20-Day Portugal and Galicia Heritage Tour with Santiago and Douro

• Meet up with your local guide and begin the tour.
• Go for a short panoramic tour through some historical quarters of Lisbon. Visit Estrela and stop at the Basilica da Estrela.
• Visit the heart of the historical center of Lisbon-Rossio Square, which allows you to discover some of the romantic sides of the capital or choose to visit some viewpoints (belvederes) of Lisbon.
• Drive to the famous Statue of Christ- Cristo Rei- opposite Lisbon. Get a chance to use the lift to go up to the Statue.
• Stroll through the famous Belém quarter and visit the Jerónimos Monastery, a World Heritage Monument (it is closed on Monday).
• Make a brief stop at the Belém Tower- declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (Torre de Belém), the point of departure of some of the Portuguese maritime explorations, such as on the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos), built to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the 'death' of Prince Henry, the Navigator.

Overnight in Lisbon.

• Visit the Queluz Palace. It is one of the leading examples of the rococo and neoclassical architectural styles from the second half of the eighteenth century in Portugal. The residence was initially designed as a summer house and was a favoured place for the royal family's leisure and entertainment but became their permanent home from 1794. Visit the gardens.
• Drive along Sintra Mountain to see Cabo da Roca, Europe's most western point, Guincho dunes, and the natural park in Sintra. Click pictures in Cascais.
• Return to Lisbon along the panoramic road over Estoril.

Overnight in Lisbon.

• Go north through the hilly landscape of the west coast until you reach Mafra. Visit the imposing Mafra Convent, the largest baroque building in Portugal.
• Drive through the province of Extremadura to Peniche, a small fishing town where the fishing industry is an important activity. Come across lots of restaurants specialising in fish and seafood. Admire the strange rock formations at the "Cabo Carvoeiro" can be admired. 
• Enjoy the magnificent coastal scenery until you arrive at the fishing village of Baleal, a fusion between land and sea.
• Make your way to Óbidos, located near the magnificent coastal scenery of Peniche. Óbidos, known as the "Village of Queens", is surrounded by walls and very well preserved. Guests are invited to the famous cherry liqueur "Ginginha Taste". 
• Drive to Fátima afterwards.

Overnight in Fátima.

• Visit Fátima, the site where Lady of Fátima appeared on the 13th of May 1917 in the homes of the three shepherds. Fátima is the religious capital of Portugal and an essential place for many people to visit.
• Continue to the Monastery of Batalha, which is the biggest example of the late gothic Portuguese style in Portugal. You can find a mix of the Gothic style with the Manueline Art - a symbol of the Portuguese maritime expansion.
• Take a lunch break and go to the fishing village of Nazaré. Lunchtime in Nazaré and a visit to the site of the biggest waves in the world.
• Explore Tomar, a charming and historically outstanding town on the banks of the Nabão River. It is dominated by a 12th-century Templar Castle containing one of the country's most significant and impressive monuments, the Convent of Christ.
• Visit the Aqueduct of Pegões in Tomar, built to serve water to the Convent of Christ.

Overnight in Fatima.

• Drive to Coimbra and visit the historical university with its impressive library from the 18th century.
• Go to the Palace Hotel Bussaco. 
• Journey to Aveiro, the "Portuguese Venice" at the lagoon, and the visit to the Costa Nova with the quaint traditional fishing houses at the Atlantic Ocean.
• Drive to Porto.

Overnight in Porto.

• Enjoy an extensive panoramic tour of Porto.
• Visit St. Francis Church, the "Stock Exchange" Bolsa, with the Arab hall.
• Enjoy lunchtime at the old quarter of Ribeira, which faces the river Douro.
• Get a chance to enjoy a 50-minute boat tour in the river Douro and visit a Port Wine cellar.
• Spend your free time in the afternoon however you want to.

Overnight in Porto.

• Depart from Porto to Barcelos, known for being the cradle of the legend of the rooster. 
• Head to Braga, known as the "town of the archbishops" or the "Rome Portugals". Visit the oldest cathedral in Portugal and the pilgrimage site called Bom Jesus with the monumental staircase. 
• Visit the Guimarães historic quarter, which is close to Braga.

Overnight in Porto.

• Head to the fishing town of Viana do Castelo.
• Overlook the town from Santa Luzia Church, the fishing harbour and the shipyard facilities to undertake shipbuilding, conversions and ship repair of any type. The views were considered once by the National Geographic Magazine as one of the most impressive worldwide.
• Visit the shrine of Santa Luzia.
• Leave Portugal and arrive in Galicia, Spain. 
• Arrive at the pilgrimage town Santiago de Compostela, where, according to tradition, the apostle of Jesus, James the Greater, is buried. 

