Arrival at Terceira’s airport, meet with the guide and transfer in private coach to the hotel. Accommodation, dinner and overnight.
2nd Day
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day dedicated to Angra do Heroismo. World Heritage Site under the aegis of UNESCO since 1983, the city is considered to be amongst the most beautiful and fascinating in the Azores archipelago, spite the damages provoqued by the 1980 earthquake. Its rich past emanates from monumental churches and houses with balconies that line the streets in the old town. Stop at the Alto da Memória (viewpoint over the Cathedral twin towers) and at the public gardens of St. Francis Convent, currently the Museum of Angra do Heroismo that exposes armor, maps, paintings and sculptures related to the history of Azores. Stop at Monte Brasil to admire the wonderful view over Angra do Heroismo and proceed towards east through the picturesque villages of rural architecture laced by green fields and lava walls. Lunch in a restaurant at St. Sebastian and visit of the main church, one of the archipelago´s oldest, built in Gothic style and home to stunning frescos. On through Praia da Victoria and along the inland where the bulls used in the bullfights at Terceira are breed. Proceed on Serra do Cume, with its wonderful views over the sea and Lajes, to Biscoitos. Visit and wine tasting at the Wine Museum. In due time, transfer to Terceira’s airport. Departure to S. Miguel Island. Arrival at Ponta Delgada, meet with the guide and transfer in private coach to the hotel. Accommodation, dinner and overnight.
3th Day
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning departure to Fajã de Baixo. Stop to visit the greenhouses and on to Vista do Rei viewpoint, with a stunning panoramic view over the picturesque village of Sete Cidades, inside a crater of a 12km perimeter and its magnificent lagoon in two colors (for the locals, home of legends of love and sadness). Descent to make a brief visit to the village and return to the hotel. After lunch, walking tour of the main city of the archipelago: the beautiful Ponta Delgada, located between green hills sparkled by the intense blue of hydrangeas, of cobbled streets and elegant Baroque churches. Beginning at Calheta de Teive, one of the initial nucleus of the city, to continue to Alto da Mae de Deus to see the timeless Ermida (chapel) with its magnificent view of the city. Proceed to the Berquo de Aguiar Palace, currently the University of the archipelago and continue to Santo André Convent (XVI century). At 04:00PM, departure in expedition for sighting of whales, sperm whales and dolphins. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
4th Day
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning departure through Lagoa to Vila Franca do Campo. Short stop at the viewpoint and proceed to Furnas in time to see the withdrawing of the famous Cozido das Furnas that boils at least five hours inside the natural volcanic boilers of the region. Typical Cozido das Furnas lunch at the Terra Nostra Park. Free time for a walk in the park before departing to Pico de Ferro. Stop at the viewpoint and continuation to Gorreana, where the famous tea factory will be visited. Proceed to Santa Iria’s viewpoint and on to the beautiful Fire Lagoon. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
5th Day
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, transfer to Ponta Delgada’s airport and departure to Lisbon. Meeting with the guide and departure in private coach to Cartaxo. Stop at a typical farm of the Ribatejo region, land of genuine people and of chivalry, of horses and bulls, of daring and skill, of parties and of good wine. Welcome by the Campinos (herdsmen) and taste of typical local products such as wine, cheese, linguiça (spicy sausage), etc.. Continuation to Coimbra, charming historic city of secular university studying tradition, known for its eight majors: Psichology, Law, Literature, Science and Technology, Medicine, Economy, Physical Education and Pharmacy. Visit of the University, that houses the Joanina Library (amongst the most beautiful libraries in the world, in Baroque style with ceilings and walls with frescos and engraved furniture), the S. Michael Chapel, the Academic Dungeon and the Capelos Hall. From the university complex depart the alleyways that form the uptown and that lead to downtown, aside Santa Clara Bridge, where the city’s activity mainly lies. Stop at the Holy Cross Monastery, where the Augustinian canonical Fernando de Bulhões from Lisbon becomes Antonio, worshiped today as St. Anthony of Padua. Accommodation at the hotel, dinner and overnight.
6th Day
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning departure to Viseu, the antiqua et nobilissima city that preserves the fortifications of a probable settlement of the Roman imperial legions and the Cava de Viriato, the largest Roman monument in the Iberian Peninsula. Visit of the historic centre and the episcopal palace, noble Renaissance building, currently the Grão-Vasco Museum that houses a remarkable series of paintings attributed to Vasco Fernandes (XV-XVI centuries), the renowned Grão-Vasco, and his main collaborator Gaspar Vaz. Continue to Peso da Régua and then along the Douro River up to Mesão Frio. Lunch at a Pousada. Proceed in the afternoon to Amarante, the charming town is one of the Northern Portugal treasures, with its many XVII century buildings with brightly painted balconies and the delightful alleys and terraces over the river. Panoramic visit of the historic centre and stop at S. Gonçalo church. Continuation to Braga, city called Portuguese Rome for the richness of its churches. Accommodation at the hotel and visit of the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary (XVIII century), known for the monumental staircase and the secular hydraulic tram. Dinner and overnight.
7th Day
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, departure through Ponte de Lima to Valença do Minho. Short visit of the historic centre and continue to Viana do Castelo. Visit of the elegant city and its magnificent buildings in República Square. Free time to explore the intricate streets and hidden squares of the historic centre. Ascent to Monte de Santa Luzia to admire the view over the city and the Lima River. Proceed to Porto, a city of an unusual charm, sophisticated shops and historic sights, of facades with bright tiles and hanging clothes to dry, belonging to neighbors that fill the air with the sound of their chatting between balconies. Accomodation at the hotel and lunch. Afternoon visit of the city centre around Avenida dos Aliados and the Ribeira (neighborhood of the people who dedicates to river commerce), and admire some of the most emblematic monuments such as the 75,60m high Clérigos Tower (the city symbol), built by the italian architect Niccolò Nasoni, St. Francis Church and the Stock Exchange Palace that houses the Arab Hall (a large room with blue and gold arabesques inspired from the Allambra in Granade). Worth seeing also the Christal Palace and its romantic gardens with viewpoints over the town and river, the House of Music (imponent work projected by the dutch architect Rem Koolhaas), the Cheese Fortress over the Atlantic Ocean, etc.. Crossing of the beautiful Luís I Bridge, that connects the city to Vila Nova de Gaia: visit of a caracteristic wine cellar to taste the prestigious Porto Wine. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
8th Day
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning departure to Citânia de Briteiros, one of the most impressive settlements of the country, which brought to light the foundations of some 150 stone houses (many already rebuilt), originally populated by the Celtiberians between the IV century BC and the IV century AD, and a network of passages between paved streets, sewers and underground tanks. Continuation to Guimarães, known to be the nation’s cradle as it was the first capital of the Portuguese Kingdom and the birthplace of its first king: Afonso Henriques. Visit of the old town: the S. Mamede Castle, Largo da Oliveira and the sumptuous Ducal Palace, in Gothic style of the XV century. Stop then at Aveiro, the charming town intersected by picturesque canals, in the large lagoon where the boatmen push with a pole their colorful swan-necked boats, called Moliceiros. Short stroll along the canals (time permitting, it will be made a stop at Costa Nova, a traditional village with quaint houses painted in stripes of bright colors, allowing fishermen to recognize their home in fog). Return to the hotel in Porto. Dinner and overnight.
9th Day
Breakfast at the hotel.
In due time, transfer to Porto airport, assistance in the check-in procedures and departure.