PALACES OF PORTUGAL AN ESCORTED TOUR STAYING AT THE MAGNIFICENT PALACIO ESTORIL HOTEL 11TH TO 18TH JUNE & 8TH TO 15TH OCTOBER 2018 Four seasons grill Lisbon skyline storil and the surrounding resorts have long been popular with British visitors. The close proximity to Lisbon, the mild climate and its fame as a haunt of aristocrats has attracted people to this Portuguese Riviera for many years. It is a resort Eof great charm which has, by and large, escaped the worst excesses of modern day tourism. The seafront promenade, which stretches some two miles to the delightful town of Cascais, offers an inviting walk on the flat, well away from the passing traffic. Within Estoril and Cascais there is much to see and do, but one of the best reasons for using Estoril as a base is the accessibility of some of Portugal’s most scenic and historic places. Closeby is the magnificent city of Lisbon, a marvellous place to explore no matter what your interests. The town of Sintra, in a stunning setting on the northern slopes of the granite Serra is also easily accessible from Estoril. Here, some of Portugal’s finest palaces are to be found. The tall conical chimneys of the Palacio Nacional de Sintra and the impressive Palacio e Parque de Pena, eerily impressive on its peak when the hollows of the Serra are lost in the morning mists, are unmissable landmarks. It has enormous charm and richly deserves its designation as a World Heritage Site. During our escorted tour we will explore Sintra National Palace, the Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Park. In addition we visit Queluz Palace and its historical gardens, the Baroque palace complex of Mafra and the charming city of Evora with its mysterious Chapel of Bones. Join us for this escorted tour and discover some wonderful palaces, gardens and historic cities. We stay at the wonderful Palacio Estoril Hotel which, with an incredible history in its own right has seen royal visitors come and go since the 1930’s. The Itinerary Day 1 London to Lisbon, Portugal. palaces and gardens and has been and chapel, and a luxurious park integrant part of Sintra mountain Fly by scheduled flight from recognised as a UNESCO World that features lakes, grottoes, wells, forests which contain what remain of London to Lisbon. On arrival Heritage Site since 1995. Our first benches, fountains, and a vast array a magnificent and extensive exotic transfer to the Estoril Palacio Hotel stop is the Palacio Nacional de of exquisite constructions. After garden, the 19th-century romantic for our seven night stay. Enjoy a Sintra whose conical chimneys are lunch we visit the Palacio e Parque folly of English millionaire Sir Francis welcome dinner at the hotel. unmistakable landmarks of this area. de Pena, an eccentric palace built Cook. We head back to Estoril For six centuries it was the favourite from the ruins of a monastery, a along winding magnificent cliffs, Day 2 Sintra. Today we drive to summer residence of the kings pastiche inspired by the castles of small inlets and long stretches of the nearby hill town of Sintra for of Portugal, who were attracted Bavaria. Equally surprising is the sandy beaches with a stop en route a full day tour. Sintra’s stunning by the cool climate and the lush surrounding park where a series of at the village of Cascais. setting makes it an ideal starting beauty of the town’s setting. Our contrasting settings are designed point for our tour. The area is next stop is Quinta da Regaleira to imitate nature in all its beauty. Day 3 Queluz Palace. After home to some of Portugal’s finest which consists of a romantic palace Next we visit Monserrate Park, an breakfast drive to Queluz Palace www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Temple of Evora Queluz Palace Eram Garden, Shiraz Estufa Fria covered garden Lisbon Palace of Mafra Chapel of Bones, Evora for a morning of exploration. Often the jewel of Manueline art. Stop by World Heritage Site of Evora, a city around the expanding city. They referred to as the Versailles of Belem Tower, a fortress by the Tagus in the Alentejo region still partially simply moved all the remains from Portugal, this former royal palace is which was the starting point for the enclosed by Medieval walls and each of the sites and relocated surrounded by extensive grounds. 