Overnight in Santiago.

• Visit the famous pilgrimage site in northwest Spain. Destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the 10th century, it was completely rebuilt in the following century. 
• Marvel at the Old Town of Santiago is one of the world's most beautiful urban areas and a World Heritage Site. The oldest monuments are grouped around the tomb of St James and the cathedral, which contains the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria. 
• See the tomb of St. James the Greater, the beloved apostle of Jesus Christ, discovered in a far site near the finis terrae, in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
• Visit the Cathedral and the tomb of the apostle James.

Overnight in Santiago.

• Drive to Ourense Galicia's, the only landlocked province as it is probably the Galician district least known and least explored by foreign tourists. 
• Go to this magnificent old town with many monumental buildings, both religious and civic and an ancient bridge that spans the river Mino with sections dating back to the Roman occupation nearly 2000 years ago and the hot springs.
• Drive to Portugal to the border towns Chaves, Vila Real and Régua in the heart of the Douro Valley and the Port wine region, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world since 1756.

Overnight in Régua at the river Douro.

• Visit the iconic Mateus Palace and the gardens.
• Take a trip to Amarante and experience the local pastries from old monasteries.
• Drive again to the Douro Valley, the heart of the port wine region.
• Visit Pinhão's tile-covered train station.

Overnight in Regua.

• Depart for the small town of Lamego. 
• Visit the pilgrimage site of Senhora dos Remédios and have a gourmet experience tasting wine, ham, cheese, smoked sausages, etc.
• Go to the old quarter of Viseu and Guarda, the highest town in Portugal. Visit the cathedral of Guarda.
• Head south to Belmonte and learn about the old Portuguese Jewish history.

Overnight in Belmonte.

• Visit the historical village of Belmonte, the birthplace of Pedro Alvares Cabral, the discoverer of the seaway to Brazil, to the Jewish Museum and the medieval Castle.
• Head to the historical villages of Monsanto, known for houses built among the huge granite boulders, and to the beautiful Penha Garcia. Return to Belmonte.

Overnight in Belmonte.

• Depart to Castelo Branco and visit the gardens of the palace of the Archbishop.
• Arrive at Castelo de Vide with the well-preserved medieval Jewish quarter and the castle.
• Drive to Marvão at 862m on top of a mountain and completely surrounded by walls. From here we can overlook Spain and the breathtaking landscape of the province Alentejo.
• Drive to Évora.

Overnight in Évora.

• Enjoy walking through Évora and visit the Roman Temple, Cathedral, St. Francis Church and the Bone's Chapel, Geraldo Square and Historical University from the middle of the 16th century.
• Enjoy the free afternoon,

Overnight in Évora.

• Visit the "white villages".
• Proceed driving through cork tree forests and make a visit to a cork factory and learn all about the cork making process. Stop at the castle of Évoramonte to enjoy the views and the "silence".
• Drive to Estremoz, the capital of Marble in Portugal, where most of the marble quarries are located. Stop at the Castle and the famous Pousada.
• In the town center, make a comfortable stop for toilets and coffee.
• Drive to Vila Viçosa, Borba and return back to Évora.

Overnight in Évora.

• Head to Monsaraz at the great lake Alqueva and Spain. Explore Monsaraz on foot.
• Go to the southeast of Portugal to Mértola and Vila Real de Santo Antonio (Portuguese/Spanish border). Visit the well-preserved historical villages untouched by nature and away from tourist crowds.
• Visit the typical village Cacela Velha at the lagoon Ria Formosa, a protected area.

Overnight in Faro.

• Visit the local fish, fruit and vegetable markets and taste the local produce.
• Go to Santa Luzia at the lagoon and a small train ride through the natural park Ria Formosa to the beach Barril to see where fishers gathered to catch the tuna back in the day.
• Catch Santa Luzia on a small train trip through Barril's beach.
• Visit Tavira on foot to discover the secrets of this old town of merchants.

Overnight in Faro.

• Find out about the Portuguese discoveries, especially of Henry the Navigator at Lagos, Sagres, Cape Saint Vincent, Europe's most southwestern point.
• Discover the history of the Golden Coast with its unique rock formations at Ponta da Piedade.

Overnight in Faro.

• Depart from Faro to Setúbal and taste regional products in the market Setubal.
• Visit the Arrábida Natural Park, famous for its landscapes and viewpoints, and visit the tide mill Mouriscas. 
• See Storcks and Flamingos at the Natural Reserve of the Sado Estuary. 
• Arrival in Lisbon.

Overnight in Lisbon.