Discovering Portugal
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Special University of Minnesota departure – October 9-21, 2022 Discovering Portugal 13 days for $4,672 total price from Minneapolis ($4,195 air & land inclusive plus $477 airline taxes and fees) From Lisbon to the north of Portugal, through the Alentejo region and south to the Algarve, our small group navigates the gentle charms of this country rich in history, blessed with natural beauty, and well-versed in hospitality. Complementing our discoveries: stays in two unique pousadas, Portugal’s famed historic lodgings. Oporto Atlantic Ocean PORTUGAL Estremoz Lisbon Sagres Destination Motorcoach Entry/Departure Dating to the 1st century bce, the landmark Castelo de São Jorge stands as an icon above Lisbon. Avg. High (°F) Sep Oct Lisbon 80 73 Estremoz 80 69 Day 1: Depart U.S. for Lisbon, Portugal extravaganza boasting double chimneys and multiple Sagres 77 73 design styles. Following our tour here, we continue Day 2: Arrive Lisbon We arrive in the Portuguese on to the nearby coastal resort of Cascais, where capital and transfer to our hotel. Late this afternoon we visit the Citadel of Cascais, built between the we meet our fellow travelers and Odysseys Unlimited 15th and 17th centuries. Once a summer retreat for Your Small Group Tour Highlights Tour Director at a briefing about the journey ahead, royalty, today the citadel houses a museum, which followed by a welcome dinner at our hotel. D we tour, and a deluxe hotel. Then we walk through Lisbon touring • Cascais and Sintra excursion • Visit to Cascais’ Old Town, and tour the Citadel of Cascais, classic fortified town of Obidos • Medieval Guimaraes, Day 3: Lisbon Highlights of our tour of one of the originally a fort and now a museum. Dinner tonight “birthplace” of Portugal • Oporto touring, with private world’s oldest cities include the ornate 16th-century is on our own in Lisbon. B Douro cruise and port wine tasting • University town of Jerónimos Monastery, where Vasco da Gama spent Coimbra • Visit to walled city of Evora • Journey through pastoral Alentejo district • Lunch at a country estate • his last night ashore before sailing to the Far East; Day 5: Lisbon/Oporto Traveling north today, we Portugal’s maritime legacy in Sagres and Lagos • Stays in Belem Tower, a masterpiece of Manueline architec- stop in the classic fortified town of Obidos, where two intimate, unique pousadas • Comprehensive tour ture; and the iconic Monument to the Discoveries we take a walking tour through its medieval streets. with leisurely pace • Visits to numerous UNESCO sites commemorating Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Next Then we continue on to the historic town of Oporto, we step back in time as we walk through the Alfama, our home for the next three nights. We dine tonight Day Itinerary Hotel Rating Lisbon’s oldest district that was spared destruction in at our hotel. B,D 1 Depart U.S. for Lisbon the earthquake of 1755. We have time here to stroll 2-4 Lisbon Eurostars Das Letras First Class the maze of cobbled streets lined with colorful homes; Day 6: Oporto Today we explore Oporto, the and see the local people as they go about their daily country’s second largest city known for its rich 5-7 Oporto Pestana Douro Sup. First Riverside Hotel Class lives. Then we return to our hotel, with the remainder history, multiple bridges spanning the Douro of the day at leisure. Tonight, we visit a local restaurant River, and as the home of port wine. Highlights of 8-9 Estremoz Pousada Castelo Sup. First de Estremoz Class for dinner and a performance of fado, the traditional our panoramic city tour include the medieval city 10-11 Sagres Pousada de Sagres First Class melancholic music of Portugal. B,D center, a UNESCO site; and the baroque Clérigos 12 Lisbon Pestana Palace Lisboa Deluxe Church, with its signature bell tower. Then we 13 Depart Lisbon for U.S. Day 4: Cascais/Sintra The first stop on today’s enjoy a private “six-bridge” cruise on the Douro, Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel discoveries: Pena Palace, the colorful architectural upon whose banks the Romans planted grape vines industry standard reference 20 Visit us at www.umnalumni.org/travel B – Breakfast; L – Lunch; D – Dinner Tour membership limited to 24 total alumni and friends millennia ago. Our tour ends with a visit to a port OH, I’M NOT JUST GoiNG lodge for a tasting of the fortified wine exclusive to Too FAR, I’VE ARRIVED.” this region. We dine together tonight. B,D – JOSÉ SARAMAGO Day 7: Guimaraes/Braga We travel to the lovely city of Guimaraes, considered the “birthplace” of Portugal for being the birthplace of Afonso Day 10: Estremoz/Sagres As we continue our Henriques, the country’s first king. With its well- journey south, we visit a cork factory then arrive late preserved historical center (a UNESCO site) and