A VERY SPECIAL BESPOKE TOUR OF PORTUGAL June 15 th to June 22 nd 2019 We are pleased to confirm the Jaderin tour of Portugal in June 2019 Portugal is now the hottest destination in Europe. Jaderin is organizing a very special bespoke tour of Portugal for our members to experience the culture, art, food and breath-taking wonder of Portugal. Our trip will include driving through beautiful terraced vineyards and enjoying exclusive private visits to the most beautiful estates in the valley and a cruise up the Douro a lovely way to see the river. We have teamed up with the best bespoke travel consultant in Portugal to design a very special tailor-made trip for us that will take us from Lisbon to Obidos, Coimbra and to the spectacular Douro Valley and Porto in the north, staying in a the most unique luxury hotel on the banks of the river that was once the warehouses for Taylors port! JADERIN TRIPS ARE NOTED TO BE UNIQUE AND MEMORABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE ORGANIZED AND LED BY JADERIN MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO ARE THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH THE DESTINATIONS AND WHO LOVE AND WANT TO SHARE WHAT THEY LOVE THEIR FAVOURITE SCENIC SPOTS, RESTAURANTS, TEA HOUSES, SHOPS AND MARKETS. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE INDEED THAT MARIA PEREIRA, OUR LOCAL GIRL NOW BASED IN PORTUGAL, AND JOAN MAHONY WHO KNOW THE COUNTRY VERY WELL ARE DEVOTING THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE WE WILL SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF THE BEST IN PORTUGAL. THE REAL DIFFERENCE IN JADERIN TOURS ARE THE WONDERFUL FRIENDS WE TRAVEL WITH AND THE FUN COMPANY. PLACES ARE VERY LIMITED AND ALLOCATED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. Nov 8 2018 1
THE TRIP WILL INCLUDE: Lisbon 2 nights Obidos & Coimbra 1 night The Majestic Douro Valley 2 nights Porto 2 nights JUNE 15 SATURDAY Day 1 LISBON Arrival / Hotel check i. Hotel Heritage Lisbon Plaza http://www.hotelavenidapalace.pt/en/hotel-overviewhtml Lunch: Depending on arrival time, some can have a late lunch at the GAMBRINUS. Gambrinus is a classic top Lisbon restaurant, with excellent food (including seafood) and service. Afternoon: We can follow this with a long afternoon walking tour of Lisbon especially the OLD TOWN (ALFAMA). During the walking tour which commences at ROSSIO Square, where Gambrinus is located, our GUIDE will take us to Lisbon s cobblestone streets in the old quarter: the Cathedral, the castle São Jorge, the Jewish Quarters and the Moorish ALFAMA neighborhood, as time permits. Pharmacia Chef Felicidade (happiness) runs this pharmacy themed restaurant. It's part of the pharmacy museum (the pharmacies are a very important part of the Portuguese culture and managed by some of the wealthiest families in the country). The restaurant sits on the top of a look point of the city so you have wonderful views or go early and enjoy an ibuprofen cocktail with the setting sun. June 16 Sunday DAY 2 LISBON FULL DAY GUIDED SIGHT SEEING 09h00 Board our bus to Belém area (from which Vasco da Gama set sail for India in 1497) Jerónimos Monastery (We will have special advance tickets NO queuing.) 2
The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is the extravagant monastery that was funded by the wealth and trade that flowed from Portugal s colonies during the 16th century. The site was closely associated with the early Portuguese explorers, as it was the location that Vasco da Gama spent his last night before his epic voyage to India. Later, wives of sailors would come and pray here for the safe return of their loved ones. The monastery is simply breath-taking, with beautiful stone carvings throughout the vast religious building and is one of the most decorative churches of Portugal. Casa Pasteis De Belém AFTER the Monastery, we just go across the road and to the enormously popular CASA PASTEIS DE BELEM, a pastry shop/café which produces a stupendous custard cream tart (Pastel de Nata) that comes in warm, fluffy and delicately crispy pastry. Eaten with a sprinkle of icing sugar and cinnamon, these tarts are supposedly made from a secret recipe. The chaotic cafe and bakery has been selling Pastel de Nata for over 150 years and no trip to the Belém district is complete without sampling one. The Pastel de Nata is believed to have been first developed during the 18th century by Catholic nuns based in Jerónimos Monastery across the road. The nuns baked these sweet cakes as a method of raising extra funds for the upkeep of the monastery. We can pay extra to have reserved tables inside the café; otherwise, the queue can be horrendous. Belém Tower Standing on the waterfront at Belém near the mouth of the River Tagus is the BELÉM TOWER or Torre de Belém, arguably the most iconic symbol of Lisbon. Originally conceived as a lighthouse, the tower was eventually built as a defensive fortress on the orders of King Manuel I. The Tower of Belém is a curious, squat building with naval motifs - ropes, flowers and plants (brought back from distant lands) that define the so-called Manueline style of architecture named after Dom Manuel I who ruled the country at the time of Vasco da Gama. The design