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The Pousadas of Portugal — 8D/7N
Castles and Convents… a medieval treasure chest where Romanesque and Gothic art mix with an un-crowded and beautiful countryside far from today’s accelerated pace… a slower look at life. These are unique places that provide special experiences.
Each Pousada in Portugal is a unique place, usually located in carefully restored monuments or traditional locations that provide visitors with accommodation in keeping with the style and traditions of each region of Portugal. Mostly located in castles, monasteries, fortresses and palaces of special natural beauty from the North to the South, Pousadas are a real treasures of History offering a fascinating journey through the Portuguese culture, its traditions and arts.
Portugal’s historic villages are among the country’s best kept secrets. Built from granite and schist, and located in the heart of the country, they have witnessed over 900 years of Portuguese history. But while the villages are amazingly peaceful places to visit, they have not always been so tranquil.
In the past these villages, perched high on hilltops, played a crucial role in protecting the surrounding lands. Their vantage point made it almost impossible for would-be invaders to approach undetected. Over the centuries, Moors and Christians, Spaniards and Portuguese, have all tried to take the villages for themselves. And as a result each village has its own spell-binding tale to tell. Whether you want to experience Portugal’s breath-taking landscapes, its historic fortresses, or the warmth of its people, the villages offer it all.
SELF DRIVE PROGRAMS - Probably, the best way to independently travel in Europe is by self-drive car as it allows you to be mobile at all times, to stop whenever you want, to visit to your heart’s content! A limitless number of itineraries are possible, as you can combine any of the different regions and cities to create “your own” program. All our self drive example itineraries will be customized with your choice of car and with accommodation at selected hotels, villas, boutique properties, manor houses or castles as per your preference. Take them as they are, lengthen, shorten, combine them as you desires or just use them for ideas in creating “your itinerary” to discover Europe “as you want”! If you like the tour and decide to further customize it, just let us know of your needs and desires, we will prepare the exact itinerary you are looking for.
Sketch Itinerary
- Day 1 — Lisbon, Evora - Make your way through the peaceful Portuguese landscape enroute to the enchanting ancient town of Evora. Compacted between Roman, Renaissance and 17th-century walls, Evora’s streets are an architectural and cultural medley. Settle into the 15th-century pousada deep in the heart of this historic site. Pousada dos Loios
- Day 2 — Marvao - In the morning the road leads to the fortified town of Elvas, still surrounded by ramparts and liberated from the Moors in 1230. Marvao is a proud fortified medieval village clustered at the foot of a castle on one of the peaks of the Serra Sao Mamede near the Spanish border. Pousada dos Santa Maria
- Day 3 — Mangualde - Leave Marvao the next day via Guarda, which has been a strategic stronghold since pre-historic times and served as a base of operations for Julius Caesar. Continue through the Portuguese highlands to Mangualde. Many 16th- and 17th-century houses bearing coats of arms can be seen surrounding the cathedral square. Estralgem Casa d’Azurara
- Day 4 — Bucaco - Rising early, your destination is the fabled forest of Bucaco. As early as the 6th century, Benedictine monks built a hermitage among the oaks and pines. In 1628 the Barefoot Carmelites built a monastery on the site of the present hotel and surrounded the domain with an unbroken wall. The hotel was constructed between 1888 and 1907. Palace Hotel do Bucaco
- Day 5 — Bucaco - Leisurely explore the forest of Bucaco. Here, monks established contemplative walks and chapels among trees which gained papal protection in 1632. Part ancient woodland and part arboretum, some 700 native and exotic species remain to enjoy. Palace Hotel do Bucaco
- Day 6 — Sintra - Travel south the next morning via Batalha. The monastery of Batalha stands in a green valley, a mass of gables, pinnacles, buttresses, turrets and small columns. The rose gold outpouring of its architecture is one of the masterpieces of Portuguese Gothic and Manueline art. Hotel Palacio de Seteais
- Day 7 — Sintra - The road to Sintra takes you to the fairytale setting of Pena Park and the castle of the Moors. The park of 500 acres is richly planted with rare trees and landscaped with large boulders, lakes and fountains. The 8th century castle appears as a monument with a perimeter wall gaurded by four towers. Hotel Palacio de Seteais
- Day 8 — Lisbon - Make a leisurely departure your last day along the coast and the famed beach resort towns of Cascais and Estoril to complete your Portuguese exploration
Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs
We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.
