“Portugal”

Lisbon, Porto,  Fatima Sanctuary, Coimbra and Sintra.

From 31th Oct. to 3rd Nov. 2019: 4 days and 3 nights in Portugal. We travel in holidays!!!

If you are enjoying already your Erasmus here, it´s the perfect case to visit our favorite neighborhood country. Portugal, is bordered by Spain to the north and east, while in the western part it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. A country of contradictions and big natural treasures that you will not forget!

Paying an incredible price, we will get to know Oporto, Coimbra, Santuario de Fatima, Lisbon and Sintra. We will spend one night in Porto and two in Lisbon while we will have guided visits in order to find out all the important monuments and it´s ones history. And for those who want…party, a lot of party!

We depart from Valencia the previous day ,traveling during night so we can take advantage to the fullest of our day in Lisbon.

First day: Lisbon and Jeronimos Monastery – Guided tour 

Arrival in Lisbon in the morning. We are going to visit the Jerónimos Monastery. We will approach the the BelemTower, the Monument to the Discoverers, the Vasco de Gama bridge, the Comercio Square…

You will be impressed by the Belem Tower. A fortress made of white rock, small but at the same time tremendous robust and elegant, surrounded by water just like an island or like a big boat sailing out of the port and starting a big journey in the ocean. In fact it is accessed by a catwalk, as if you had a ship. It´s union with the see it can also be seen in the sailor motifs that embellish its façade. It´s canons point to the four cardinal points, and for this reason, throughout history, Lisbon has been a city impregnable and well-protected.

Really close it is located the Jeronimos Monastery, which is the place where Vasco de Gama prayed before embarking on his great journey, and where all the sailors were praying as well before crossing the Atlantic ocean. Inside you will feel that you are under an immense sky of arches and vaults with a very special lighting due to the impossible colors of its stained glass. The columns seem to evoke a large forest perhaps imitating the Amazon discovered by the Portuguese sailors.

The Comercio square is a big square where they were selling the products from India. It has a triumphal arch and monuments of historical figures such as Vasco de Gama.

In the afternoon we will have the guided visit around the city center.

Lisbon is one of the cities that you have to get to know by night as well.

Second Day : Sintra- Palacio da Pena- Cabo de Roca- Party

We depart early from Lisbon and we are heading to Sintra. Sintra was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995. This villa near Lisbon is of Celtic origin, in the XV century it was established as a holiday residence for noblemen and portugeous monarchs, due to its natural environment. Sintra has a unique charm that makes it one of the most beautiful places in Portugal. Its architecture, its palaces and gardens, castles and forests make this destination worth a visit.

We are going to visit the jewel of this place: “Palace’s da Pena” with Sintra`s castle

On these dates these places are very visited, therefore, we will try to organize ourselves in the best way…and if you give us time after the visits, we will pass through “Cabo da Roca”, otherwise we will continue our way to Lisbon.

The Cabo de Roca was once considered the place where the world ends as it is known as the westernmost end of Europe. In the souvenir shop that is out there you can buy a certificate for your passage through the most western point of the continent. It is located about 18 km from Sintra, within the Natural Park of Sintra–Cascais. From its viewpoint, which is an impressive cliff that rises 140 meters above the Atlantic, there is a spectacular view of the coast cut out over the ocean. There we can find a monolith where the exact coordinates of the cape are inscribed.

Afternoon free to see some things around the city. A good plan is to listen to fados. If in Spain our traditional music is flamenco, in Portugal they have fado. It is a melancholic and nostalgic music that comes from the frustration of the most humble people. His songs are passionate, virile and intimate in their essence. They tell the story of Lisbon as something that could be but was lost. It is likely that the most sensitive are seized and some tear escapes them.

Third Day: Coimbra – Fatima – Porto

Departure to Porto, on the way we will pass through the Snacuary of Fatima, the Battle Monastery and Coimbra.