of the Torre de Belém was heavily influenced by North African styles, with Moorish watch towers, decorative battlements and the first European stone carving of a Rhinoceros. You would have seen the Manueline style also at Jerónimos. When it was inaugurated in 1521, the tower would have been much further from the shore than it is today - the earthquake of 1755 shifted the river's course, and in the 19th century, land on the north bank was reclaimed, making the river narrower. Granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1983, the Belém Tower is today one of the most popular sightseeing attractions in Lisbon. Reached by a narrow walkway from Belem's broad esplanade, this quirky Manueline gem is a delight to explore as we contemplate the achievements of Portugal's bravest navigators who departed near this historic landmark to chart unknown lands 500 years ago. Lunch: at Darwin s Café, The Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown Darwin's Cafe is located within the Centre of the Champalimaud Foundation, on a beautiful riverside area and marries distinctive architectural design to an outstanding and diverse menu. The interior decor of Darwin s cafe transports all who enter to the world of the British naturalist and biologist who lends his name to the Centre s restaurant. Darwin s Cafe is the result of a partnership between the Foundation and Lanidor, creating a restaurant in one of Lisbon s most desirable locations and one of the most sought after places for a meal in the city. We will sit by riverside, weather permitting. After lunch, we can walk around the amazing 3
buildings of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown which is designed by the Indian architect Charles Correa who has captured the true essence and culture of their locations, all the while taking into account the ultimate use of the structure in order to create the perfect symbiosis between form and function. More than an architect, he is a thinker of urban space. Afternoon: For anyone who is a modern art fan, the MAAT is great, with an interesting building. It might also give a nice alternative perspective on Portugal the modern since the trip focuses more on the traditional. Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology - MAAT MAAT is the new cultural project for the city of Lisbon. It s a museum where these three areas - Art, Architecture and Technology - intertwine within a space of debate, discovery, critical thinking and international dialogue. It s an innovative project which establishes a connection between the new building, designed by Amanda Levete Architects studio and the Tejo Power Station, one of Portugal s most prominent examples of industrial architecture from the first half of the 20th century, and one of the most visited museums in the country. MAAT s ambition is to present national and international exhibitions by contemporary artists, architects and thinkers. 16h00 Board bus to return to hotel. 18h15 - Tonight we take the FERRY TO CACILHAS. Our tour bus will take us to the ferry terminal by Lisbon s Cais do Sodré railway station. 18h55 We will cross the Tagus river by ferry and our guide will then walk us to Cacilhas (10 mins), a small village, with terraces full of restaurants, old stone buildings with chipped blue and white azulejo tiles and stunning views of Lisbon s seven hills. Once in Cacilhas, we can have dinner at the Restaurante Atira- te ao Rio, and enjoy some amazing FOOD and great river views. JUNE 17 MONDAY DAY 3 OBIDOS & COIMBRA 09h00 - Check out of Lisbon hotel. Drive to Coimbra, visiting en route Obidos (about 1h30min from Lisbon). Obidos is known as the Wedding City as it was the traditional bridal gift of the kings of Portugal to their queens and it's easy to see why, enclosed in its lofty walls with white washed houses and blue and yellow frames, twisting cobbled streets and steep staircases up to the ramparts all lend this little town a positively medieval feel. It's a lovely town to wander through escaping the congestion of the main streets and taking in the views from the ramparts. 4
11h30 Obidos to Caldas de Rainha Leaving Obidos we come to Caldas da Rainha ( Queen's Spa ), put on the map by Dona Leonor as she passed the town in her carriage and was so impressed by the strong sulfurous waters that she founded a hospital initiating four centuries of royal patronage. Today little remains of the royal wealth poured into the spa but it's still a charming town and today better known for its ceramics in particular the factory Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro. Founded in 1884 his naturalist tableware (cabbage leaf bowls, butterfly plates and the like) is still today hugely popular and widely recognized around the world. Touring the factory and adjacent museum will learn about the founder / artist, his imaginative ceramics and many of his more historical pieces. 13h30 Lunch Just outside Caldas de Rainha we will enjoy a very traditional lunch in the Taberna do Manelvina. This is a very informal restaurant serving grilled meats from pork raised in the fields with delicious tomato salads and cabbage. It's also a mini bull fighting museum offering a little insight to Portuguese bullfighting. 