Guided visit to the west quarter of Lisbon - Belem.
Bathed by the the mouth of the Tagus River, visit Belém with its gardens and monuments to the Lisbon of the Voyages of Discovery now declared UNESCO World Heritage.
Next on the tour is the imposing Jerónimos Monastery. Listed as World Heritage since 1983, it is a real book of stone on the golden period in Portugal’s History. After admiring the south portal in detail, it is worth visiting the cloisters and the church where Luís de Camões and Vasco da Gama are buried.
On the western edge of Praça do Império, an imposing modern building will attract your attention. This is the Belém Cultural Centre, a powerful fixture in the city’s cultural scene, with an interesting programme of cultural events. This is where the Berardo Museum is housed, with its collection of contemporary art.
Don't miss the chance to pay a visit to the Belém Tower, a fortress erected in the 16th century with the aim of defending the entrance to the Tagus from sea attacks – although its elaborate decoration makes it look more like a textbook on Manueline style than a military structure.
The imposing Monument to the Discoveries stamps its mark on the riverside at Belém. It was designed in 1940 to commemorate the "Exposition of the Portuguese World", promoted by the Salazar government to celebrate the eighth and third centenaries of the founding and restoration of the Portuguese nation (1140 and 1640 respectively). However, it was only built in 1960 for commemorations marking 500 years since the death of Prince Henry the Navigator. Designed by architect Cottinelli Telmo, it features the work of sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida. 52 metres in height, the monument symbolises a caravel, headed by the figure of Prince Henry the Navigator followed by a cortege of 32 leading figures from the Era of the Discoveries including, for example, king Afonso V (1432-81), the driving force behind the first discoveries, Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) who discovered the maritime route to India, Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467-1520), who discovered Brazil and Fernando Magellan, who completed the circumnavigation of the globe in 1522, among others.
Take a delicious stop at the traditional Pastry Factory of “Pasteis de Belem”. At the beginning of the 19th Century, in Belém, next to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the Heironymite Monastery) there was a sugar cane refinery attached to a small general store. As a result of the 1820 liberal revolution, all convents and monasteries in Portugal were shut down in 1834, the clergy and labourers expelled. In an attempt at survival, someone from the monastery offered sweet pastries for sale in the shop; pastries that rapidly became known as ‘Pastéis de Belém’.
In 1837, the baking of the “Pastéis de Belém”began in the buildings attached to the refinery, following the ancient ‘secret recipe` from the monastery. Passed on and known exclusively to the master confectioners who hand-crafted the pastries in the ‘secret room’, this recipe remained unchanged to the present day.
We will have lunch in a local restaurant in Lisbon.
We will continue our Lisbon touring day with a tour of Lisbon Old Town.
A big part of the beauty of Lisbon lies down on its citizens, in the way these people relate with the city, in the way they gather in the alleys and patios, in the way they taste their coffee and pastry side by side with beautiful monuments of singular architecture.
You will cover a few of the main areas depending on the groups preferences.
We'll visit Bairro Alto, one of the most emblematic neighborhoods in Lisbon. Here, you can feel the "Fado" while the tram passes by. From the belvedere, we'll be able to feel the heartbeat of the city and to admire its beautiful hills. We'll continue our tour going down the hill to the area of Chiado, an important centre of commerce and cultural activity - it was here that writers and philosophers used to gather to discuss their ideas back in the early 20th century. In front of the historical "A Brasileira" café, we'll pass by the statue of Fernando Pessoa drinking his coffee, watching people passing by. From there, to Baixa Pombalina, the historical centre rebuilt after the earthquake in 1755. The new wide streets and 5 floor buildings gave a new dimension and image to the city.
Visit the Cathedral of Lisbon.
Lisbon Cathedral is one of the city's gems and one of the most significant monuments in the country, due to its historical, religious and artistic value. Its construction began in 1147, when the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, reconquered the city from the Moors. It was built on a Muslim mosque - which in turn, as the archaeological excavations confirmed, had been built on a previous Visigothic Christian temple.
The original building followed the canons of the Romanesque style, but between the 13th and 14th centuries it suffered its first changes. During the reign of D. Dinis, the cloister was built, in Gothic style. Later King D. Afonso IV ordered the construction of the ambulatory for his family pantheon, which made the Cathedral more apt to receive pilgrims who came to see the relics of St. Vincent.
End your walking tour with Alfama - the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon, spreading on the slope between the São Jorge Castle and the Tagus river. Its name comes from the Arabic Al-hamma, meaning "hot fountains" or "baths," akin to "hammam".
Alfama is a delightful maze of narrow cobbled streets and ancient houses.
Contained within this diverse and charismatic district are many of Lisbon's most important historic buildings, including the Cathedral, Castle of St George, and National Pantheon.
Historically, Alfama was situated outside of the city walls and was associated with poverty and squalor, where only the poor and disadvantaged lived. As Lisbon grew into a major seafaring city, the district retained its lowly status as the tough and deprived district where sailors and dock workers lived.
The great 1755 Lisbon earthquake did not destroy the Alfama, which has remained a picturesque labyrinth of narrow streets and small squares. Lately, the neighborhood has been invigorated with the renovation of the old houses and new restaurants where Fado—Portuguese typical melancholy music—can be enjoyed.
In the slopes of Alfama there are other terraces (miradouros) from which to see the city, like the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, near the church of the same name and over remnants of the Moorish city walls, and the Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Gates of the Sun). Near Miradouro of Santa Luzia is located the Museum of Decorative Arts (Museu de Artes Decorativas), a 17th-century mansion with magnificent interiors.
Today, Alfama has shrugged off this grim reputation, and has transformed into a fashionable and artisan district, but still retains its unique character and rich heritage.
For visitors, Alfama is a joy to visit and is often best explored by simply getting lost within the labyrinth of alleys and side streets. Around every corner or a steep climb, is a delightful plaza, a trendy cafe, an independent shop, or a panoramic viewpoint.
We will end our touring day with a private panoramic tour in Lisbon with a traditional tram - all to ourselves!!!!
ITINERARY: Belém - Junqueira - Calvário - 24 Julho - Cais Sodré – P. Comércio – P. Figueira – M. Moniz – Alm. Reis - Graca – S. Vicente - Portas do Sol
The old Lisbon trams are one of the most unique ways to know the city. Going up and down the seven hills of Lisbon since the late 19th century, these picturesque trams fit perfectly in all the alleys and narrow streets of the Portuguese capital. In this activity you will be riding the most exclusive tram of Lisbon carefully restored according to the 19thcentury standards when the trams were, in fact, the most modern way to move around the city. This tram ride allows you to absorb all the atmosphere of the old neighborhoods of Alfama, Chiado or the Downtown of Lisboa all of them just outside the window of what will be (at least for a while) your own tram.
Dinner on your own.
Meals: B, L