The Sanctuary of Fatima, located in the Cova da Iria, freguesia of Fatima (Portugal) is one of the most famous Marian sanctuaries in the world. According to history, in 1917 three little shepherds, Lúcia de Jesús, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto, witnessed several apparitions of the Virgin Mary under the oak in which they prayed while they were pastoring. The Virgin asked them to build a chapel in that place, which currently holds an image of Nossa Senhora. That simple chapel went bigger with time and today there are two huge basilicas capable of welcoming  more than five million pilgrims from all over the world, the amount that  it  actually receives every year.

We will arrive to Porto at the dinner time.

Porto, is a very tourist city so there is always a great atmosphere in its streets, terraces and squares. In addition, you will discover the joy and vivacity of the Portuguese people. The Portuguese love the party almost as much as the Spaniards!!

Fourth day: Porto – Guided Tour – Sightseeing – Way back to Valencia

We will have free time and we will have the opportunity to visit the Port wine cellars and take a trip (whoever wants) on the river boat to see and appreciate the impressive bridges of this city. In the afternoon we will have a guided tour of the city center.

As well we will have the guided tour through the city to see all important points of the city.

Oporto will remain on your palate for a long time, and not only for its wines. Get ready to taste this city full of charm, color, wonderful bridges and panoramic views of the river Douro. Porto is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon. Located north of Portugal next to the river mouth of the Douro  in a very special enclave. An unforgettable city with beautiful bridges and narrow, colorful streets full of history and nostalgia that will mark you forever.

We will visit the Cais da Ribera (Muelle de la Ribera), Unesco heritage. This type of promenade, but fluvial in this case, collects the essence of Portuguese decadent style with its uneven and colorful houses, with clothes hanging on its uncorked facades and seagulls flying over this marine and special atmosphere. The streets are labyrinthine and charming, it is worth getting lost in them and enjoying a good wine in one of its many terraces.

We can not miss one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The Lello library was the one that inspired J.K. Rowling when describing the Hogwarts library, and here were shot several scenes from the Harry Potter saga. It’s beautiful, but it’s always full of Muggles!

In the highest part of the city, next to the old walls, the cathedral rises, of different mixtures and architectural styles. In his square we can still see the pillory in which the murderers were hanged. The views of the city from this square are really impressive.

We can take a small boat trip through the Douro to contemplate its characteristic bridges. The most famous and well-traveled is the San Luis bridge, designed by a pupil of Eiffel, so that you will be familiar with its iron and metal structures. By its upper level, the tramway and pedestrians and other vehicles circulate through the lower level.

On the other side of the bridge we can find Vila Nova da Gaia, the town that hosts the Port wine cellars. We will taste the wine in the cellars while we enjoy a panoramic view of the Douro!

Once we finnish with our tour and city visit we will start our way back to Valencia where we will arrive the next morning.

Time and place of depart: Miércoles 30/10/2019 at 21:00h from Valencia International VIP Office (C/Actriz Encarna Mañez #3)

Time and place of Return:  Sunday 03/11/2019 at 18:00h from Portugal International VIP Office (C/Actriz Encarna Mañez #3)

The return schedule can variate depending on external factors: such as traffic on highways, shipping, etc…

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–>INCLUDES<–

√ Private bus from Valencia to Lisbon. √ 1 Night in hostel of Lisbon with breakfast. √ Guided tour in Lisbon. √ Free time in Lisbon √ Sintra, Sintra’s castle (ticket visit NOT included), Palacio da Pena (ticket visit NOT included), Cabo de Roca, with all transits by private bus. √ Private bus from Lisbon to Porto with stops in Fatima Santuary and Coimbra. √ 2 Nights in Hostel in Porto with 2 breakfasts. √ Guided tour in Porto √ Free time in Lisbon √ Private bus from Porto to Valencia. √ International  coordination √ Photography √ Travel insurance

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->SPECIAL PRICE<-

★Individual price: 209€★

-> RESERVA<-

 https://www.soyerasmusvlc.com/events/portugal-30-october-3-november-soyerasmus 

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INFORMATION

1) Inside visit “Palace da Pena (Sintra)” and Sintra Castle: 14€ + Mini-Bus round trip to get to the Palace 5€. 2) Visit of a wine cellar of Porto and its tasting + river walk on a boat along the Duoro river to see its bridges: 15€ approximately. 2) Last day to pay for the trip: Friday, 25th October, 2019.