Points of Interest
- Lisbon
- Sintra, Cascais, & Estoril
- Between Lisbon & Porto
- Porto and the North
- Eastern Portugal
- Evora and The Alentejo
- Southern Portugal and the Algarve
Travel between Lisbon and Porto with Heritage Tours Private Travel
Often overlooked in a rush to get to Porto, some of Portugal’s greatest gems are densely packed into this area. The quantity is staggering. One wonders how such a small country can contain such riches—and the answer lies in the vast wealth from the days of her maritime glory.
Your private guide will escort you to stunning medieval architecture, untouched forests and wild coastline, enormous monasteries. It is perhaps the area of Portugal where you most feel the call of her past.
You might visit the medieval Cistercian monastery at Alcobaca (UNESCO World Heritage site) which once housed 999 monks to the former Portuguese capital of Coimbra, which housed one of Europe’s oldest universities (founded 1290) and a magnificent library.
You might visit the Moorish castle at Leiria or perhaps the Catholic pilgrimage town of Fatima, one of Europe’s most important. Or perhaps the tiny picture-perfect 13th century town of Obidos, most magical in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Obidos is the traditional wedding present of Portuguese royalty, passed down from one generation to another.
The small town of Tomar is famous for both its supremely magnificent (and somewhat mysterious) Convent of Christ, built by the Knights Templar (UNESCO World Heritage also) as well as, surprisingly, one of the oldest standing synagogues in Europe.
And the marble Palace and Convent at Mafra, financed by gold from Brazil, is one of Europe’s most enormous. It is a construction of superlatives—one of the largest collections of bells in the world, one of the largest domes in the world. It employed 45,000 builders, has over 1,000 cells and rooms, 5200 doorways, 2500 windows, and a library with 40,000 rare books and manuscripts.
The forest of Bucaco is one of Europe’s greatest. The Roman ruins at Conimbriga are Portugal’s finest and the monastery at Batalha (UNESCO World Heritage as well) is often considered the high point of traditional Portuguese architecture.
For expert guidance in travel to these magical places, call Heritage Tours Private Travel at 800 378 4555.