17h30 Coimbra After lunch it's another 1h30min to Coimbra. The one time capital of Portugal from 1143 to 1255 and its famous university founded in 1290, this was the only university in Portugal until the beginning of the last century. It remains highly prestigious and provides the greates of Coimbras monuments and buildings, most notably the renowned Baroque library, In our lovely hotel at the Arcadas restaurant, Chef Pedro Dias creates wonderful dishes using fresh ingredients from the kitchen garden grown on the estate. Night's Accommodation: Quinta das Lagrimas https://www.quintadaslagrimas.pt/p June 18 Tuesday DAY 4 COIMBRA TO PINHÃO (Douro valley) 10h00 Check out of Quinta das Lagrimas Head into the town of Coimbra and up to the university for a tour of the buildings and its Baroque library. 13h30 - Lunch Stopping in the city of Viseu will have lunch at the popular local restaurant Mesa D'Alegria for a light lunch on the local petiscos (Portuguese tapas). 17h00 Pinhão Upon arrival, check into the Vintage House Hotel (owned by Taylor s) for 2 nights. http://www.vintagehousehotel.com/pt/ 19h00 - Private dinner at the fabulous estate of Bom Retiro, with breathtaking views and a fascinating history - 20mins drive from hotel. Acquired in 1919 by Ramos Pinto and located in the heart of the Cima Corgo, river Torto valley, the Quinta do Bom Retiro is one of the oldest and most romantic quintas of the Douro. One of the most acclaimed Tawny Port Wines, the 20 Years Old Quinta do Bom Retiro, is produced here 5
JUNE 19 WEDNESDAY DAY 5 DOURO Morning: 09h30 - Board our 3 yachts and set sail upriver to the stunning Quinta Vesúvio (3 hours) located in the Douro Superior. Owned by the Symington Family, it is considered the jewel in the crown of the Douro. Enjoy a private visit, tasting & lunch. Historical records mention Vesúvio as early as 1565. But it was in the 19th century, under the direction of Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, that this quinta gained its legendary reputation. In 1989 Quinta do Vesúvio was acquired by the Symington Family and since then, some of the best Vintage Ports of the Douro have been produced here. ` 15h30 Return to Pinhão by van. 17h00 Arrival at Pinhão. A light supper at the hotel, on the beautiful outdoor terrace on the banks of the river, to allow us to relax before heading off to Porto the following morning. JUNE 20 THURSDAY DAY 6 PORTO 10h00 CHECK OUT and transfer to Porto 13h00 Arrival in Porto and check in to the hotel. Hotel Intercontinental Palácio das Cardosas (5 stars) https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/porto/prtha/hoteldetail Afternoon and evening free After the Douro tour, with food and drink galore, you will have time to relax and plan your own light meal inhouse or out at a restaurant. The guide will provide a list of recommended restaurants. 6
JUNE 21 Friday DAY 7 PORTO 09h00 Hop into our Tuk Tuks. The group will be divided into 5 Tuk tuks and each one will take a different route. But you'll all see the same sites. It's just so that we're not all in a procession and that way we can visit the places in small groups. The tour last 5hrs with the below stops and visits. Estação de São Bento, a 19th C railway station famous for its stunning Portuguese tile panels. Avenida dos Aliados, Porto's central avenue. Sé Catedral, one of the city s oldest monuments and one of the most important Romanesque monuments dating back to 1147. Livraria Lello, dating back to 1881, started by the Lello brothers and supposedly the inspiration for JK Rowlings Harry Potter. Mercado do Bolhão, Porto s iconic market. Rua Santa Catarina, Porto's shopping street. Batalha, Teatro São João, fabulous theater and concert venue. Reitoria, Cadeia da Relação, historic jail in a wonderful building. Torre dos Clérigos, one of the most characteristic symbols of Porto is the bell tower that can be seen from many of the points of the city. Ribeira, Igreja de São Francisco e Palácio da Bolsa, the church of St. Francis is the most prominent Gothic church in Porto most noted for its incredible Baroque interior. The Palacio da Bolsa is a wonderful 19th C palace. Cais de Gaia, the waterfront of Gaia with its many Port wine warehouses. Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, former monastery dating to the 1500s, set on a hilltop & notable for its round church & cloister. Factory House, The British Factory House (Portuguese: Feitoria Inglesa), also known as the British Association House) is an 18th-century Neo-Palladian, associated with the influence of Britain in the Porto Wine industry. 14h00 Lunch in a traditional Porto restaurant. After lunch the group will be divided in two with two guides that can take you to the boutique shops of Porto and away from the mainstream. 16h30 Return to the hotel. 18h00 Transfer to Grahams for a visit to the warehouse followed by dinner at Vinium. Evening visit to Graham s Lodge followed by farewell dinner at Vinium. We step out of historical Porto and into modernity at Vinium, with wonderful views and very good food. JUNE 22 Saturday DAY 8 - DEPARTURE Check out and fly out (sniff, sniff...) to various destinations from PORTO *Program and prices subject to changes Nov 8 2018 7