16th century Portuguese navigators home to one of the best preserved them to one single, consecrated See the Malta Garden famous for who set out to discover the trade roman temples on the Iberian chapel within the church so that its musical concerts, the Hanging routes. Nearby is the Monument to Peninsula. Visit the Sé Cathedral, the land could be freed up for Garden, its statues, ponds, grotto the Discoveries, commissioned by an attractive mix of Renaissance further use and development. As and the azulejo-tiled canal where the Salazar regime in 1960 to mark and Gothic architecture whose for the bones, rather than hiding the royal family would go boating. the 500th anniversary of the death most ancient sections date back to them away, they took the unusual We then visit Estufa Fria which, of Henry the Navigator. Continue AD1200 and see the impressive 16th decision of putting them out on initially thought out as a place to with a drive to see the main sights century Agua de Prata aqueduct, display, cementing the remains of simply shelter various types of of Lisbon passing through Rossio, constructed over a six year period more than 5000 individuals from all plants, has become one of the Avenida da Liberdade and Marques to ensure the supply of fresh water walks of life, all over the chapel walls most pleasant green spaces in de Pombal Square before returning to the city, which by that time and ceiling. Lisbon. Here is a place the gives its to your hotel. had become the residence of the visitors a sense of tranquility and Portuguese monarchy. After lunch Day 7 Palacio Estoril Hotel. wellbeing and you can spend time Day 5 Palacio Estoril Hotel & at a local restaurant we will visit the Spend a day at leisure to enjoy the between lakes, waterfalls, brooks, Mafra. Enjoy a morning at leisure St Francis Church, home to Evora’s facilities at your hotel. This evening statues and hundreds of different in Estoril and this afternoon we visit most mysterious attraction, the there will be a farewell dinner at plant specimens from all over the the monumental Palace of Mafra, Chapel of Bones. The chapel was the hotel. world. We head back to Estoril and a complex so vast it was feared it the work of a group of Franciscan enjoy the afternoon at leisure. would bankrupt the nation when monks who designed it as a Day 8 Lisbon to London. After construction began in 1717. Built practical solution to the problem breakfast we transfer to the airport Day 4 Lisbon. Today we visit Lisbon to celebrate the birth of a daughter of over forty monastic cemeteries for our return scheduled flight to where we head first for the suburb to King Joao V, the place and taking up too much space in and London. of Benfica and Frontiera Palace. basilica were intended to compete Built in 1640, it is still one of the in magnificence with St Peter’s most beautiful residences in Lisbon, in Rome, and had 45,000 men containing splendid rooms with 17th working on its construction. Our PRICES PER PERSON Based on double occupancy and 18th century decorative tiles, tour will visit the King’s apartments, frescoed panels and oil paintings. the splendid Baroque library and Twin: £2195 Twin for sole use: £2795 It is most famous for its stunning the domed basilica, continuing formal gardens with some of the through to the Queen’s apartments Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel, seven nights hotel accommodation in a Classic Room at the Palacio Estoril Hotel on a bed and country’s finest tiles, depicting some 250 metres away. breakfast basis, dinner on days 1 and 7, lunch on days 2, 4 and 6, transfers, hunting, battles and religious scenes. excursions as detailed, gratuities, English-speaking guide throughout, Noble After lunch we visit the Church of Day 6 Evora. Today we embark on Caledonia Tour Manager. Jeronimos Monastery, considered a full day tour to visit the UNESCO Not Included: Travel insurance, meals not listed. +44 (0)20 7752 0000 Double room Imperial room Four seasons grill Palacio Estoril Hotel e are delighted to be working with the Palacio Estoril Hotel where old fashioned service and modern amenities create an oasis of comfort. When you walk through the doors you immediately recognise that you have entered one of those veryW special hotels. Very much in the traditional deluxe grand European style, it exudes quality yet at the same time conveys a warm and informal atmosphere. Seventy years of tradition and a complete renovation have resulted in one of the most attractive resort hotels in Europe. Located in the heart of Estoril, just 20 minutes from the centre of Lisbon, the Palacio is set in beautiful gardens with outstanding views over Estoril and the Bay of Cascais. The Palacio has been updated and has benefited from several refurbishments and renovations. Today, it offers all the comfort and convenience of a modern luxury five-star hotel while retaining all its charm of the past. During the Second World War, due to Portugal’s neutrality several royal families went into exile in Estoril, which became known as the ‘Coast of Kings’.