morning at a country estate lush with vineyards, olive harmonious design, Guimaraes is closely tied to groves, and forests of cork oak. Here we learn about the Portuguese national identity. We get a taste of olive oil and wine production and enjoy a tasting, this unique atmosphere on a walking tour through followed by lunch in the lovely surroundings. Later, the medieval streets and squares lined with period we continue on to the picturesque fishing village houses; and past such landmarks as the castle, Chapel of Sagres and our intimate pousada overlooking the of St. Michael, Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, Atlantic and the Sagres promontory. Dinner tonight and graceful Oliveira Square. After lunch on our is at our pousada, whose restaurant specializes in local own, we depart for nearby Braga, a 2,000-year-old seafood. B,L,D city (and Portugal’s third largest) made young by the presence of university students. Known for its reli- Day 11: Sagres/Lagos Today we encounter this gious festivals, Braga is an elegant town laced with region that launched Portugal’s Age of Discovery, th narrow lanes, plazas, and an abundance of baroque when in the 15 century, explorers went out to churches. Highlights of our walking tour include the sea, sailed along the coast of Africa, and eventually fortified Torre de Menagem, Largo do Paco square, reached the Cape of Good Hope and beyond. It was and the impressive Cathedral, Portugal’s oldest and Prince Henry the Navigator who sponsored these one of the country’s most important buildings. B,D expeditions; much of our touring in the historical town of Lagos and in Sagres today celebrates his Day 8: Oporto/Coimbra/Estremoz Today’s travels legacy. Our explorations begin with a cruise along bring us first to historic Coimbra, where we take a the limestone coastline, featuring the dramatic rocks walking tour of of Ponta da Piedade. Next, we visit the Antonine We see the Ponta da Piedade rock formations on Day 11. the 13th-century Museum inside the Church of St. Anthony; see the university, a statue of Prince Henry the Navigator; and stop at the UNESCO site. Ponta da Piedade and Cape St. Vincent viewpoints Tour Departs: October 9, 2022 Prices include international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees We also visit to witness the dramatic Atlantic as it nears shore at the Santa Cruz mainland Europe’s southernmost point. Then we Boston, New York $4,172 Monastery to visit the charming village of Sagres. B,D Philadelphia, Washington, DC $4,472 see the medieval Atlanta, Baltimore, We embark on a leisurely tombs and ornate Day 12: Sagres/Lisbon Charlotte, Chicago, drive back to Lisbon today, stopping for lunch on sacristy. Then Cincinnati, Cleveland, $4,572 our own along the way. After reaching our hotel in we continue our Detroit, Miami, a restored 19th-century palace mid-afternoon, we journey south to Orlando, Tampa Estremoz in the have time at leisure until we gather to celebrate our Dallas, Denver, Houston, Alentejo region, discoveries at tonight’s farewell dinner. B,D Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Portugal’s agri- $4,672 Phoenix, Portland (OR), cultural center Day 13: Depart for U.S. We transfer to the airport San Francisco, Seattle with its bountiful this morning for our connecting flights to the U.S. B fields of wheat, Land Only (transfers not included) $3,495 fragrant vine- Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person Café life in Portugal yards, and stands based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, of olive, citrus, and cork trees. Late afternoon we surcharges, and fees of $477, which are subject to change reach our pousada set in a 13th-century castle in the until final payment has been made. historic city center. B,D Your Tour Price Includes Single travelers please add $995. Your $500 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days prior to departure. All 2022 • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities Day 9: Evora This morning’s walking tour of the tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and walled city of Evora introduces us to the charms of • 11 nights’ accommodations: 7 nights in Deluxe, Superior fees) are guaranteed. this architectural gem – a university town, prosperous First Class, and First Class hotels; 4 nights in Superior First regional capital, and UNESCO site, thanks to the Class and First Class pousadas Airline upgrades on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: many relics from its Roman and Moorish past. We • 22 meals: 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 10 dinners Business Class – $3,595 per person; Premium Economy see a Roman temple, the 12th-century cathedral, cen- • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees – $1,595 per person in addition to the above costs tral Giraldo Square, and the Church of St.