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Portugal Vacation Packages

Portugal was a colonial power, a benefit of its enviable coastal location. As a result, its riches are apparent in the architectural remnants of its esteemed past. Visit a six-century Celtic settlement and the 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace. Cruise under a bridge in Oporto designed by Gustave Eiffel and stay in a former 18th-century aristocratic mansion on a wine estate. Wander imposing castles, tranquil monasteries and quaint fishing villages to get a true feel for this culturally diverse nation.

Days 1-2: Guimaraes

You are met in Oporto and transferred to the Pousada de Santa Marinha in Guimarães. Discover the Minho province. See Guimarães, known as the "cradle" of Portugal, and pass the vestiges of an extensive sixth-century Celtic settlement to Braga to visit Bom Jesus Sanctuary, best known for its monumental staircase. Continue to Ponte de Lima to see the Roman and medieval bridges.

Day 3: Duoro Region

In Oporto, known for its fortified wine, visit the 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace. Cruise under the six city bridges, including one designed by Gustave Eiffel. Stop at a famous wine lodge before continuing to your pousada, the Solar da Rede, an 18th-century aristocratic mansion set on a 99-acre wine estate.

Day 4-5: Coimbra

Visit osne of the many wine estates in the Douro Region before heading toward Bussaco, the nearby spa town of Luso and the gastronomic Mealhada region. Your hotel is Quinta das Lagrimas in Coimbra. Explore the old university and the Romanesque Old Cathedral. Drive to Conimbriga, a former Celtic and Roman settlement and important Roman archaeological site.

Day 6: Estremoz

Drive to Tomar, the 12th-century seat of the order of the Templars. Visit the ancient Castle-Convent of Christ and the Abraão Zacuto Hebraic Museum. Then examine the 16th-century Pegões aqueduct. Pass the São Mamede Mountains to Estremoz and check in to the Pousada of Rainha Santa Isabel.

Days 7-10: Lisbon

Stop at a marble quarry en route to Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the first-century Roman ruins and the 16th-century Jesuit University. Arrive in Lisbon for your stay at the Lapa Palace Hotel. Visit the Belém area, the departure point for many of the early journeys to the "new world"; the Jeronimos Monastery and the Coach Museum. Then view the rich private art collection of Calouste Gulbenkian before travelling to coastal Sintra for panoramic views. On your last Day, explore the Cistertian monastery of Alcobaca and Nazaré, a fishing village where the women still wear their traditional tartan dress. Continue to the walled town of Óbidos.

Day 11: Lisbon

Transfer to the Lisbon airport your departure flight.

Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-415-446-5252 or 1-800-330-8820

12/09

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