PORTUGAL: DEEP INTO the ALENTEJO - 7 DAYS the World Is Now Discovering What Has Long Been a Hidden Jewel of Southern Europe, the Alentejo Region of Portugal
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Reserve your spot at https://www.uncovrtravel.com/tours-portugal or call your Uncovr Tour Host, Jason Wertz at 1-213-884-8050 PORTUGAL: DEEP INTO THE ALENTEJO - 7 DAYS The world is now discovering what has long been a hidden jewel of southern Europe, the Alentejo region of Portugal. Often overlooked for its more popular neighbors, Portugal is full of gems waiting to be discovered. Unique architecture, world-class wines, an impassioned cuisine, rich history with a colorful culture and welcoming people. It is a country with a dramatic and expansive landscape. As with all our tours, we travel deeper to avoid the masses and to carefully craft authentic local-inspired experiences. Trip Highlights - Your 7 Day Journey • Uncover a rich and dynamic culture and an expansive and inspiring landscape. • Explore the charismatic towns of Lisbon and Porto and the rustic charms of the countryside. • Explore the burgeoning wine region of the Alentejo with its sun-dappled cork forests and umber-colored hills. • Go from a prehistoric stone circle to a Roman vineyard, from a Moorish citadel to a renaissance town or hi-tech, modern dam. 2020 Tour Dates Our 7 Days in Portugal tour has not yet been scheduled. Contact us to request the dates you would like. Featured Luxury Accommodations Nights 1&2 Santiago de Alfama/ Santa Clara 1728/ Torel Palace/CasaFortunato Lisbon Nights 3&4 São Lourenço do Barrocal Monsaraz Nights 5&6 Casas Caiadas Estremoz 2020 Booking Options Duo $5,040 $600 Deposit Solo $5,390 $600 Deposit * Journey inclusions might change based on availability. However, our promise to deliver uniquely curated local experiences will dictate any potential changes. PORTUGAL: DEEP INTO THE ALENTEJO ITINERARY - 7 DAYS DAY 1 DAY 4 On our first day in Lisbon you’ll be picked up at 9:30am. We will experience a beautiful tour of the Alentejo from a After check-in, you will be delved into two important beautiful perspective in a hot air balloon. In the afternoon, components of our Alentejo tour: wine with Os Galiardos, we will take a tour with a local wine producer and visit a the terroirists and so-called activists of authentic wines; small traditional wine talha maker to learn more about the architectural modernism and its legacy with architect roots of Portuguese winemaking. Frederico Valsassina; and their combination at Herdade o Freixo, a splendid winery that might as well be a museum DAY 5 of contemporary art. You’ll be able to relax with serendipity We’ll take a ride assisted bike tour to Herdade do Freixo time in Lisbon, followed by a stimulating dinner. for wine tasting in an architectural gem, before strolling through Evora and taking lunch at a typical tavern. Visitors DAY 2 can opt to go for a Lusitano horseback tour at Monte Velho, Day two will commence with a quest for the perfect pastel or go to the Almendres Cromlech with archeologist Mario de nata at a real Lisboa institution: Pasteis de Belém, where Carvalho to learn about the megalithic complex. We’ll check the fabled custard tarts have been satisfying sweet tooths in to Casas Caiadas, which hints at hushed relaxation, and since 1837. Sated, we’ll then uncover Lisbon’s history of we’ll relax and recharge. We’ll stay in for a relaxing dinner at azulejo tiles through decorative arts museums, monasteries, the end of an active day. ateliers and more: seeking inspiration at the Museu Nacional do Azulejo and handpainting your own tiles; visiting the DAY 6 artisan Ruí in Bicesse at Azulejos Artesanal. At sunset we’ll We will explore the hilltop town of Estremoz, enjoy some be serenaded by Julio Brecho on a private cruise, all before wine history and tasting with a wine producer at an awe- winding down for dinner and a restful night’s sleep... inspiring facility and have dinner at a local organic family wine farm accompanied by the delightful winemaker. DAY 3 Departing Lisbon, we’ll transfer to our next two-night DAY 7 resort to check in, relax and recharge at the understated On our last day in Portugal, we’ll visit a local market so countryside retreat. Once we regain our energy levels, we you can pick up some souvenirs to bring back home. We’ll are in for a fascinating geologic tour of the nearby land with sit down for our last lunch with a special wine tasting at the savant Manuel Calado, followed by a picnic lunch in a Herdade dos Outeiros Altos, a family-run affair, and learn serene setting. We’ll take to the winery of Esporão, part of all about their production. Our bags packed full with sun- the Alentejo’s cork oak forests, and wind down for dinner drenched clothes, we’ll travel back to Lisbon, remembering at Sabores de Monsarez, till the sun sets and the sky is dark. to bring the slowed-down rhythms of Alentejo back to Then we’ll head to Alqueva to stargaze under one of the everyday life. darkest, clearest skies in the world, to observe the stellar bodies that connect us to the earth. MEET YOUR HOSTS Jason Wertz “In curating UNCOVR journeys, I draw upon what I love most about travel, which is to get to know people on a more personal basis. So we go where the locals go and do what the locals do. We create a more intimate, more personal travel experience, recognizing that the real value of travel is emotional. Each time I return home changed, better. My goal with UNCOVR is that our guests do, too.” Mélanie Wolfram Mélanie is a PhD student at the University of Évora. Her work synthesizes the archaeological, architectural and epigraphic remains of southern Lusitania that directly refer to early Christianity. Michele Marques From Rio de Janeiro, Michele has lived in Portugal since 2005. In 2010, while taking a trip to Italy, she started to think about professional cuisine more seriously. After a course of Italian cuisine she returned to Portugal and applied to the Escola de Hotelaria de Portalegre. In 2012 with her graduation in hand, she decided to innovate in Mercearia Gadanha, and in 2013 realizes her dream… her own restaurant. Taking her work with joy, with a young team by her side, they keep learning and evolving day by day, always with fresh and local products, and a lot of smiles. Mario Carvalho This local archeologist with a passion for pre-history uses the translation of scientific data into information that is interesting and educational for the broader public. Mario tells us the story behind three important archaeological sites that are little-known and you would have difficulty finding them on your own. Antonio Rocha Manuel Calado Frederico Valsassina Herdade dos Talheiro Artesanal Barrocal Architecture Outeiros Altos .