. Return to the port. Please note: this is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties, heart problems or using a wheelchair. Conservative attire recommended for visiting the religious sites. © 2017 MSC Cruises S.A. All rights reserved www.msccruises.com SCENIC ROUTE THE GALICIAN VILLAGES - VIG03 Duration 4:30 h This tour offers a fascinating introduction to Galician culture. Leave the port for a guided trip northwards to the Rande Strait, past Pontevedra. Your guide will talk about the history of the region and point out the different locations of the Ria Vigo, which is shaped like a great mouth devouring a stretch of sea. Our first stop will be Cambados, famous for its production of the white wine, Albariño. We will continue to the Agro de Bazan Winery for a cheese and wine tasting session. These renowned cellars produce high quality wines made purely from the Albariño grape. Return to the ship. Please note: this tour includes periods of walking on uneven ground with steps; it is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair. THE WALLED CITY OF VALENÇA DO MINHO, PORTUGAL - VIG04 Duration 4 h With Portugal within such easy reach of Vigo, why not venture out and cross just over the border to visit the gorgeous walled town of Valença do Minho on this enjoyable half-day tour? A 45-minute coach ride will first see you reach the ancient town, which dates right back to Roman times. A guided tour then follows that will take you to the fortress, an example of Gothic and Baroque military architecture of which parts date back to the 13th century. A break is then scheduled for you to do some shopping, after which you will begin your return journey to Vigo. Along the way, a brief photo stop will be made at the 17th-century El Castro fort, situated high above the city, for the stupendous views of Vigo and the sea beyond. Your last stop on the tour will then be a look around the citys oyster market before heading back to your ship. Please note: guests using a wheelchair are advised that they must be accompanied by a paying helper to provide assistance with getting on and off the coach and that wheelchairs must be collapsible/foldable since the coach has neither a ramp nor a lift. Guests using a wheelchair who would like to participate in this tour are requested to contact the Shore Excursions Desk promptly once they are on board so that arrangements can be made. Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour Wheelchair guests must be accompanied by their own helper to get on/off the coach. Wheelchairs must be foldable as the coach is not provided with ramps or lifts. Once onboard, please contact Excursions Desk staff promptly so they can help make arrangements. © 2017 MSC Cruises S.A. All rights reserved www.msccruises.com Lisbon Wed 7 June 2017 CITY TOUR CITY TOUR - LIS01 Duration 4 h Leave the port and drive to the Belém district where we will admire two masterpieces built in the decorative Portuguese style known as Manueline. These are Jeronimos Church and Belém Tower, both built in the beginning of the XVI century, just after Vasco da Gamas exploratory voyage to India. We will visit the monastery church that holds the tomb of Vasco da Gama and have time to explore the cloisters. The excursion continues with a scenic tour through Lisbons new city centre built after the devastating earthquake of 1755 : we will pass the Parliament and Prime Ministers House, the Marquis of Pombal Square, Liberdade Avenue and Rossio Square the heart of Lisbons downtown. Free time before returning to the ship. Please note: on Monday calls, a visit to Ajuda Palace will replace the visit to the Monastery. Only cameras without flash allowed inside Jeronimos Monastery. Conservative attire recommended for visiting places of religious importance. Although long periods of walking, wheelchair guests can take part, but they must be accompanied by a paying helper to provide assistance with getting on and off the coach and their wheelchairs must be collapsible/foldable since the coach has neither a ramp nor a lift. Guests using a wheelchair who would like to participate in this tour are requested to contact the Shore Excursions Desk promptly once they are on board so that arrangements can be made. LISBON BY TRAM - LIS15 Duration 4 h This tour offers a great opportunity to explore Lisbon, Portugals capital city, from a unique perspective: on board one of its wonderful, old-fashioned trams, which are not only used by scores of commuters on a daily basis, but have also become a real tourist attraction. After leaving your ship, a short coach ride will first take you from the pier to Estrela Square, from where you will catch your tram. Once on board, you will be served a local speciality known as pastel de nata (a succulent little custard tart) along with a glass of porto wine to further sweeten your ride up to the hills of Lisbon, passing the elegant Baixa district on your way to Alfama where you will have a glimpse of this old part of Lisbon. You will see the Cathedral, and continuing you will reach the Portas do Sol Belvedere with enchanting views of the metropolis and the Tagus River. Continue to Graça quarter and ride towards downtown of Lisbon. Enjoy a brief walk from Conceição Street to Commerce Square, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe and proceed to Rossio where you will have free time to explore Lisbon downtown. Look forward to an exterior viewing of Jerónimos Monastery, a 15th-century building, as well as the early 16th-century Belém Tower on the banks of the River Tagus, both of which are fine examples of Manueline architectural style (also called late Portuguese Gothic) and both of which were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Your tour comes to a close with your return to the port and your ship. Please note: the tour has a lot of walking involved on uneven ground; it is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or in a wheelchair. SINTRA & CASCAIS - LIS05 Duration 5 h Sintra is famous for its mountain range, its temperate climate and country palaces and cottages. Drive to this lovely UNESCO World Heritage Site village to visit the historic National Royal Palace that houses the oldest collection glazed tiles in Portugal and features fine examples of the large conical medieval chimneys. Our next stop will be Cascais, a fishing village and favourite summer retreat of the royal family. Free time to explore the village before returning to Lisbon where a short panoramic coach tour passing Belém area is included on your way to the port.